The following descriptions of creeks and rivers comes from the Handbook of Texas Online, where you can find information about the sources used to write these descriptions. They are included here to help you locate vicinities described in old documents and to give you the historical significance of the various creek names. Note that, in some cases, several creeks share the same name. The TXDOT Interactive County Highway Map shows creeks and rivers.
ALBERS BRANCH. Albers Branch rises about a mile south of Waldeck Church in north central Fayette County (at 30°03' N, 96°48' W) and flows northeast intermittently for two miles before disemboguing into Hellers Branch about one mile east of Waldeck (at 30°04' N, 96°46' W). The first half of the streambed runs through gently sloping hills surfaced by shallow, highly erodible, loamy topsoil over a dense clay subsoil containing volcanic materials. The lower half of the branch flows over deep deposits of sand and gravel mixed with clay. These soils are marginal for agriculture and are used primarily for pasture and wildlife habitat. The vegetation combines native and introduced grasses with post oak forests, hackberry, and yaupon. The stream is named for Gerhard Albers, a German immigrant who, with other Germans, settled in the Waldeck area before the Civil War. During that war Captain Albers commanded the Long Prairie German Company, which was formed in June 1861.
ALLEN CREEK. Allen Creek rises in Fayetteville in eastern Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 96°41' W) and flows east intermittently for four miles to its mouth on Pool Branch, one mile southeast of the community of Rek Hill (at 29°55' N, 96°38' W). Throughout its length the stream generally parallels the route of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. The area soils vary from deep sand and gravel to sandy loam topsoil with firm clay subsoil. The surrounding land is used primarily as pasture. Area vegetation consists primarily of mesquite and grasses. The stream flows through an area of low-rolling hills and prairies.
BARTONS CREEK. Bartons Creek rises in wooded and broken land in northwest Fayette County (29°53' N, 97°16' W) and flows 11 1/2 miles, first northerly into Bastrop County, and then northeasterly back into Fayette County, to its mouth on the Colorado River, 2 1/2 miles east of Kirtley (at 29°58' N, 97°04' W). Near the Colorado River the soil produces good crops of grain, pecans, and hay. This area has been subject to frequent flooding in the past, and there are at least fifteen flood-control impoundments of varying sizes along the creek and its unnamed tributaries. The upland slopes are dotted with numerous oil and gas wells and with mixed oak and cedar, which provide good wildlife habitat. The creek is named for Wayne Barton, early settler and participant in the battle of San Jacinto, who lived in the area.
BAYLOR CREEK. Baylor Creek rises on land granted to William J. Russell in 1831 a mile southeast of Oldenburg in southeastern Fayette County (at 29°58' N, 96°46' W) and flows southwest for eight miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, about five miles southeast of La Grange on lands granted to George Duty in 1824 (at 29°52' N, 96°48' W). Throughout much of its course the stream roughly parallels the Wilbarger Trace, which connected early settlements on the Colorado River with the La Bahía Road. Baylor Creek traverses gently rolling country with deep topsoil that once supported good cotton crops. Since the 1960s the land has been used mainly as pasture for horses and cattle. The vegetation along the stream is a mixture of oaks, cedars, and sycamores, with an understory of yaupon and wild grape.
BEAR CREEK. Bear Creek rises four miles east of Warda in northwest Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°50' W) and flows west for 6 1/2 miles to its mouth on Rabbs Creek (at 30°00' N, 96°55' W). Throughout its course the stream meanders through low to moderately rolling land with a highly erodible thin sandy loam topsoil and a heavy clay subsoil. The area's open pasturelands alternate with mixed oak forests underlain by yaupon and hackberry. The land is marginal for agriculture and is used primarily for grazing and wildlife habitat.
BELL BRANCH. Bell Branch rises a mile northeast of Warrenton in north central Fayette County (at 30°02' N, 96°44' W) and extends east, passing under State Highway 237, to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 30°02' N, 96°41' W). The stream traverses low-rolling hills and prairies surfaced by sandy loam over firm clay. The area is vegetated primarily with mesquite and grasses and, though considered fair for agriculture, is used primarily as unimproved pasture.
