The Big Valley is an American Western drama television series that originally aired from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969 on ABC. The series is set on the fictional Barkley Ranch in Stockton, California, from 1884 to 1888. The main character, Victoria Barkley, portrayed by Barbara Stanwyck, was the head of the wealthy, influential Barkley family, who lived in 19th-century Stockton.