Elkhorn Creek (Tug Fork tributary) facts for kids

Elkhorn Creek is a cool stream in West Virginia, USA. It flows for about 23.7-mile (38.1 km). This creek is a tributary of the Tug Fork. A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one.

Elkhorn Creek is part of a much bigger water system. Its waters eventually join the Ohio River and then the mighty Mississippi River. This means it's part of the huge watershed that drains a large area of North America. Sometimes, people also call it Elkhorn Fork or Elkhorn River.

What's in a Name?

Have you ever wondered how places get their names? For Elkhorn Creek, there's a fun story! Long ago, a pioneer hunter was near the creek's mouth. He showed off an elk's horn there. That's how the creek supposedly got its name, "Elkhorn Creek."

Smaller Streams that Join It

Many smaller streams flow into Elkhorn Creek, making it bigger and stronger. These are its tributary streams. They are listed here starting from where Elkhorn Creek begins (its source) all the way to where it ends (its mouth):

• Angle Hollow
• Turkey Gap Branch
• Johns Knob Branch
• Lick Branch
• Trace Branch
• North Fork Elkhorn Creek
  • Bearwallow Branch
  • Buzzard Branch
• Burk Creek
• Clark Branch
• Coalbank Branch
• Big Branch
• Bottom Creek
• Rockhouse Branch
• Laurel Branch
• Upper Belcher Branch
• Lick Branch
• Meetinghouse Branch
• Mill Creek

Towns Along the Creek

Elkhorn Creek flows through or near several towns and communities in West Virginia. These places are located in McDowell and Mercer counties. Here are some of the towns you can find along Elkhorn Creek:

• Big Four
• Bottom Creek
• Eckman
• Elkhorn
• Ennis
• Keystone
• Kimball
• Kyle
• Landgraff
• Maitland
• Maybeury
• Northfork
• Powhatan
• Superior
• Switchback
• Upland
• Vivian
• Welch