BIG FIVEMILE CREEK. Big Fivemile Creek rises in Flatonia, southwestern Fayette County (at 29°41' N, 97°07' W), and flows 13 1/2 miles, first north, under bridges on U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate Highway 10; then west, past the State Highway 95 bridge; then southwest, back under U.S. 90 and I-10, then beneath the Southern Pacific railroad bridge. It empties into Peach Creek in Gonzales County (at 29°39' N, 97°13' W). Throughout its course the stream flows over sandy clay loams with cracking clayey subsoils, of middling agricultural value. Although there are some fields and orchards downstream, the area is used primarily for pasture. The vegetation in the area ranges from open pasture and cultivated fields with some encroaching mesquite and cedar to densely timbered bottomlands of mixed oak, cedar, sycamore, and hackberry with a yaupon understory. These undisturbed bottomlands interspersed with cleared uplands provide good wildlife habitat. The creek's name is possibly derived from its crossing of the Southern Pacific five miles east of Waelder.
BIG ROCKY CREEK. Big Rocky Creek rises in a tank just east of State Highway 95 and three miles south of Flatonia in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°39' N, 97°07' W); it flows southeast for 23 1/2 miles to its mouth on the Navidad River (at 29°34' N, 96°49' W). The stream has several named tributaries. It crosses a land surface of many different soil types that support the production of hay and corn and provide pasture for cattle and horses. Until the 1960s cotton was grown in the area in abundance. The vegetation along the stream is a mixture of oak, hackberry, pecan, sycamore, and cedar, with an understory of yaupon. Wildlife, particularly deer and squirrel, is abundant along the stream's lower reaches. During the Runaway Scrape Sam Houston's troops crossed Big Rocky Creek near where U.S. Highway 77 now crosses it, about 7 1/2 miles south of Schulenberg.
BISHOP BRANCH. Bishop Branch rises just south of Cistern in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°49' N, 97°13' W) and extends southeast for 3 1/2 miles to its mouth on Live Oak Creek (at 29°48' N, 97°11' W). It runs through several stock tanks and, after crossing State Highway 95, past several strip-mines where clay has been extracted for road construction. The land surface is a very friable, fine, sandy loam with a firm clay subsoil. The area is fair to poor for agricultural purposes and primarily supports pasture for cattle. Vegetation along the branch consists of mixed oaks and cedar with mesquite, willow, sycamore, and yaupon.
BLACK JACK CREEK. Black Jack Creek rises four miles east of Muldoon in south central Fayette County (at 29°48' N, 97°01' W) and flows northwest for five miles to its mouth on Pinoak Creek (at 29°50' N, 97°03' W). The winding stream, which has many small unnamed tributaries, runs through moderately rolling hills surfaced with sandy loams that support hardwood and pine forest, mesquite, and grasses. The stream is flanked by blackjack trees, for which it is named. The bottom timber bordering the creek helps prevent it from drying out, thus enhancing the surrounding area as range and crop land.
BLAIR CREEK. Blair Creek rises in a tank a mile from the Lee county line in northwest Fayette County (at 30°06' N, 96°50' W) and flows southwest for 4 1/2 miles to its mouth on Owl Creek, one mile west of Nechanitz (at 30°03' N, 96°52' W). It traverses flat to moderately rolling lands surfaced by sandy loam and mixed sand and gravel that support sparse to dense thickets of oak, cedar, and yaupon. The area is marginal for agriculture. The creek may be named after either William or James Blair, who left the county in 1849 with Joseph Young and others to go to the gold fields of California.
BO BRANCH. Bo Branch rises in a tank two miles west-northwest of Bylers Point Church in west central Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 97°07' W) and runs southwest for 3 1/2 miles to its mouth on Buckners Creek (at 29°51' N, 97°08' W). It crosses land with a fine, friable sandy loam surface and firm clay subsoil that primarily support grass for cattle. Among other plants in the area are mixed oaks and cedars with an understory of yaupon that provides good wildlife habitat.
BOGGY BRANCH. Boggy Branch rises in a wooded area a mile northwest of Round Top High School in northern Fayette County (at 30°05' N, 96°42' W) and runs southeast for about 2 1/2 miles, past the school and the north side of Round Top, to its mouth on Rocky Creek (at 30°04' N, 96°41' W). Throughout most of its meandering course its banks are steeply sloping and wooded with a mixture of oak and cedar and an understory of yaupon. The sandy loam topsoil in the area overlies firm clay. Slopes render the land better for unimproved pasture and wildlife habitat than for agriculture.
