Big Creek, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Collins/Couch fork headwaters 37°09′56″N 83°28′19″W / 37.16569°N 83.47195°W |
| 2nd source | Upper forks of Old McHenry Fork 37°08′12″N 83°29′31″W / 37.13678°N 83.49189°W |
| 3rd source | Halls Fork headwaters 37°08′22″N 83°28′05″W / 37.13937°N 83.46807°W |
| 4th source | Left Fork Ulysses Fork headwaters 37°12′02″N 83°30′09″W / 37.20066°N 83.50245°W |
| River mouth | Red Bird River 15 miles (24 km) upstream 789 feet (240 m) 37°09′59″N 83°34′56″W / 37.16627°N 83.58214°W |
Big Creek is a 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long creek located in Kentucky, United States. It starts in Leslie County and flows into the Red Bird River in Clay County. A village and a post office are named after this creek.
Even though it's called "Big Creek," it's not the largest stream flowing into the Red Bird River. It likely got its name because it often has high water levels and can flood.
Contents
Exploring Big Creek's Branches
Big Creek joins the Red Bird River about 15 miles (24 km) upstream from the river's mouth. This meeting point is about 789 feet (240 m) above sea level. Two main roads, the Daniel Boone Parkway and Kentucky Route 80, run alongside Big Creek from where it meets the Red Bird River up to where it splits into two main branches: Halls Fork and Collins/Couch Forks.
What are Tributaries?
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger river or lake. Think of them as the "arms" of a river, bringing water from different areas into the main stream. Big Creek has several important tributaries that feed into it.
Main Tributaries of Big Creek
Here are some of the major branches that flow into Big Creek:
- Granny Branch: This branch joins Big Creek about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) upstream.
- Smith Branch: It meets Big Creek about 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream.
- Bear Branch: This branch is about 2 miles (3.2 km) long and joins Big Creek 1.875 miles (3.018 km) upstream.
- Ulysses Fork: This fork flows into Big Creek about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) upstream.
- Schoolhouse Branch: A smaller branch of Ulysses Fork, joining 0.375 miles (0.604 km) upstream.
- Right Fork: This fork meets Left Fork Ulysses Fork 1.75 miles (2.82 km) upstream.
- Left Fork: This fork also meets Right Fork Ulysses Fork 1.75 miles (2.82 km) upstream.
- Meadow Fork: A small branch of Left Fork, joining 0.5 miles (0.80 km) upstream.
- Chandler Branch: This branch joins Big Creek about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) upstream.
- Collins Fork (also known as Couch Fork): This fork meets Big Creek about 4 miles (6.4 km) upstream. The Daniel Boone Parkway runs alongside it.
- Hollins Fork: A branch of Collins Fork, joining 0.75 miles (1.21 km) upstream.
- Bob Fork: A smaller branch of Hollins Fork, joining 0.375 miles (0.604 km) upstream.
- Half-way Branch: This branch joins Collins Fork about 1.75 miles (2.82 km) upstream.
- Hollins Fork: A branch of Collins Fork, joining 0.75 miles (1.21 km) upstream.
- Halls Fork (also known as Hals Fork): This fork also meets Big Creek about 4 miles (6.4 km) upstream, at the same point where Collins Fork joins. U.S. Route 421 runs next to it.
- Old McHenry Fork: A branch of Halls Fork, joining 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream.
- McFadden Branch: A small branch of Old McHenry Fork, joining 0.75 miles (1.21 km) upstream.
- Patton Branch: Another small branch of Old McHenry Fork, joining 0.75 miles (1.21 km) upstream.
- Poplar Gap Branch: This branch also joins Old McHenry Fork 0.75 miles (1.21 km) upstream.
- Old McHenry Fork: A branch of Halls Fork, joining 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream.
Post Offices Along Big Creek
Several post offices have been established along Big Creek and its branches over the years. These offices were important for sending and receiving mail in the local communities.
Big Creek Village and Post Office
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Big Creek, Kentucky
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village and post office
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 Big Creek, Kentucky
Location in Kentucky
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Clay, Leslie |
| Elevation | 866 ft (264 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
40914
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| Area code(s) | 606 |
The Big Creek post office was first opened on January 10, 1871, by James Marcum. Over the years, it moved several times along the creek. As of 2000, it was located about three-quarters of a mile from the Red Bird River, serving the small community known as Big Creek village. This village is on U.S. Route 421, about 10.7 miles (17.2 km) east of Manchester. The Big Creek post office uses ZIP code 40914.
Bear Branch Post Office
A post office named Bear Branch was started on November 10, 1923, by William Britton. It was named after the Bear Branch creek. It was first located just 50 feet (15 m) across the county line into Clay County. On February 12, 1924, it was moved to Ulysses Creek by the postmaster, Thomas T. Hensley. It moved again when U.S. Route 421 was built and then once more in 1936 to its current spot, just below the branch.
Jason Post Office
The Jason post office was opened on September 1, 1937, by postmaster Billie Jones to serve the Hollins Fork area. It operated until July 1965. During its time, it moved to three different locations along the fork. The original name chosen for it was "Elim," but this was changed to avoid confusion with another "Elem" post office in Rockcastle County.
Obed Post Office
Couch Fork used to be called Collins Fork. The Obed post office was founded on January 26, 1903, by postmaster Levi Couch. It was located between Collins and Hollins Forks. In 1936, the Obed post office was moved downhill to a smaller stream called Twin Branch, which flows into Collins/Couch Fork. It closed two years later in 1938.
Historical Mining Activity
In the early 1900s, there were several small mines located along Big Creek and its branches. These mines were likely for coal, which was an important resource in Kentucky. For example, in 1918:
- P.D. Marcum had a mine about 1.25 miles (2.01 km) upstream on Granny Branch.
- Thomas A. Bird had a mine on a small branch of Bear Creek.
- Lee Crawford had two mines on Bear Branch.
- Thomas Hensley had a mine on a small branch of Ulysses Fork.
- Felix Roberts had a mine on a small branch of Right Fork Ulysses Fork.
- J. M. Finley had two mines on Left Fork Ulysses Fork, one at the mouth of Meadow Fork.
- H.B. Collins had a mine on a small branch of Half-Way Branch.
- Wesley McFadden's mine was on McFadden Branch.
- Hiram Collins lived where an older Collins mine had been on Halls Fork.
- On Big Creek itself, Wiley Spurlock and Hiram Sizemore also had mines.
These mines show that the area around Big Creek was once an active place for mining, providing jobs and resources to the local communities.
