Cloud, California facts for kids

Cloud was once a small community, or "settlement," located in Kings County, California. It was about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of the city of Lemoore. Today, Cloud is no longer an active town. It is known as a "former settlement" because people eventually moved away, and the community faded over time.

What is a Former Settlement?

A former settlement is like a ghost town or a place where people used to live and work, but don't anymore. These places often grew around a specific industry, like mining or farming. When that industry changed or ended, people moved away to find new opportunities. Cloud is one such example of a place that once had residents and a purpose.

Cloud's Brief History

Cloud existed as a small community for a short period in the early 1900s. We know it was active because it had its own post office.

The Post Office Years

A post office is a very important building in any community. It helps people send and receive letters and packages. For many years, it was the main way people communicated over long distances. The post office in Cloud operated from 1913 to 1921. This means that for about eight years, people living in and around Cloud could send and receive mail right in their own community. When the post office closed in 1921, it likely meant that fewer people were living there, or they were getting their mail from a nearby town.

Where Was Cloud Located?

Cloud was situated in Kings County, California. This county is in the central part of California, known for its rich agricultural lands. Many small towns and settlements grew in this area to support farming and other local industries. Cloud was specifically southwest of Lemoore, a larger city in Kings County that still exists today.