BOONS CREEK. Boons Creek rises in pastureland near the Fayette county line in southeastern Lee County (at 30°04' N, 96°56' W) and runs southeast for five miles to its mouth on Piney Creek, four miles south of Warda in Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°55' W). It traverses nearly level to undulating land surfaced by sandy loam interspersed with surface deposits of sand and gravel and heavy subsoils of clay mixed with gravel that support grasses, oak forests, water-tolerant hardwoods, conifers, yaupon, and hackberry. The area is marginal for pasture and is occasionally used as a source of sand and gravel. Local sources generally credit the creek's name to a family that settled in the area shortly before the Civil War.
BRUSHY CREEK. Brushy Creek rises in partially wooded pastureland just south of U.S. Highway 90 and halfway between Engle and Praha in southwest Fayette County (29°41' N, 97°03' W) and flows east and then southeast for 6 1/2 miles to its mouth on Mulberry Creek, two miles southwest of Schulenburg (at 29°40' N, 96°57' W). It is the only major tributary of Mulberry Creek. Brushy Creek, so named for the thick stands of yaupon and cedar that grow on its banks, crosses a surface of loamy clay topsoils that are fair for agriculture but highly erodible on slopes. The terrain is marked by gullies. Most of this land was formerly used for cotton production. After cotton farming ceased in the 1960s, the land reverted to pasture, and in some areas vegetation has returned to provide wildlife habitat.
BUCKNERS CREEK. Buckners Creek rises four miles southeast of Rosanky in southeastern Bastrop County (at 29°54' N, 97°14' W) and winds gradually southeast, then northeast, for a total of about thirty-three miles before reaching its mouth on the Colorado River, just south of La Grange in Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 96°53' W). It crosses loamy uplands in Bastrop and Fayette counties before entering clayey soil near its mouth. Post oak woods grow in the area. The stream is named for early settler Aylett C. Buckner, who arrived in the La Grange area in 1819.
BULL CREEK. Bull Creek rises on Ross Prairie about midway between Fayetteville and the Ross Prairie Church in eastern Fayette County (at 29°53' N, 96°41' W) and runs southeast for seven miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek in Colorado County (at 29°52' N, 96°36' W). It crosses nearly level to gently sloping terrain with a sandy loam topsoil and a dense clay subsoil. The land is well suited for agriculture and has produced excellent harvests of cotton and grain. Early settlers recognized the value of this land before 1850, and by that time it was already well settled by English, German, and Czech immigrants. Since the 1950s the area has been used primarily as pasture for cattle and horses.
BUSBY BRANCH. Busby Branch rises a mile northwest of Byler Point Church in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 97°06' W) and runs south for about four miles to its mouth on Buckner's Creek (at 29°50' N, 97°05' W). The stream traverses terrain that varies from low and moderately rolling to flat and locally dissected. Native vegetation consists of hardwood and pine forests with some mesquite and grasses. The soils are shallow to deep sandy clays. The branch is named for James C. Busby, who served in the Plum Grove Rifles in 1861.
CAMP CREEK. Camp Creek rises one mile northeast of Lake Fayette in northeastern Fayette County (at 29°57' N, 96°43' W) and runs northeast for four miles, past the Halimecek Cemetery on Farm Road 1291, to its mouth on Clear Creek (at 29°58' N, 96°40' W). It crosses gently sloping to rolling terrain surfaced by moderately deep sandy and clay loam. The area is used for agriculture and pasture.
CEDAR CREEK. Cedar Creek rises in a small stock tank eight miles north of La Grange in north central Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°49' W) and runs west for 6 1/2 miles to its mouth on Rabbs Creek, a mile from the Colorado River (at 30°00' N, 96°55' W). The surrounding flat to rolling terrain is surfaced by clay and sandy loams that support dense thickets of cedar mixed with oak and yaupon.
CEDAR CREEK. Cedar Creek rises between State Highway 159 and upper Lake Fayette in eastern Fayette County (at 29°57' N, 96°45' W) and runs through the lake and then continues southwest for 9 1/2 miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, across from Mullins Prairie (at 29°52' N, 96°46' W). Below Lake Fayette the stream traverses flat to rolling terrain with local scarps surfaced by loose sandy gravel that is extracted for local use. Closer to the river the land has sandy loam topsoils and deep layers of clay mixed with gravel. These better soils support good crops of grain, pecans, and hay in the areas where they have not been removed by gravel producers.
