Lipscomb County Creeks
Source: The Handbook of Texas Online
BUFFALO CREEK
CANYON CREEK
CAMP CREEK
CAT CREEK
EAST BUFFALO CREEK
FIFTH CREEK
MAMMOTH CREEK
COTTONWOOD CREEK
SAND CREEK
PLUM CREEK
SECOND CREEK
THIRD CREEK
FOURTH CREEK
HORSE CREEK
SKUNK CREEK
BIG TIMBER CREEK
IVANHOE CREEK
WILLOW CREEK
FIRST CREEK
WOLF CREEK
GIBSON CREEK
KIOWA CREEK
GILHULA CREEK
BUFFALO CREEK
Buffalo Creek rises
twenty miles south of Booker in southwestern Lipscomb County (at
36°07' N, 100°32' W) and runs north for about six miles to its
mouth on Wolf Creek, eleven miles west of Lipscomb (at 36°14' N,
100°28' W). The Jones and Plummer Trail followed the course of
the stream to its mouth, near where the Barton brothers first
settled in 1878, an area later included in the Cresswell and
Seven K ranchq ranges. Buffalo Creek traverses terrain that
varies from flat to rolling, with local escarpments. Native
vegetation comprises mesquite brush and grasses in deep, fine
sandy loam.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: A History of Lipscomb County, Texas, 1876-1976
(Lipscomb, Texas: Lipscomb County Historical Survey Committee,
1976). Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County (M.A.
thesis, West Texas State College, 1941).
CANYON CREEK
Canyon Creek rises ten
miles northeast of Higgins in southeastern Lipscomb County (at
36°05' N, 100°09' W) and runs north for nine miles to its mouth
on Wolf Creek, seven miles east of Lipscomb (at 35°15' N,
100°07' W). The stream traverses terrain that varies from flat
to rolling, with some local escarpments. Native vegetation
consists primarily of mesquite and grasses growing in deep, fine
sandy loams.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: A History of Lipscomb County, Texas, 1876-1976
(Lipscomb, Texas: Lipscomb County Historical Survey Committee,
1976).
CAMP CREEK
Camp Creek, fed by Camp
Springs, rises five miles east of Higgins in southeastern
Lipscomb County (at 36°07' N, 100°04' W) and runs north for ten
miles to its mouth on Wolf Creek, fifteen miles east of Lipscomb
(at 36°15' N, 100°05' W). The stream was on Elga Page's ranch
and probably was an Indian campsite. The eastern branch of the
Jones and Plummer Trail crossed it, and the headquarters of the
Box T Ranch was established on it in 1885. The terrain varies
from flat to rolling, with some local escarpments, and is
surfaced by deep, fine sandy loam that supports mesquite and
grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: A History of Lipscomb County, Texas, 1876-1976
(Lipscomb, Texas: Lipscomb County Historical Survey Committee,
1976). Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County (M.A.
thesis, West Texas State College, 1941).
CAT CREEK
Cat Creek rises five
miles northeast of Lipscomb in central Lipscomb County (at
36°14' N, 100°15' W) and runs south for four miles to its mouth
on Wolf Creek, two miles east of Lipscomb (at 36°14' N, 100°14'
W). It crosses flat to rolling terrain with some local
escarpments, surfaced by deep, fine sandy loams that support
mesquite and grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County
(M.A. thesis, West Texas State College, 1941).
EAST BUFFALO CREEK
East Buffalo Creek rises
in southwestern Lipscomb County (at 36°10' N, 100°27' W) and
runs north for seven miles to its mouth on Wolf Creek (at 36°14'
N, 100°25' W). East Buffalo Creek was near the Jones and Plummer
Trail and was part of the Seven K Ranch range. The area is flat
with local shallow depressions; water-tolerant hardwoods,
conifers, and grasses grow from clay and sandy loam soils.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: A History of Lipscomb County, Texas, 1876-1976
(Lipscomb, Texas: Lipscomb County Historical Survey Committee,
1976). Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County (M.A.
thesis, West Texas State College, 1941). Pauline D. and R. L.
