Sny Magill Creek facts for kids
Sny Magill Creek is a small stream in Iowa that flows into the Upper Mississippi River. It starts in the middle of Clayton County, Iowa, and joins the Mississippi River about two miles north of the town of Clayton, Iowa. This creek is known for being one of the best places in Iowa to find trout, a type of fish. It collects water from a large area, about 22,780 acres (92.2 square kilometers). Much of the land around the creek is covered in forests and is part of the Sny Magill-North Cedar Creek Wildlife Management Area, a special place where nature is protected.
What's in a Name?
The name "Sny Magill" has an interesting history. It comes from the slough, or slow-moving water channel, that the creek flows into before reaching the Mississippi River.
How the Name Started
According to a history book from 1916, the French explorers and traders, called voyageurs, first named this slough "Chinaille Magill." This French name meant "Magill's channel" or "Magill's slough."
Donald Magill's Trading Post
The "Magill" part of the name comes from a Scottish man named Donald Magill. In 1814, he built a trading house right by this slough, close to where Sny Magill Creek flows in. For several years, Donald Magill traded with the Sacs and Musquakee Native American tribes.
Spanish Influence
Later, the Spanish people who explored the area also called this slough "The Sny Magill." The small stream that flows into it then took on the same name and has kept it ever since. Sometimes, people mistakenly call it "Sly Magill," but its correct name is Sny Magill. Donald Magill passed away in St. Louis around the year 1820.
