Dry Creek, Louisiana facts for kids

Dry Creek is a small, quiet community in Louisiana, United States. It's located in the middle-eastern part of Beauregard Parish. You can find it about 20 miles southeast of DeRidder. The community sits where Louisiana Highway 113 and 394 meet. Dry Creek is about 104 feet above sea level.

The land around Dry Creek is a bit hilly. It ranges from 80 to 135 feet above sea level. The soil is mostly sandy, and there are many creeks and ponds. Not all of the creeks are dry, even though the name is "Dry Creek"!

This area is known as the start of the "piney woods" in central Louisiana. The main business here is logging, which means cutting down trees for wood. Dry Creek is also famous for its sweet Sugartown melons.

Exploring Dry Creek's Surroundings

Bundick Lake: A Nearby Gem

Bundick Lake is a beautiful lake located about 5 miles north of downtown Dry Creek. It's a great spot for outdoor activities.

Dry Creek Baptist Camp: A Community Hub

The Dry Creek Baptist Camp is right at the main crossroads of the community. It's across from the only grocery store. There's also a Pentecostal Church nearby and a Bible Church.

Learning in Dry Creek

Dry Creek is part of the Beauregard Parish School Board. Kids living in the area go to East Beauregard Elementary School. After that, they attend East Beauregard High School, which is about 5 miles north of the community.

Dry Creek's Historic School Building

The old Dry Creek School building was once a very important landmark. People called it the "White House." It was a grand building with a special Greek-style design.

A School's History

The school was first built in 1912. Later, in 1919–1920, more parts like wings and columns were added. The school served the community for many years. It closed in 1962. This happened when the Sugartown school and Dry Creek school joined together. They formed the new East Beauregard School.

A Sad Loss

The Dry Creek School building was so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Sadly, on February 17, 2021, the building caught fire. It burned down completely.

Dry Creek's Early Days

Dry Creek has a long and interesting history. It's one of the oldest communities in Beauregard Parish.

The First Sawmill and Cemetery

A sawmill was built in Dry Creek way back in 1841. It was used to make lumber for the first courthouse in Calcasieu Parish. This sawmill was located near Mill Bayou, south of the Dry Creek Cemetery. Both the sawmill site and the cemetery are close to an old trail. This trail connected Lake Charles to Natchitoches. It was used as a mail route in the 1840s.

Legend says the first person buried in Dry Creek Cemetery was a young girl. She was 11 or 12 years old and died around 1860 or 1861. Her family was traveling through the area. They buried her near a small cedar tree. The Spears family later bought the land in the 1870s. They officially made the Dry Creek Cemetery a community cemetery in 1880.

Early Settlers and Families

Thomas Williams is thought to be the first settler of Dry Creek. He arrived in the 1830s. He also served as the first police juror for Ward 7 of Imperial Calcasieu Parish. This parish was created in 1840. The Hanchey family later bought Williams' property. They settled in Dry Creek between 1861 and 1865.

Other early families in Dry Creek included the Iles, Lindsey, and Miller families. They lived there before 1860. The Lindsey and Miller families came to Dry Creek from northern Louisiana around 1859. Records from 1860 show these families living in Dry Creek.

The Dry Creek Cemetery's Beginnings

Many families, like the Hanchey, Pate, Bradford, and Cooper families, moved to Louisiana around 1860. They came from Florida. Some of these families may have traveled through Dry Creek in the summer of 1860.

The grave of the young girl by the cedar tree is in the middle of the original Cooper family plot. There are marked graves from the 1880s around it. Some believe this grave belongs to Lucy Ann Cooper, who was about 12 years old in 1860. Many family members who returned to Dry Creek after the Civil War were buried near this old cedar tree. The tree is now very old, estimated to be 162–178 years old. It has witnessed the long history of Dry Creek.

Notable People from Dry Creek

Dry Creek has been home to some important people who have served in government.

• James David Cain: He was a member of both the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana Senate.
• Dorothy Sue Hill: She is currently a state representative for Beauregard, Allen, and Calcasieu parishes. She is also a rancher and a retired teacher from Dry Creek.
• Herman Ray Hill: He was a state representative for the same parishes before Dorothy Sue Hill. He is also a rancher and retired teacher from Dry Creek. He is Dorothy Hill's husband.