Chico Martinez Creek facts for kids

Chico Martinez Creek is a small stream in Kern County, California. It used to be known as Arroyo Chico Martinez. The word "Arroyo" means "creek" in Spanish.

This creek starts in the Temblor Range mountains. This area is close to the border of San Luis Obispo County, California. The source is about 10.7 miles north of Soda Lake. This lake is found in the middle of the Carrizo Plain.

Chico Martinez Creek flows generally towards the east and northeast. It ends just east of the South Belridge Oil Field. During years with a lot of rain, this creek might have flowed into the Kern River. This would have happened between Buena Vista Lake and Tulare Lake.

What is the History of Chico Martinez Creek?

The area around Arroyo Chico Martinez was once an important watering spot. It was located along an old trail called El Camino Viejo. This trail connected Temblor Creek and Carneros Creek.

The spot where the creek comes out of the Temblor Range foothills is easy to spot. There are white, chalk-like bluffs and hills. You can see these hills from many miles away across the plains.

Who was Chico Martinez?

This stream was named after a famous person from the 1800s. His name was Chico Martinez. He was a pioneer in the southern San Joaquin Valley region. Chico Martinez was known as a "mesteñero." This means he was skilled at catching wild horses, also called mustangs. People called him the "king of the mustang runners." He was very good at herding these wild horses into special pens called corrals. He did this at places like Aguaje Mesteño, which means "Mustang Watering Place," and other spots.