CEDAR CREEK. Cedar Creek rises south of Farm Road 609 and a mile southwest of O'Quinn in west central Fayette County (at 29°48' N, 97°00' W) and runs northwest for five miles to its mouth on Buckner's Creek (at 29°51' N, 97°01' W). It cuts through rolling hills surfaced by fine sandy and clay loams that support oak and cedar with a dense understory of yaupon that provides good wildlife habitat. The eroded stream banks are quite steep and sometimes reach heights of thirty feet or more above the water. In open areas the stream provides water for cattle.
CEDAR CREEK. Cedar Creek rises in western Fayette County (at 29°55' N, 97°08' W) and runs northeast for nine miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, just below Bartons Creek (at 29°58' N, 97°04' W). It traverses an area of rolling terrain surfaced by fine sandy loams and clays that support mixed oak and cedar with a yaupon understory that provides good wildlife habitat.
CEDAR CREEK. Cedar Creek rises a mile southeast of the Cedar Grove Church in north central Fayette County (at 29°58' N, 96°50' W) and runs south for 7 1/2 miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, just east of La Grange (at 29°54' N, 96°50' W). The local rolling terrain is surfaced by loose and gravelly sands and sandy and clay loams. Most of the local land is suitable for unimproved pasture. In the 1980s much of the area was dotted with gas and oil wells.
CLEAR CREEK. Clear Creek rises in a tank on the south slope of Hellers Hill in north central Fayette County (at 30°02' N, 96°47' W) and runs south and then east for fourteen miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek, 3 1/2 miles north of Rek Hill (at 29°59' N, 96°39' W). It flows through Oldenburg and several unnamed flood control impoundments. Variable terrain is surfaced by clay, sand, and gravel that support oaks, cedar, occasional pines, and an understory of yaupon.
CLIFF CREEK. Cliff Creek rises in a tank just west of Willow Springs in the northeast corner of Fayette County (at 29°58' N, 96°36' W) and runs south for 2 1/2 miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 29°57' N, 96°37' W). It is named for its steep banks; some are as deep as forty feet. The surrounding terrain is generally level to gently sloping and is used primarily as pasture for cattle.
COLDWATER CREEK. Coldwater Creek rises in a tank just east of Farm Road 609 seven miles northeast of Flatonia in southern Fayette County (at 29°46' N, 97°02' W) and runs southeast for 5 1/2 miles to its mouth on Rocky Creek, 1 1/2 miles north of Engle in southern Fayette County (at 29°42' N, 97°01' W). The name is derived from several cold springs that join the creek near its head in an area generally known as the Black Jack Springs or Pin Oak community. The creek runs through variable terrain surfaced by sand and clay that support oak and cedar, with some hackberry, mesquite, and pecan. Until the 1960s cotton was produced there for ginning at Flatonia and Muldoon. Following the decline of cotton most of the land reverted to pasture for cattle, with some production of corn and hay.
COLORADO RIVER. The Colorado River, measured in length and drainage area, is the largest river wholly in Texas. (The Brazos drainage basin extends into New Mexico.) It rises in intermittent draws in northeastern Dawson County (at 32°41' N, 101°44' W), flows generally southeastward for 600 miles across Borden, Scurry, Mitchell, Coke, and Runnels counties, and forms all or parts of the county lines between Coleman and Concho, Coleman and McCulloch, Brown and McCulloch, Brown and San Saba, Mills and San Saba, Lampasas and San Saba, Burnet and San Saba, and Burnet and Llano counties, before it bends to the east across southern Burnet County and continues its southeastern course across Travis, Bastrop, Fayette, Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda counties to its mouth, on Matagorda Bay (at 28°36' N, 95°59' W). Its drainage area is 39,900 square miles, and its runoff reaches a volume of more than 2 million acre-feet near the Gulf. The major towns along the stream are Austin, Lamesa, Colorado City, Robert Lee, Ballinger, Paint Rock, Marble Falls, Bastrop, Smithville, La Grange, Columbus, Wharton, Bay City, and Matagorda. Important reservoirs on the Colorado include Lake Colorado City, Lake J. B. Thomas, Buchanan Lake, Inks Lake, Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, Lake Travis, and Town Lakeq in Austin.
