Ladder Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ladder Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Beaver Creek, Chalk Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado, Kansas |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Firstview, Colorado 4,565 ft (1,391 m) 38°48′45″N 102°32′37″W / 38.81250°N 102.54361°W |
| River mouth | Smoky Hill River Elkader, Kansas 2,631 ft (802 m) 38°47′57″N 100°51′36″W / 38.79917°N 100.86000°W |
| Length | 230 mi (370 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,407 sq mi (3,640 km2) |
| Watersheds | Ladder-Smoky Hill-Kansas-Missouri-Mississippi |
Ladder Creek is a stream in the central Great Plains of North America. It is about 230 miles (370 km) long. This creek is a branch, or tributary, of the Smoky Hill River. It starts in eastern Colorado and flows into western Kansas.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Ladder Creek has a cool story behind its name! It's also sometimes called Beaver Creek. A group of surveyors found an old ladder almost hidden in the grass near the creek. When they tried to pull it out, it fell apart. The ladder was a mystery because no one knew why it was there. Its steps were tied to the sides with animal hide. This discovery was so important that the surveyors named the stream Ladder Creek.
Where Does Ladder Creek Flow?
Ladder Creek begins in the High Plains area. This region is part of the larger Great Plains. The creek generally flows towards the east.
Its source is near Firstview, Colorado. This is in central Cheyenne County. From there, the creek flows east into western Kansas. In southern Wallace County, it turns southeast. Then it flows east again in north-central Wichita County. Finally, in Scott County, it turns north. Ladder Creek then joins the Smoky Hill River near Elkader, Kansas. This meeting point is in southwestern Logan County.
In north-central Scott County, Ladder Creek was blocked by a dam. This created a small lake called Lake Scott.
A Look Back in Time
Ladder Creek has a rich history!
Ancient Village Site
In 1664, some Taos people built a small village. They were trying to get away from Spanish rule. This village was on the west bank of Ladder Creek. Today, this spot is in north-central Scott County, Kansas. People lived there on and off until 1727.
Archaeologists from the University of Kansas dug up the site in the 1890s. It became known as El Cuartelejo. This is the northernmost ancient village site of its kind in the United States.
Lake Scott State Park
In 1928, the Government of Kansas bought the land around El Cuartelejo. They wanted to create a state park. The next year, they built a dam on Ladder Creek. This dam created Lake Scott. The park then became known as Lake Scott State Park. It's a great place for people to visit today.
A Historic Battle
In September 1878, a battle took place near Ladder Creek. The U.S. Army fought the Northern Cheyenne people. This event is known as the Battle of Punished Woman's Fork. It happened on bluffs overlooking the creek. This spot is a few miles south of El Cuartelejo.
