Settlers in Pleasant Valley
The history of this area goes back to the days before Nevada was a state. With its proximity to the gold rush in California and the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, the entire Washoe Valley was one of the earliest settlements in the state. During the late 1800s, the valley was home to many quartz mills. Lumber was harvested in the mountains and brought down to the valley in flumes, then transported to the Comstock mines. The valley was also home to many ranches, raising cattle and growing crops to supply the growing population.
One of the first European settlers in Pleasant Valley was George Smith. Smith and his family were Mormons from the Utah Territory who came to the area around 1858 and settled on 160-acres of land. Smith named the area Pleasant Valley. The family farmed the land with alfalfa, wheat and barley for many years. As one visitor reported, “Looking around in Pleasant Valley are waving grass and green orchards and happy homes with families named Smith.”
Prior to the influx of European settlers to Nevada, this area was home to many Native American groups including the Northern Paiute, the Washoe, and the Shoshone. To learn more about these three tribes today, visit the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony website, http://www.rsic.org/.
Image:
1850 Wagon Train in Mountains. Source: NDOT.
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