Community

Lynden in 1880

A sense of community was one of the parts of their former lives that pioneers seemed to miss the most. Many neighbors were miles apart, and people spent long days or weeks without seeing anyone beyond their immediate families. Churches were often among the first community centers to be built, satisfying the need for spiritual support as well as a gathering place for neighbors to meet.
Schools were usually next, with someone’s home serving at the schoolhouse until there were more children than the space allowed.
The towns were small—for a long time Olympia was the only town in the Washington Territory—but they were welcome signs of “civilization”. Towns did provide gathering places, shopping, frame homes and the other amenities that were not part of rural life.

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