French Creek (Cheyenne River tributary)
| French Creek | |
|---|---|
  Location of French Creek | |
| Location | |
| States | South Dakota |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | confluence of North Fork French Creek and South Fork French Creek |
| • location | Black Hills |
| • coordinates | 43°46′51″N 103°43′12″W / 43.780951°N 103.720116°W |
| Mouth | Cheyenne River |
• location | Red Shirt, South Dakota |
• coordinates | 43°38′45″N 102°55′20″W / 43.645777°N 102.922106°W |
| Length | 62 mi (100 km) |
French Creek[1] is an intermittent stream located in the Black Hills region of western South Dakota, United States. It is a tributary of the Cheyenne River. French Creek flows year-round, but in drier periods it flows into an underground drainage near the eastern boundary of Custer State Park and never reaches the Cheyenne.
French Creek rises approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Custer, South Dakota and extends for a length of 62 miles (100 km). The river flows in a generally eastward direction through Custer State Park and empties into the Cheyenne River near Red Shirt west of Badlands National Park. Custer State Park has a trail in French Creek Natural Area[2] and a horse camp, both along the river.[3] Near the river's eastern terminus on the prairie, French Creek Camping Area is part of a National Forest.[4]
French Creek most likely was named for the ancestry of early trappers.[5] Gold was discovered in French Creek during an expedition led by George Armstrong Custer in 1874. This discovery triggered the Black Hills gold rush of the late 1870s.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: French Creek (Cheyenne River tributary)
- ^ "French Creek Natural Area". www.blackhillsbadlands.com. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
- ^ "Custer State Park". South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
- ^ "French Creek Camping Area". Nebraska National Forest. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ Federal Writers' Project (1940). South Dakota place-names, v.3. University of South Dakota. p. 32.
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