Martins Creek (Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Martins Creek |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Martin Creek |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Martin Creek headwaters 37°03′36″N 83°37′33″W / 37.06007°N 83.62592°W |
| River mouth | Goose Creek 830 feet (250 m) 37°04′33″N 83°41′13″W / 37.07574°N 83.68696°W |
Martins Creek, also known as Martin Creek, is a small creek in Clay County, Kentucky. It flows into a larger stream called Goose Creek. This creek is about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) long. It was named after an early settler in the area, Salathiel Martin. For a time, there was even a post office named after the creek!
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About Martins Creek
Martins Creek is located about 9.5 miles (15.3 kilometers) from the town of Manchester. The point where it joins Goose Creek is about 830 feet (253 meters) above sea level.
Creek Branches
Martins Creek has smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries. The main tributary of Martins Creek is:
- Moses Branch: This branch joins Martins Creek about 1.75 miles (2.8 kilometers) upstream from its mouth. It is located at an altitude of about 905 feet (276 meters).
History of Post Offices
Over the years, several small post offices were set up near Martins Creek. These offices helped people in the area send and receive mail.
Martin Creek Post Office
The first post office named after the creek was the Martin Creek post office. It opened on July 10, 1876. It was located just a short distance downstream from where Martins Creek flows into Goose Creek. This post office closed a couple of years later, on September 20, 1878.
Wages Post Office
Another post office, called Wages, opened on February 6, 1884. It was started by a person named William Wages. This post office was located about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) upstream along Martins Creek from its mouth. William Wages had actually wanted to name it "Martins Creek" at first. The Wages post office closed in November 1885.
Plank Post Office
The Plank post office was established on December 7, 1906. It was located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) upstream along Martins Creek. This post office served several lumber mills in the area. It also served a store owned by J. B. Walker. Local stories say that the post office got its name from a long piece of wood, or "plank," that was propped against a mill wall. Lumber mills sometimes did this to show off the longest plank they had cut. The Plank post office stayed open for a long time, finally closing in September 1992.
Local Mines
In the early 1900s, there were some small mines in the area around Martins Creek. For example, in 1918, Silas Wages had a mine about 0.25 miles (0.4 kilometers) upstream on Moses Branch. J. B. Walker, who owned the store near the Plank post office, also had a mine about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) upstream on Moses Branch. His house was located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) upstream on Martins Creek itself.
