French Creek, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
French Creek
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 French Creek
Location in West Virginia
French Creek
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Upshur |
| Elevation | 1,460 ft (450 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
26218
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| GNIS feature ID | 1554511 |
French Creek is a small, quiet place in Upshur County, West Virginia, United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a town that doesn't have its own local government like a city does.
French Creek is about 9.5 miles south of Buckhannon, which is the main town in Upshur County. You can find it right on West Virginia Route 20. It's famous for being home to the West Virginia State Wildlife Center. This special place used to be known as the "French Creek Game Farm." It's like a zoo, but it mainly features animals that live in West Virginia or used to live there.
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Discover French Creek: Home to Amazing Animals!
The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is a must-see! It's a zoological park where you can learn about many different animals. You'll see both animals native to the area and some that were brought in.
Some of the most popular animals you can visit include American bison, which are huge and impressive. You might also spot playful North American river otters. Don't miss the powerful black bears and the majestic mountain lions. It's a great place to see wildlife up close!
A Look Back in Time: French Creek's History
French Creek was first settled a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Many of the first families to live here were Presbyterians from New England. Some of their family names were Gould, Young, Phillips, Burr, Sexton, Brooks, Alden, and Loomis.
The community got its first post office in 1822. This was only the second post office ever opened in Upshur County! The town gets its name from a nearby stream, also called French Creek. This stream flows into the Buckhannon River.
For a while in the 1800s, French Creek had a funny nickname: "Snatchburg." People say this name came from how local shopkeepers were seen as very eager to make a sale!
Important Places in History
The French Creek Presbyterian Church is a very old and important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The land for the church was kindly given by the Young family, one of the first families to settle here.
A local man named Ralph "Boone" Young lived on Bush Run Road in French Creek. He was known for keeping wild animals like bobcats at his home. People would often visit to see his animals. Boone Young was also a trapper and helped start the Game Farm, which is now the West Virginia State Wildlife Center.
Meet a Notable Person from French Creek
- Maurice Graham Brooks (1900–1993) was a very important person from French Creek. He was a biologist and forester. He became a famous expert on the natural history of the Appalachian mountains. He helped us understand the plants and animals of this region much better.
