Pinkney City, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pinkney City, Washington
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The John Holst homestead near Colville
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 Pinkney City, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Pinkney City, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Stevens |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Pinkney City (also called Pinkneyville) was a small community. It was located near Fort Colville (US Army) in what is now Stevens County, Washington. Today, Pinkney City is known as a ghost town.
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Pinkney City: A Town's Story
Pinkney City got its name from Brevet Major Pinkney Lugenbeel. He was the first commander of Fort Colville. A "Brevet Major" is an officer who gets a higher rank for a short time, usually for bravery. He built the fort in 1859. The town of Pinkney City grew up around the fort soon after.
A Busy Trading Center
The town was just north of the U.S. Army post. It quickly became an important place for trading goods. In 1860, Pinkney City was chosen as the "county seat" for the original Spokane County. A county seat is the main town where the government offices for a county are located.
Changes in County Borders
In 1863, the leaders of Spokane County asked the government to make Stevens County part of Spokane County. Stevens County had not yet been officially set up.
However, in 1864, the Washington Territorial Legislature made a different decision. They ended Spokane County. It became part of Stevens County instead. Pinkney City remained the county seat for the new Stevens County.
The Post Office and New Names
Pinkney City had its first post office opened on December 17, 1859. It closed a few months later on April 17, 1860. A new post office opened on November 25, 1862. It was called Fort Colville. On April 13, 1883, its name was changed to Colville.
Why Pinkney City Disappeared
The U.S. Army left Fort Colville in 1882. When the fort was no longer active, Pinkney City started to fade away. Most of the businesses moved about three miles away. They went to the new town of Colville, Washington, which is still there today.
Images for kids
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The John Holst homestead near Colville
