Settlement encouraged by the Kinkaid Act of 1904 led directly to the establishment of Valleyview, originally called Riverview. In February 1912, Walter Hesselgesser and Earl Cronk opened Valleyview Store, which included a grocery, living quarters, lunch room, lodging rooms, and gas station, with a community hall on the second floor. A post office opened in 1914. By the 1920s, the village had several residences, a livery stable, a garage, a blacksmith shop, and School District 17, which was moved to Valleyview in 1916. The post office closed in 1937 and the store in 1939 as population declined and transportation and roads improved in the area. On October 16, 1940, Sheriff George Brock of Taylor was murdered at Valleyview by John Birkes after coming to serve an eviction notice to John and Willard Birkes, who had brought their nephew Richard to town to register for the draft. A chase using an airplane led to the trio's capture and imprisonment. The site of Valleyview is now part of the Valley View Flat Recreation area at the Calamus Reservoir.