Mill Creek (Tulare County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mill Creek |
|
|---|---|
Mill Creek near Mayors Park in Green Acres
|
Mill Creek is a small waterway, also known as a creek, located in Tulare County, California. It is a special kind of branch, called a distributary, that flows out from the larger Kaweah River. Mill Creek is one of four main creeks that run right through the city of Visalia.
Contents
The Story of Mill Creek
How Mill Creek Got Its Name
Mill Creek was named a long time ago after a special building called a grist mill. This mill belonged to a person named Dr. Mathew. A grist mill is a place where grains, like wheat or corn, are ground into flour. The mill likely used the water from the creek to power its machinery.
When the Creek Went Underground
In 1910, people decided to make some big changes to Mill Creek. They lined parts of the creek with cement and even covered some sections. Roads and buildings were then built right over the top of it. Today, about one-third of a mile of Mill Creek flows hidden beneath the ground.
People hoped that covering the creek would stop the area from flooding. However, even with these changes, flooding continued to be a problem sometimes.
Bringing the Creek Back to Light
The city of Visalia was originally built right next to the banks of Mill Creek. Even though a part of the creek that goes through Downtown is currently underground in a concrete tunnel, there are exciting plans to uncover it. This project would bring the creek back to the surface, allowing people to see and enjoy it once more.
