Little Valley is a quirky place in northwestern Lassen County located south of Big Valley and west of Dixie Valley. It was originally known as Little Dixie Valley but over time Dixie was dropped. Accordig to Fairfield (1916), in 1870 Samuel Graves, Joseph Layton and Old Man Ralston were the first settlers. Fairfield stated that George W. Long purchased their holdings, but no official record exists of that transaction.

In the fall of 1871, James K.P. Eldridge (1840-1912) located there and became a well known stop for travelers. Eldridge resided there for the next thirty-six years. In 1914, his widow, Arabella sold the property to R.L. “Bob” Johnson. It was Johnson who built Little Valley’s most iconic landmark the Round Barn. In 1916, R.L. “Bob” Johnson constructed the “Round Barn.” Johnson needed a structure where he could train horses during the winter months, as they were in great demand in World War I. Over the years, the elements, etc., took a toll on the building. By 2004, the Fort Crook Historical Society had started a movement to relocate the barn to their museum complex at Fall River Mills.  It was a slow process, but they succeeded, and is now restored to its glory.

Of course, every rural region back in the day had its own school and Little Valley was no exception. The Little Valley School District was established in 1885.  In 1926, due to a decline in population the school was abolished. In 1929, Mary Gassaway purchased the abandoned schoolhouse from Lassen County for $75.

In 1930, Little Valley came into prominence with the arrival of the Western Pacific Railroad. Lively times were all the rage, but that is another story.

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