Pleasant Valley, Baker County, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pleasant Valley, Oregon
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 Pleasant Valley, Baker County, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Pleasant Valley, Baker County, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Elevation | 3,757 ft (1,145 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1125477 |
Pleasant Valley is a small, unincorporated community in Baker County, Oregon, United States. It is located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of Baker City. You can find it along U.S. Route 30, and it's also close to Interstate 84.
A Look Back at Pleasant Valley
Early Travel and Life
Pleasant Valley has a long history, especially for travelers. In 1865, it was a "way station" on the Place Toll Road. This means it was a stop where people could rest or get supplies while traveling. Later, in 1884, it became a "freight station" for the railroad. This was a place where goods were loaded and unloaded from trains.
Many early settlers who traveled the famous Oregon Trail decided to farm in the Pleasant Valley area. They found the land good for growing crops. The community even had its own post office! The first one opened in 1868 but only stayed open for two months. A second post office with the same name started in 1890 and served the community until 1962.
Buildings and Schools
The Pleasant Valley area is known for its stone quarries. These quarries supplied a type of stone called tuff, which was often used to build structures in nearby Baker City.
At one time, Pleasant Valley was a busy community with enough people to have its own school district. School District #12 was started in 1874. It had a two-room schoolhouse that taught students from first to eighth grade. For a few years, the school even offered classes for high-school-age students. However, in 1949, the school district joined with the Baker City school district. The third and last schoolhouse was built from local stone. It was later changed into a home.
In 1900, the community had a Christian Church congregation. Today, the main part of Pleasant Valley is considered a ghost town. However, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) still lists it as a place where people live.
