Lake Merritt (Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Merritt |
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 Lake Merritt
Location in Texas
Lake Merritt
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mills County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 31°31′56″N 98°34′39″W / 31.53222°N 98.57750°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Surface elevation | 1,129 feet (344 m) |
Lake Merritt is a small, private lake in Mills County, Texas, about 7 miles north of Goldthwaite, Texas. It's a manmade lake, meaning people built it. It was first made to hold water for train engines, but now it's a fun place for people to relax and play. The lake sits high up, at about 1,129 feet (344 m) above sea level. Sometimes, it's also called Brown's Creek.
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History of Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt was built in 1915 by a company called the Santa Fe Railway Company. This company used to run trains. They needed a place to store water for their steam engines. These engines used steam to move, and they needed a lot of water! The railway line was about 3.5 miles west of the lake, near a place called Bozar.
The name "Merritt" probably came from a railroad engineer who worked for the Santa Fe Railway. After steam engines were no longer used, the lake was sold. A group of people bought it to turn it into a fun place for recreation. They called themselves the Mills County Hunting and Fishing Club. Even though the lake was meant for club members, many local people, especially teenagers, loved to go there for fishing and swimming.
A Possible Water Source
In the 1960s, the leaders of Goldthwaite city thought about using Lake Merritt as the main water supply for their town. They asked an engineering company for advice. After looking into it, the city leaders decided not to use Lake Merritt. Instead, they chose the Colorado River as their water source.
Brown's Creek Connection
Even though some maps show Lake Merritt as "Brown's Creek," its official name has been Lake Merritt since it was built. Brown's Creek is a smaller stream that flows into a larger one called the Pecan Bayou.
The place where Brown's Creek joins Pecan Bayou is at a bridge on Ranch Road #574, west of Goldthwaite. Pecan Bayou itself is one of many smaller rivers, called tributaries, that flow into the big Colorado River.
What's Happening Now
Lake Merritt is still in use today. Some new homes and communities are being built along its shores, especially for people who are retired. There is a person called a "lake keeper" who lives on the west side of the lake. They help look after the lake and its buildings. The lake has a rule that only four boats can be on the water at one time. This helps keep the lake peaceful and safe for everyone.
