Last, California facts for kids

"Last" was once a small community, or settlement, located in Fresno County, California. It was a place where people lived and worked for a short time before it eventually disappeared.

What Was Last?

Last was a small settlement that existed in the late 1800s. A settlement is like a very small town or village, often formed when people move to a new area to work, perhaps in farming or mining. Many of these small places grew into bigger towns, but some, like Last, eventually became empty and faded away.

Where Was It Located?

This former settlement was located in the central part of California, in a large area known as Fresno County. To give you an idea of its exact spot, it was about 14 miles (which is about 22.5 kilometers) southwest of a town called Huron. Fresno County is known for its rich agricultural lands, where many different crops are grown today.

The Post Office at Last

One important detail about Last is that it had its own post office. This post office operated from 1890 to 1895. The presence of a post office tells us that enough people lived in Last to need a way to send and receive mail. It also shows us the period when the settlement was most active and organized. After 1895, the post office closed, which often means the population of the settlement began to shrink, or people moved away.

Why Did Settlements Like Last Disappear?

Many small settlements like Last appeared and then disappeared in the American West during the 1800s. There are several reasons why this happened:

• Changing Industries: Sometimes, the main reason people moved to a settlement, like a gold mine or a specific farm, would run out or become less profitable.
• New Transportation: The arrival of railroads often decided the fate of towns. If a railroad line bypassed a settlement, that place might struggle, as it became harder to transport goods and people.
• Lack of Resources: Some settlements faced challenges like not enough water or other important resources to support a growing population.
• People Moving On: As opportunities changed, people would often move to larger, more established towns or new areas with better prospects.

The story of Last is a small part of the history of how California grew and changed over time, with many communities rising and falling as the state developed.