Big Creek, Kentucky

{{Infobox river

| name = Big Creek

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| image_caption = Big Creek

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| source1 = Collins/Couch fork headwaters

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| source1_coordinates= {{coord|37.16569|-83.47195|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Collins/Couch fork headwaters}}

| source1_elevation =

| source2 = Upper forks of Old McHenry Fork

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| source2_coordinates= {{coord|37.13678|-83.49189|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Upper forks of Old McHenry Fork}}

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| source3 = Halls Fork headwaters

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| source3_coordinates= {{coord|37.13937|-83.46807|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Halls Fork headwaters}}

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| source4 = Left Fork Ulysses Fork headwaters

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| source4_coordinates= {{coord|37.20066|-83.50245|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Left Fork Ulysses Fork headwaters}}

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| mouth = Red Bird River{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}}

| mouth_location = {{convert|15|mile|km}} upstream{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}}

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|37.16627|-83.58214|type:river|format=dms|display=inline,title|name=Big Creek mouth}}

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|789|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}}

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Big Creek is a {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} long creek in Kentucky, United States whose headwaters are in Leslie County and that flows into the Red Bird River in Clay County.{{sfn|Rennick|2000c|p=28}}

A postoffice and village are named for it.{{sfn|Rennick|2000c|p=28}}

Its own name is likely purely descriptive of its frequent flooding and high water levels, as it is not otherwise one of the biggest tributaries of Red Bird River.{{sfn|Rennick|2000c|p=28}}

Tributaries and post offices

The mouth of Big Creek is {{convert|15|mile|km}} upstream on Red Bird River at an altitude of {{convert|789|ft|m}} above sea level.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}}

Both the Daniel Boone Parkway and Kentucky Route 80 parallel its course from its mouth to where it splits into Halls and Collins/Couch Forks.{{sfn|Rennick|2000c|p=28}}

Its major tributaries are:
Granny Branch {{convert|0.5|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|810|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}} mouth at {{coord|37.16339|-83.57474|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Granny Branch}} headwaters at {{coord|37.19484|-83.56172|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Granny Branch headwaters}}
Smith Branch {{convert|1|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|825|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}}
Bear Branch {{convert|1.875|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|850|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=114}} and {{convert|2|mi|km}} long,{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}} mouth at {{coord|37.16391|-83.54926|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Bear Branch}} upper forks at {{coord|37.15753|-83.54068|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=upper forks of Bear Branch}}
Ulysses Fork {{convert|2.5|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|860|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=116}}{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}} mouth at {{coord|37.16701|-83.54140|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Ulysses Fork}}
Schoolhouse Branch {{convert|0.375|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|870|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=116}} mouth at {{coord|37.16985|-83.53892|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Schoolhouse Branch}} upper forks at {{coord|37.18352|-83.54123|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=upper forks of Schoolhouse Branch}}
Right Fork {{convert|1.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|955|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=118}} confluence at {{coord|37.18690|-83.52628|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=confluence of Right and Left Forks of Ulysses Fork}} upper forks at {{coord|37.19748|-83.51862|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=upper forks of Right Fork Ulysses Fork}}
Left Fork {{convert|1.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|955|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=118}} mouth at {{coord|37.20690|-83.52785|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Leftt Fork Ulysses Fork}}
Meadow Fork {{convert|0.5|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|1015|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=118}} mouth at {{coord|37.19564|-83.53092|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Meadow Fork}} headwaters at {{coord|37.19748|-83.54291|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Meadow Fork headwaters}}
Chandler Branch {{convert|3.5|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|975|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=119}} mouth at {{coord|37.16872|-83.52307|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Chandler Branch}} headwaters at {{coord|37.19383|-83.50295|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Chandler Branch headwaters}}
Collins Fork (a.k.a. Couch Fork) {{convert|4|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|895|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=120}} paralleled by the Daniel Boone Parkway{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}}
Hollins Fork {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|925|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=120}} mouth at {{coord|37.16870|-83.50710|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Hollins Fork}} upper forks at {{coord|37.18743|-83.46592|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=upper forks of Hollins Fork}}
Bob Fork {{convert|0.375|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|965|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=120}} mouth at {{coord|37.17407|-83.49702|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Bob Fork}} headwaters at {{coord|37.19873|-83.49305|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=Bob Fork headwaters}}
Half-way Branch {{convert|1.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|1070|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=121}}
three forks {{convert|3|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|1210|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=122}} at {{coord|37.16769|-83.46928|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=upper forks of Collins Fork}}
Halls Fork (a.k.a. Hals Fork) {{convert|4|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|895|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=123}} which U.S. 421 parallels,{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}} confluence with Collins Fork at {{coord|37.16415|-83.51798|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=conflucnce of Halls and Collins Forks}}
Old McHenry Fork {{convert|1|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|945|ft|m}},{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=123}} mouth at {{coord|37.15653|-83.50584|type:river|format=dms|display=inline|name=mouth of Old McHenry Fork}}
McFadden Branch {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|1000|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=123}}
Patton Branch {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|1005|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=124}}
Poplar Gap Branch {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream at altitude {{convert|1005|ft|m}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=124}}

