Bruceport, Washington facts for kids

Bruceport was once a small town in Pacific County, in the U.S. state of Washington. It's not there anymore, which is why it's called an "extinct settlement."

The Story of Bruceport

Bruceport began in December 1851. It was founded by the crew of a sailing ship called the Robert Bruce. Their ship caught fire on Willapa Bay while they were transporting oysters.

The settlement was first named Bruceville in 1854. It quickly grew into an important place for trading oysters. Many families moved there to live.

Bruceville's Importance

From 1854 to 1860, Bruceville was the county seat for Chehalis County. A county seat is like the main town where the government offices are located. Chehalis County later became known as Grays Harbor County. By the 1870s, about 25 families lived in Bruceville.

A New Name and a Post Office

In 1858, a post office was opened in the community. At this time, the name changed from Bruceville to Bruceport. The post office stayed open for many years, finally closing in 1895. The town was named after Robert the Bruce, who was a famous King of the Scots.