Little Goose Creek (Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Goose Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Little Goose Creek headwaters 37°06′51″N 83°55′47″W / 37.11412°N 83.92976°W |
| 2nd source | Hooker Branch right fork headwaters 37°07′48″N 83°50′18″W / 37.12987°N 83.83824°W |
| 3rd source | Rader Creek headwaters 37°13′46″N 83°50′41″W / 37.22934°N 83.84465°W |
| 4th source | Urban Fork headwaters 37°07′19″N 83°53′19″W / 37.12189°N 83.88860°W |
| 5th source | Grays Fork headwaters 37°12′57″N 83°52′47″W / 37.21593°N 83.87977°W |
| River mouth | Goose Creek 795 feet (242 m) 37°09′33″N 83°45′58″W / 37.15929°N 83.76599°W |
Little Goose Creek is a small river, also called a tributary, in Kentucky, USA. It flows into a larger river named Goose Creek. This creek starts in Laurel County and flows through Clay County. It is about 16.5 miles (26.6 kilometers) long. When it joins Goose Creek, it is at an elevation of about 795 feet (242 meters).
Contents
Little Goose Creek: A Journey Through Kentucky
Little Goose Creek is an important part of the local water system in Kentucky. It collects water from many smaller streams and branches before joining Goose Creek. This area has a rich history, with many small communities and post offices once located along its banks.
Where Does It Flow?
Little Goose Creek begins with several small streams, known as headwaters. These include Little Goose Creek headwaters, Rader Creek headwaters, Urban Fork headwaters, Grays Fork headwaters, and Hooker Branch right fork headwaters. The creek then flows until it meets Goose Creek, just north of the town of Manchester.
Meet Its Tributaries
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Little Goose Creek. These branches add water to the main creek and often have interesting stories or names connected to the people who lived nearby.
- Its main tributaries are:
- Greenbrier Branch: This branch joins Little Goose Creek about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) upstream.
- Stone Coal Branch: About 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream, this branch meets the creek.
- Roark Branch (also known as Shed Branch): This branch joins about 3.375 miles (5.4 km) upstream.
- Raders Creek: This creek is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) long and joins Little Goose Creek about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) upstream. It was named after the family of Henry Rader.
- Spice Gap Branch: Joins Raders Creek about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) upstream.
- Rich Hollow: This branch joins Raders Creek about 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream.
- Sandlin Branch: Joins Raders Creek about 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream.
- Elphraim Branch: This branch joins about 4.125 miles (6.6 km) upstream.
- Wall Branch: Joins Elphraim Branch about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) upstream.
- Hooker Branch: This branch joins Little Goose Creek about 4.375 miles (7.0 km) upstream.
- It has several smaller forks about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) upstream.
- Grays Fork: This fork is about 5.25 miles (8.4 km) long and joins Little Goose Creek about 6.25 miles (10.1 km) upstream.
- Rogers Branch: Joins Grays Fork about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) upstream.
- Tinkers Branch (also Tinker Branch): This branch is about 1 mile (1.6 km) long and joins Grays Fork about 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream. Local stories say it was named after an old tinker (a person who mends pots and pans) who had hidden gold nearby.
- Dry Branch: Joins Grays Fork about 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream.
- It has several forks about 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream.
* Wells Branch: Joins Dry Branch about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) upstream.
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- Kinkead Branch (also spelled Kinkaid): Joins Little Goose Creek about 7 miles (11.3 km) upstream.
- Road Fork: Joins Kinkead Branch about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) upstream.
- Urban Branch: This branch was originally called Philpot Fork. It joins Little Goose Creek about 8 miles (12.9 km) upstream.
- Rock Gap Branch: Joins Little Goose Creek about 9 miles (14.5 km) upstream.
- Brock Branch: This branch joins Little Goose Creek about 9.75 miles (15.7 km) upstream.
- Kinkead Branch (also spelled Kinkaid): Joins Little Goose Creek about 7 miles (11.3 km) upstream.
Raders Creek and Its Stories
The Sory post office was opened in 1926 near Raders Creek. It was named by the postmaster, Margaret Bowling Garrison, after a friend of her husband from World War I. She had wanted to name it "Rader" first. This post office closed in 1933.
Long ago, people mined coal along Raders Creek. For example, Lucy Ledford had a mine about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) upstream. There were also mills, like William Ponder's mill, which was about 1.875 miles (3.0 km) upstream.
The Sidell post office was located about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) upstream on Raders Creek.
Hooker Branch: A Family Name
The Hooker post office opened in 1905 and closed in 1974. It was likely named after a local family, James and Emily Hooker. The post office moved a few times along the branch over the years.
Urban Branch: A Post Office's Journey
The Urban post office started in 1898 on what was then called Philpot Fork. It was named after the postmasters, Granville V. and Millie Philpot. This post office moved to several different spots along the branch before it closed in 1980.
Rock Gap: A Mystery Name
The Rockgap post office operated from 1904 to 1915. It was named after a "Rock Gap" in the area, but the exact location of this gap is not clear today.
Grays Fork: Post Offices with Special Names
Grays Fork was home to two post offices: Grace and Tinker.
The Tinker post office opened in 1889 near the mouth of Tinkers Fork. It was named after the creek itself. The post office was open until 1938 and moved between two locations along the fork.
The story behind the Grace post office is quite interesting. A United States Congressman, John D. White, was so impressed by his housekeeper, Grace Kelly, that he suggested naming the new post office after her. The Grace post office opened in 1898 and closed in 1975. It also moved a couple of times during its operation.
