Whiskey Chitto Creek facts for kids
Whiskey Chitto Creek is a long, clear stream in Louisiana, United States. It's also known as Ouiska Chitto Creek or officially Whisky Chitto Creek. This creek is fed by natural springs. It flows for about 86 miles (139 kilometers). The creek runs through Allen, Beauregard, and Vernon parishes. It eventually joins the Calcasieu River. You can find it between the towns of Mittie and Reeves, Louisiana.
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Exploring Whiskey Chitto Creek
What Makes This Creek Special?
Whiskey Chitto Creek is part of a larger water system. This system is called the Calcasieu-Mermentau Basin. The creek is surrounded by beautiful forests. These forests have a mix of pine and hardwood trees. The creek also flows through gentle, low hills.
Who Lives Around the Creek?
Many animals call the area around Whiskey Chitto Creek home. You might see deer, raccoons, and wild turkeys. There are also farm animals like livestock nearby. The creek itself is full of fish. Anglers can find largemouth bass, striped bass, spotted bass, and bream here.
A Popular Place to Visit
This creek flows through the Kisatchie National Forest. It's a well-known spot for locals to visit and enjoy nature. The Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District helps manage the creek. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has called it a "scenic waterway." This means it's a beautiful and important natural area. In 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it was a 'navigable stream.' This means boats can travel on it.
How Did Whiskey Chitto Creek Get Its Name?
The original people who lived in this area were the Choctaw. They gave the creek its first name, Ouiska Chitto. This name means "Big Cane Creek." The Choctaw words were uski for cane and chito for large. Cane is a type of tall grass that grows near water.
Later, French-speaking settlers and then Anglo-American settlers used a similar name. Over time, it became known as "Whiskey Chitto Creek."
In 1963, the United States Board on Geographic Names made an important decision. This board is in charge of official geographic names in the U.S. They decided that the official spelling for the creek is Whisky Chitto Creek.
