Summit, Plumas County, California facts for kids

Summit was once a small community located in Plumas County, California, in the state of California. It was found high up on the Beckwourth Pass, about 1 mile (or 1.6 kilometers) east-southeast of a town called Chilcoot.

What Was Summit?

Summit was what we call a former settlement. This means it was a place where people used to live and work a long time ago, but now no one lives there anymore. It was like a small village or town that eventually became empty.

Where Was It Located?

Summit was in Plumas County, which is in the northeastern part of California. This area is known for its beautiful mountains, part of the Sierra Nevada range. The community was specifically located on the very top of the Beckwourth Pass. A "pass" is a lower part of a mountain range that makes it easier to travel from one side to the other. Beckwourth Pass was an important route for travelers and settlers in the past.

A Busy Post Office

Even though Summit was a small place, it had its own post office! A post office is where people send and receive letters and packages. Having a post office means that enough people lived in Summit to need this service. The post office at Summit was open for many years, from 1864 until 1897. This shows that the community was active for over 30 years.

Why Did People Leave?

Many small settlements like Summit became empty over time. This can happen for different reasons. Sometimes, the resources that people came for, like gold or timber, ran out. Other times, new roads or railways were built that bypassed the settlement, making it harder for people to get there or for businesses to thrive. People might also have moved to bigger towns for new jobs or opportunities. While we don't know the exact reason for Summit, it eventually became a place of the past.