Sextons Creek, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sexton's Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | forks at the headwaters of Bray Fork 37°14′00″N 83°52′06″W / 37.23345°N 83.86828°W |
| 2nd source | headwaters of Right Fork Gum Fork 37°18′17″N 83°54′23″W / 37.30467°N 83.90650°W |
| 3rd source | forks at the headwaters of Little Sexton's Creek 37°18′40″N 83°51′30″W / 37.31106°N 83.85836°W |
| River mouth | South Fork Kentucky River 10 miles (16 km) upstream of Booneville 648 feet (198 m) 37°21′33″N 83°40′56″W / 37.35916°N 83.68231°W |
| Length | 24 miles (39 km) |
Sexton's Creek is a creek in Clay County, Kentucky. It is a smaller stream that flows into the South Fork Kentucky River in nearby Owsley County, Kentucky.
This creek is about 24 miles (39 km) long. It was named after the Sexton family, who were early settlers in the area before 1815.
Contents
How Sexton's Creek Flows
The main part of Sexton's Creek follows a special dip in the land. This dip runs from the southwest to the northeast.
The smaller streams that join Sexton's Creek from the left side generally flow downhill towards the northwest. Other streams joining from the right side also flow downhill from a less clear ridge.
Streams Joining Sexton's Creek
Sexton's Creek flows into the South Fork Kentucky River. This meeting point is about 1.875 miles (3.018 km) downstream from Road Run Branch. The elevation here is 648 feet (198 m) above sea level.
The very start of the creek, called its headwaters, is in Jackson County, Kentucky. The mouth of the creek is in Owsley County. The creek itself flows for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) through Owsley County.
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Sexton's Creek. Here are some of the main ones:
- Its major tributaries are:
- Bunion Branch joins 2.25 miles (3.62 km) upstream.
- Anglin Branch joins 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream.
- Booger Branch joins 3.5 miles (5.6 km) upstream.
- Spivey Branch joins 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream.
- Sadler Branch joins 1.8 miles (2.9 km) upstream.
- Cool Spring Branch joins 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream.
- This branch has an Upper Fork and a Lower Fork.
- Little Sexton Branch joins 7.75 miles (12.47 km) upstream.
- It has a branch called Buncomb Branch.
- Another branch is Leger Creek.
- And Falling Timber Branch.
- Crooked Branch joins 8.25 miles (13.28 km) upstream.
- Cradlebow Branch joins 8.35 miles (13.44 km) upstream.
- Ells Branch joins 9.75 miles (15.69 km) upstream.
- Cave Branch joins 10.25 miles (16.50 km) upstream.
- Jim's Branch joins 10.75 miles (17.30 km) upstream.
- Chestnut Branch joins 11.625 miles (18.709 km) upstream. Its name is a misspelling and has nothing to do with chestnut trees.
- Sacker Branch joins 12.625 miles (20.318 km) upstream.
- Gum Fork joins 14 miles (23 km) upstream.
- It has a Right Fork and a Left Fork (also called Robinson's Creek).
- Huckleberry Branch flows into the Right Fork.
- Pine Lick Fork flows into Robinson's Creek.
- Bray Fork joins 14 miles (23 km) upstream.
- It has branches like Sandlin Branch and Burning Springs Branch.
- Brushy Fork and Post Office Branch are part of Burning Springs Branch.
- Muncy Fork also joins Bray Fork.
- Bray Fork splits into a Right Fork and a Left Fork.
The two main streams that form the start of Sexton's Creek are Bray Fork and Gum Fork. Sometimes, people consider Gum Fork to be the main part of Sexton's Creek.
History of Post Offices Along the Creek
Many small communities grew up along Sexton's Creek and its branches. To serve these communities, several post offices were opened over the years.
Early Post Offices: Taft and Trust
The Trust post office opened in 1905. It was located on Sexton's Creek in an area called Etta. It closed about a year later.
The Taft post office opened in 1903. It moved several times between Owsley and Clay counties. It finally closed in 1969. The name Taft might have been for William Howard Taft, who later became president.
Sexton's Creek Post Office
The main post office for the area was first called Section Creek by mistake in 1828. This was corrected to Sexton's Creek in 1843. It served a community known as Clarkes.
This post office moved around a lot but is still open today. It is now located on Little Sexton's Creek at the crossing of Kentucky Routes 577 and 1350.
Post Offices on Little Sexton's Creek
The Ethal post office opened in 1890, named after the postmaster's daughter. It closed and reopened a few times, moving between Clay and Jackson counties.
Later, it was renamed Sourwood in 1941, after a famous fiddle tune. It moved between Buncomb Creek and Leger Creek before closing in 1957.
The Vine post office opened in 1902, serving an area called Ivy. It was located near Falling Timber Branch and closed in 1957.
Post Offices on Bray Creek
The Potters Choice post office opened in 1876 at the head of Bray Creek. It was named after a local Potter family. It closed in 1878.
It reopened in 1882 as simply Choice. This post office served a busy village with stores and mills. It closed and reopened a few times, finally closing in 1904.
High Knob and Gum Fork Post Offices
The High Knob post office opened in 1876. It was named after a nearby mountain peak. It served a community called Stringtown. It moved to Gum Fork in 1897 and closed in 1939.
The Malcom post office opened in 1891 on Gum Fork. It moved to different spots along the creek before closing in 1934.
Cool Spring Branch and Burning Springs
The Alger post office opened in 1900 on Cool Spring Branch. The postmaster wanted to name it Cool Spring, but that name was not allowed. It closed in 1964.
The village of Burning Springs and its branch are named after natural gas vents that used to burn there. These "burning springs" were capped in the 20th century.
The post office in Burning Springs was first called Napier when it opened in 1884. It was renamed Burning Springs in 1888 and closed in 1965.
Chesnut Branch Post Offices
The Dory post office opened in 1886 on the west side of Sexton's Creek. It was named after a local Chesnut family, not the tree. It moved several times and closed in 1912.
The Chesnutberg post office opened in 1904, also named for the Chesnut family. It was located across from the mouth of Chesnut Branch and closed in 1985.
Other Post Offices
The Adela post office opened in 1902 on Bray Creek. It was named after the postmaster's daughter. It closed in 1934.
The Sacker Gap post office opened in 1928. It was located in a gap between Sacker Branch and another creek. It closed in 1935.
The Joshua post office opened in 1889 at the mouth of Sexton's Creek. It closed in 1895.