Robertson, Cowman's Country: Fifty Frontier Ranches in the Texas
Panhandle, 1876-1887 (Amarillo: Paramount, 1981).
FIFTH CREEK
Fifth Creek rises eight
miles south of Darrouzett in central Lipscomb County (at 36°22'
N, 100°20' W) and runs south for seven miles to its mouth on
Wolf Creek, three miles west of Lipscomb (at 36°14' N, 100°19'
W). It was once within the Seven K Ranch range. The stream
traverses flat to rolling terrain with some local escarpments,
surfaced by thick, fine sandy loams that support mesquite and
grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County
(M.A. thesis, West Texas State College, 1941).
MAMMOTH CREEK
Mammoth Creek rises in
northern Lipscomb County (at 36°27' N, 100°12' W) and flows
southeast for fifteen miles to its mouth on Wolf Creek, just
across the state line in Ellis County, Oklahoma (at 36°16' N,
99°59' W). The creek was spring fed and flowed constantly until
1952. It was named by J. C. Studer in the late 1880s after
fossilized mammoth bones were discovered on its banks. A rural
post office, known first as Mammoth and then as Shadeland, was
located near the stream south of Follett and remained in
operation until 1916. The creek begins in flat to rolling terrain
with local escarpments, where hardwood forest, brush, and grasses
grow in fine sandy loam, and moves into a flat to rolling,
locally active dune area characterized by sand and bunch grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: A History of Lipscomb County, Texas, 1876-1976
(Lipscomb, Texas: Lipscomb County Historical Survey Committee,
1976). Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County (M.A.
thesis, West Texas State College, 1941). Pauline D. and R. L.
Robertson, Cowman's Country: Fifty Frontier Ranches in the Texas
Panhandle, 1876-1887 (Amarillo: Paramount, 1981).
COTTONWOOD CREEK
Cottonwood Creek rises
eleven miles southeast of Higgins in southern Lipscomb County (at
36°05' N, 100°16' W) and runs northeast for ten miles to its
mouth on Wolf Creek, four miles east of Lipscomb (at 36°15' N,
100°12' W). It traverses flat to rolling terrain with local
escarpments, surfaced by deep, fine sandy loams that support
native vegetation including mesquite shrubs and grasses.
SAND CREEK
Sand Creek rises in
southwestern Lipscomb County (at 36°06' N, 100°26' W) and flows
northeast for twelve miles, through flat to rolling terrain
characterized by deep, fine sandy loams, to its mouth on Wolf
Creek, near Lipscomb (at 36 14' N, 100 17' W). The surrounding
vegetation is primarily brush and grasses. The spring-fed creek
once flowed constantly but is now mostly dry. It was in the heart
of the old Seven K range.
PLUM CREEK
Plum Creek rises in
south central Lipscomb County (at 36°04' N, 100°19' W) twenty
miles southwest of Higgins and runs north for nine miles to its
mouth (at 36°14' N, 100°15' W) on Wolf Creek, two miles east of
Lipscomb. The first headquarters of what became the Box T Ranch
was established on Plum Creek in 1878. The creek traverses
terrain that varies from flat to rolling, with some local
escarpments. Native vegetation consists of mesquite and grasses
in deep, fine, sandy loams.
SECOND CREEK
Second Creek rises eight
miles southwest of Darrouzett in northwestern Lipscomb County (at
36°22' N, 100°26' W) and runs south for seven miles to its
mouth on Wolf Creek, fifteen miles west of Lipscomb (at 36°15'
N, 100°26' W). Second Creek is on the route of the Jones and
Plummer Trail, and much of the creek was included in the old
Seven K range. The creek flows through an area where the terrain
varies from flat to rolling, with some local escarpments. Native
vegetation consists of mesquite, sandsage, and grasses in soil
composed of deep, fine sandy loam.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County
(M.A. thesis, West Texas State College, 1941).
