Sugar Creek (Sangamon River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sugar Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Sangamon County southeast of Waverly, Illinois 39°32′37″N 89°55′11″W / 39.543661°N 89.9198269°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Sangamon east of Springfield, Illinois 518 ft (158 m) 39°48′40″N 89°32′33″W / 39.8111609°N 89.5425962°W |
| Length | 53 mi (85 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Sugar Creek → Sangamon → Illinois → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 419267 |
Sugar Creek is a large stream in central Illinois, United States. It is a tributary, which means it flows into another, larger river. Sugar Creek joins the Sangamon River.
This creek starts in southwestern Sangamon County. It then flows through a small part of Macoupin County. After that, it heads northeast through Sangamon County. Finally, it empties into Lake Springfield. Sugar Creek helps drain water from towns like Auburn and Virden, Illinois. The creek is about 52.8 miles (85.0 km) long.
A Look Back: Sugar Creek's History
Long ago, Sugar Creek was special because it had some of the most southern sugar maple trees in Illinois. These trees were important for making maple syrup. The land around the creek was also very fertile, meaning it was good for farming.
Early Settlers and the Maple Trees
After the War of 1812 ended, pioneers became very interested in this area. In 1817, a family group led by Robert Pulliam built cabins here. They settled near where the village of Glenarm is today. Many more pioneers followed Pulliam's group in the 1820s. These settlers helped to build communities in central Illinois. Most of them came from the southern parts of the United States.
The Famous Covered Bridge
In 1880, local leaders built a special covered bridge over Sugar Creek. This bridge is called the Sugar Creek Covered Bridge. It was built near where the old sugar maple grove and Robert Pulliam's cabin once stood.
The bridge uses a design called a Burr arch. It stretches 60 feet (18 meters) across the creek. As of 2008, this bridge is one of only four original covered bridges left in Illinois. It has been rebuilt several times, but always using its original wooden parts. The Sugar Creek Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is an important historical site.
