Pleasant View, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pleasant View, Washington
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 Pleasant View, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Pleasant View, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Walla Walla |
| Platted | 1894 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Pleasant View is a fascinating example of an extinct town in Walla Walla County, located in the U.S. state of Washington. An extinct town is often called a ghost town. It's a place where people once lived and worked, but now it's mostly empty or completely abandoned.
What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a place that used to be a lively community. Over time, for different reasons, most or all of its residents left. This leaves behind empty buildings and a quiet atmosphere. Sometimes, only ruins remain.
Why Towns Become Ghost Towns
Towns like Pleasant View often become ghost towns for several reasons.
- Resource Depletion: Many towns grew around a specific resource, like a mine or a logging camp. Once the resource ran out, people moved away to find work elsewhere.
- Economic Changes: Sometimes, a town's main industry might fail. New technologies or changes in trade routes can also make a town less important.
- Natural Disasters: Floods, fires, or droughts can force people to leave their homes. If the damage is too great, they might not return.
- New Transportation: When new roads or railways were built, they sometimes bypassed older towns. This made it harder for businesses to thrive.
The Story of Pleasant View
Pleasant View was officially planned and laid out in 1894. This means that people decided where streets and buildings would go. They hoped it would become a successful community. Many towns in the American West were established this way. They often grew quickly, especially during times of expansion.
However, for reasons that are not widely documented, Pleasant View did not last. It eventually became an extinct town. Today, it serves as a reminder of the changing landscape of human settlement. It shows how communities can rise and fall over time.