THIRD CREEK
Third Creek rises ten
miles southwest of Darrouzett in northwestern Lipscomb County (at
36°21' N, 100°24' W) and runs south for six miles to its mouth
on Wolf Creek, seven miles south of Lipscomb (at 36°15' N,
100°24' W). The creek flows through terrain that varies from
flat to rolling, with local escarpments. Native vegetation
consists of mesquite, sand sage, and shin oak brush in deep, fine
sandy loams.
FOURTH CREEK
Fourth Creek rises
sixteen miles southwest of Darrouzett in north central Lipscomb
County (at 36°21' N, 100°22' W) and runs south for seven miles
to its mouth on Wolf Creek, seven miles west of Lipscomb (at
36°14' N, 100°21' W). It traverses flat to rolling terrain with
some local escarpments, surfaced by deep, fine sandy loams that
support mesquite, brush, and grasses. The creek's lower portion
was within the Seven K Ranch range.
HORSE CREEK
Horse Creek rises in two
branches in southwestern Lipscomb County (at 36°07' N, 100°27'
W) and runs south for twelve miles, through flat to rolling
terrain surfaced by deep fine sandy loams, before reaching its
mouth on the Canadian River, in northwestern Hemphill County (at
35°57' N, 100°27' W). Local vegetation includes brush and
grasses. The stream was part of the Cresswell
SKUNK CREEK
Skunk Creek rises seven
miles southwest of Darrouzett in north central Lipscomb County
(at 36°23' N, 100°16' W) and flows southeast for ten miles
until it reaches its mouth on Wolf Creek, nine miles northeast of
Lipscomb (at 36°15' N, 100°10' W). The creek flows through an
area once leased and operated by the S Bar T Ranch. The terrain
there varies from flat to rolling with some local escarpments.
Native vegetation consists of mesquite and various grasses in
soil composed of deep, fine sandy loams.
BIG TIMBER CREEK
Big Timber Creek rises
in two forks thirteen miles southwest of Lipscomb in southern
Lipscomb County (at 36°06' N, 100°24' W) and flows south for
twenty miles to its mouth on the Canadian River, three miles
northwest of Canadian in northwestern Hemphill County (at 35°56'
N, 100°25' W). It was once part of the Cresswell (Bar CC) Ranch
properties. The stream crosses flat to rolling country with
moderate relief and local escarpments, surfaced with sand and
sandy loam that support mesquite brush and grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Pauline D. and R. L. Robertson, Cowman's Country:
Fifty Frontier Ranches in the Texas Panhandle, 1876-1887
(Amarillo: Paramount, 1981).
IVANHOE CREEK
Ivanhoe Creek rises in
the Follett oilfield just north of Follett in extreme
northeastern Lipscomb County (at 36°27' N, 100°11' W) and runs
fourteen miles southeast before reaching the Oklahoma state line;
its mouth is on Wolf Creek in Ellis County, Oklahoma (at 36°17'
N, 99°57' W). The stream traverses flat to rolling terrain
characterized by deep, fine, sandy loam soils. Local vegetation
is primarily brush and grasses. Ivanhoe Creek was part of the old
YL Ranch properties.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Clinton Leon Paine, The History of Lipscomb County
(M.A. thesis, West Texas State College, 1941).
WILLOW CREEK
Willow Creek rises nine
miles west of Higgins in southeastern Lipscomb County (at 36°08'
N, 100°12' W) and flows north for seven miles to its mouth on
Wolf Creek (at 36°14' N, 100°09' W). The creek was on J. R.
Wheat's ranch and, fed by Willow Spring, flowed constantly until
the drought of 1950. It was part of the old Box T range. Willow
Creek flows through flat to rolling terrain composed of mostly
deep, fine, sandy loams that support brush and grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Pauline D. and R. L. Robertson, Cowman's Country:
Fifty Frontier Ranches in the Texas Panhandle, 1876-1887
(Amarillo: Paramount, 1981).