= Big Creek village and post office =

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Big Creek, Kentucky

|settlement_type = village and post office

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|pushpin_map = Kentucky

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = Kentucky

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Clay, Leslie

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|timezone = Eastern (EST)

|utc_offset = -5

|timezone_DST = EDT

|utc_offset_DST = -4

|elevation_footnotes =

|elevation_m =

|elevation_ft = 866

|coordinates = {{coord|37|09|44|N|83|34|08|W|type:postoffice_region:US-KY|display=inline|name=Big Creek post office}}

|postal_code_type = ZIP code

|postal_code = 40914

|area_code = 606

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The post office named after it was established by James Marcum on January 10, 1871.{{sfn|Rennick|2000c|p=28}}

Originally located one mile up from the Red Bird River, it has moved several times up and down the creek, and as of 2000 was located three quarters of a mile up from the Red Bird, serving the Big Creek village.{{sfn|Rennick|2000c|p=28}}

The village is located on U.S. Route 421, {{convert|10.7|mi|km}} east of Manchester.{{cite map |publisher=Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |title=State Primary Road System: Clay County |url=http://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/SPRS%20Maps/Clay.pdf |format=PDF |year=2013 |access-date=February 22, 2013 }}

Big Creek postoffice has ZIP code 40914.{{cite web |url=http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action |title=USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code |access-date=2012-02-15 |author=United States Postal Service |year=2012}}{{cite web|title=Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code|url=http://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt008.cfm|publisher=United States Postal Service|access-date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017172656/https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt008.cfm|url-status=dead}}

= Bear Branch post office =

A Bear Branch post office was established by William Britton on November 10, 1923, named after the branch.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}}

Originally located a mere {{convert|50|ft|m}} across the county line into Clay, it was moved on February 12, 1924, to Ulysses Creek by postmaster Thomas T. Hensley.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}}

It moved again when U.S. 421 was built, to a point next to the highway, and a further time in 1936 to its present location just below the branch {{convert|100|yd|m}} from the Clay county line.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=20}}

= Jason post office =

A Jason post office was established by postmaster Billie Jones to serve Hollins Fork on September 1, 1937.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=20}}

During its lifetime from then until July 1965, it was located in three different places along the fork, above the Bear Branch post office, ending up less than {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} from the original site of Obed post office.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=20}}

The postmaster's original choice of name, Elim, was disregarded because of potential confusion with an Elem post office in Rockcastle County.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=20}}

= Obed post office =

Couch Fork used to be named Collins Fork, and the Obed post office, founded on January 26, 1903, by postmaster Levi Couch, used to lie between Collins and Hollins Forks.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}}

Obed was in 1936 moved downhill to the Twin Branch tributary of Collins/Couch Fork and closed in 1938.{{sfn|Rennick|2000l|p=19}}

=General=

In 1918, P.D. Marcum had a mine {{convert|1.25|mile|km}} upstream on Granny Branch,{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=112}} and Thomas A. Bird had one on a minor fork of Bear {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=114}}

Lee Crawford had two mines, one {{convert|0.175|mile|km}} upstream and one {{convert|2|mile|km}} upstream on Bear Branch.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=114}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=115}}

Thomas Hensley had one on a minor fork of Ulysses Fork {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream,{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=117}} Felix Roberts had one on a minor fork of Right Fork Ulysses Fork {{convert|1.75|mile|km}} upstream,{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=118}} and J. M. Finley had one at the mouth of Meadow Fork and one {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream on Left Fork Ulysses Fork.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=118}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=119}}

H.B. Collins's mine was on a minor fork of Half-Way Branch {{convert|0.75|mile|km}} upstream.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=120}}

Wesley McFadden's was on McFadden Branch {{convert|0.5|mile|km}} upstream.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=123}}

Hiram Collins lived {{convert|2.5|mile|km}} upstream on Halls Fork where there had been an older Collins mine.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=126}}{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=125}}

On Big Creek itself, Wiley Spurlock had a mine {{convert|1.25|mile|km}} upstream,{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=114}} and Hiram Sizemore had one on a minor fork opposite the mouth of Collins.{{sfn|Hodge|1918|p=122}}

Cross-reference

Sources

{{cite book|title=The coals of Goose Creek and its tributaries|volume=4|issue=3|series=Reports of the Kentucky Geological Survey 4th series 1912–1918|publisher=The State Journal Company|location=Frankfort, Kentucky|author1-first=James Michael|author1-last=Hodge|year=1918}} ({{Internet Archive|id=thecoalsofgoosec00hodgrich|name=The coals of Goose Creek and its tributaries}})
{{cite journal|author1-last=Rennick|author1-first=Robert M.|title=Clay County — Post Offices|year=2000c|journal=County Histories of Kentucky|number=176|url=https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/kentucky_county_histories/176|publisher=Morehead State University}}
{{cite journal|author1-last=Rennick|author1-first=Robert M.|title=Leslie County — Post Offices & Place Names|year=2000l|journal=County Histories of Kentucky|number=241|url=https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/kentucky_county_histories/241|publisher=Morehead State University}}