Peteetneet Creek facts for kids
Peteetneet Creek is a small stream in Payson Canyon, Utah. It flows near the town of Payson.
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What is Peteetneet Creek?
The creek gets its name from Chief Peteetneet. He was a leader of the Timpanogos people who lived nearby. The creek starts where two smaller streams meet. One is called Shram Creek. The other flows from Frank Young Canyon.
Instead of flowing into a big lake like Utah Lake, the creek actually ends inside Payson. It disappears near a street intersection in the southern part of the town. However, old maps show that it used to flow a bit further north. It once reached an area north of Memorial Park.
History of Peteetneet Creek
Peteetneet Creek was an important stop on the Mormon Road. This was a famous wagon route used by pioneers and gold seekers. It connected Salt Lake City, Utah, to Los Angeles, California.
Pioneer Settlement
The Latter-day Saints first settled in Payson in 1850. The creek provided a good place for them to camp.
The Los Angeles - Salt Lake Road
In 1855, the Mormon Road was improved. It then became known as the Los Angeles - Salt Lake Road. This was a major route for wagons carrying goods. It was used every year from late fall through winter and into early spring. This was because winter snows blocked other routes. For example, the Sierra Nevada Mountains blocked the way to San Francisco. The Rocky Mountains blocked the way to the eastern United States.
This road was the only way to connect Utah to the outside world during winter. This continued until the railroad arrived in Utah in the late 1860s.