FIRST CREEK
First Creek rises a mile
from the Ochiltree-Lipscomb county line in southeastern Ochiltree
County (at 36°21' N, 100°34' W) and runs southeast for eight
miles to its mouth on Wolf Creek in Lipscomb County (at 36°15'
N, 100°27' W). The stream was on the route of the Jones and
Plummer Trail and on the range of the Seven K Ranch. First Creek
traverses flat to rolling terrain with some local escarpments,
surfaced by thick, fine sandy loam that supports mesquite brush
and grasses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Pauline D. and R. L. Robertson, Cowman's Country:
Fifty Frontier Ranches in the Texas Panhandle, 1876-1887
(Amarillo: Paramount, 1981).
WOLF CREEK
Wolf Creek rises at the junction of its main and south forks in central Ochiltree County (at 36°18' N, 100°56' W) and flows east seventy miles across Lipscomb County, Texas, and central Ellis and northwestern Woodward counties, Oklahoma, to its mouth on the Canadian River (at 36°35' N, 99°30' W). The surrounding terrain is typically flat with local escarpments. Brush and grasses grow in the mostly deep, fine sandy loam along its banks. Evidences of pre-Columbian Indian habitation on Wolf Creek were discovered with the excavations of the "Buried City" in Ochiltree County.
The Coronado expedition is thought to have come by the stream on its way to Quivira in 1541, and Juan de Oņate's expedition reportedly camped there in 1601. Hide hunters from Dodge City frequented the stream during the height of the great buffalo slaughter of the 1870s. Some of the Panhandle's first Anglo pioneers, including Charles Dietrich, Ed Jones, Joseph Plummer, Dee Eubanks, Tom Connell, and the Barton brothers, settled along its banks.
Among the early ranching
outfits that established their headquarters on or near Wolf Creek
were the Cresswell (Bar CC), Seven K, and Box T. Lipscomb was
founded near the stream in 1887. The Wolf Creek Dam and Lake,
which were washed away by floodwaters in 1947, were replaced by
Lake Fryer in eastern Ochiltree County.
GIBSON CREEK
Gibson Creek rises in
southeastern Ochiltree County (at 36°05' N, 100°39' W) and runs
northeast for ten miles to join Wolf Creek in western Lipscomb
County (at 36°12' N, 100°32' W). It traverses flat to rolling
terrain with local escarpments, surfaced by deep, fine, sandy
loams that support hardwood forests, brush, and grasses. The
great Panhandle drift fence crossed the upper portion of the
creek, which once was part of the Bar CC and Seven K Ranch
ranges.
KIOWA CREEK
Kiowa Creek rises
southwest of Huntoon in northeastern Ochiltree County (at 36°25'
N, 100°41' W) and runs northeast for nine miles into Lipscomb
County, then continues for another eight miles through Darrouzett
into Beaver County, Oklahoma, where it drains into the Beaver
River (at 36°46' N, 99°54' W). During its course the stream is
fed by several tributaries. It traverses a low-lying area
surfaced with loose sand that supports scrub brush and grasses.
Kiowa Creek was named for the Indian tribe that once roamed this
area. It was part of the Bar CC and Seven K ranch ranges. The
Jones and Plummer Trail crossed its upper portion in eastern
Ochiltree County.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Wheatheart of the Plains: An Early History of
Ochiltree County (Perryton, Texas: Ochiltree County Historical
Survey Committee, 1969).
GILHULA CREEK
Gilhula (Gilaloo) Creek
rises in eastern Ochiltree County (at 36°19' N, 100°38' W) and
runs southeast for twelve miles to join Wolf Creek in western
Lipscomb County (at 36°14' N, 100°28' W). It traverses flat to
rolling terrain with local escarpments and mostly deep, fine,
sandy loam soils that support hardwood forests, brush, and
grasses. The area was at one time used by Pueblo Indians. In
early settlement days, before its springs dried up, the creek was
a favorite location for swimming, fishing, and baptizing. The
name Gilhula is probably of Indian origin. The stream was once on
the Seven K Ranch.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Gunnar Brune, Springs of Texas, Vol. 1 (Fort Worth:
Branch-Smith, 1981). Wheatheart of the Plains: An Early History
of Ochiltree County (Perryton, Texas: Ochiltree County Historical
Survey Committee, 1969).
This page was last updated August 29, 2003.