The Colorado River is probably the one called Kanahatino by Indians of the Caddoan linguistic family and Pashohono by some of the other Indian groups. It has also been identified as the stream that Juan Domínguez de Mendoza and Nicolás Lópezq called San Clemente in 1684, and as the one René Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, named La Sablonnière ("Sand-Pit") in 1687. The name Colorado, Spanish for "red," is evidently a misnomer, for the water of the stream is clear and always has been, according to the earliest records of historians. Most authorities agree, however, that the name Colorado was first applied by Alonso De León in 1690, not to the present stream but to the Brazos, and there is considerable evidence to support the theory that the names of the two streams were interchanged during the period of Spanish exploration. The present names, however, were well established before the end of Spanish Texas. Other historic associations along the Colorado include the river's use as a route inland by early colonists, including several of the Old Three Hundred who settled on its banks; the establishment of Austin as the seat of government in 1839; and the fact that in 1844, when both England and France were working to prevent the annexation of Texas by the United States, the British minister in Mexico secured a written avowal from Antonio López de Santa Anna to recognize the independence of Texas with the Colorado River as its boundary.
The river flows across the rolling prairie near San Saba County, enters the more rugged Hill Country and the Llano basin, and passes through a series of canyons before it issues from the Balcones Escarpment at Austin. Above Austin the lands along the Colorado are generally rough, but below Austin the river traverses the flat, alluvial bottoms of the Coastal Plain, an important agricultural area. Principal tributaries of the river include the Pedernales, Llano, San Saba, and Concho rivers and Pecan Bayou, the most westerly "bayou" in the nation. With the exception of the bayou, the tributaries flow into the river from the Edwards Plateau and are spring-fed. Although the Colorado has a relatively small annual run-off with relation to its watershed, it has presented some of the most serious drainage problems in Texas. Early in the nineteenth century its slow current caused the formation of a raft, or log jam, which gradually grew upstream so that the river was navigable in 1839 for only ten miles above its mouth. By 1858 the situation in Matagorda and Wharton counties had become so bad that the state appropriated funds for the construction of a new channel around the raft. The United States Army Corps of Engineers opened the channel in the mid-1800s, but since it was not maintained the raft filled it up. Teamsters unloaded vessels above the raft and carried the cargo to other teams that loaded it on other boats for shipment to Galveston and other Gulf ports. Shallow-draught vessels were at times able to ascend the Colorado to Austin.
After the Civil War the Colorado ceased to be a factor in transportation. The delta that developed after removal of the log jam, beginning in 1925, reached across Matagorda Bay as far as Matagorda Peninsulaq by 1936; that year a channel was dredged through the new delta from the Gulf of Mexico to the town of Matagorda, thus forcing the river to deposit its flotsam and sediment directly into the Gulf. With removal of the raft, the community of Matagorda, formerly a major Texas seaport, gradually became landlocked. The present Caney Creek channel was the channel of the Colorado until about a thousand years ago, when the river cut into a wide estuary in the present Caney Creek area and redirected its flow to the west.
The need for a steady flow of water to irrigate rice farms in Wharton and Matagorda counties, combined with the necessity for flood-control measures, has presented more recent challenges. These have been met largely by the construction of Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan. Three smaller reservoirs in Burnet County — Inks, Johnson, and Marble Falls-produce power from water running over the Buchanan Dam spillway. The dam at Lake Austin, which is largely filled with silt, produces power from water flowing from the lakes above. Town Lake, a recreation site that divides north and south Austin, is the last impoundment in this section of the river; Town Lake and the lakes above Austin are known as the Highland Lakes. Conservation and use of the Colorado are overseen by three agencies established by the state legislature, the Lower, Central, and Upper Colorado River authorities, and formerly the Colorado River Municipal Water District.
COON CREEK. Coon Creek rises in open pastureland a half mile north of Warrenton in north central Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°44' W) and runs east for five miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 30°00' N, 96°40' W). It crosses gently rolling terrain surfaced by shallow sandy loam that in the past has produced good crops of cotton and corn. Since the 1950s the land has been used primarily as pasture for cattle and horses. Halfway in its course the creek passes through a small flood-control pool, and near its mouth there is evidence of sand and gravel extraction.
CRIER CREEK. Crier Creek rises 2 1/2 miles northeast of Ellinger near the Fayette county line in northwestern Colorado County (at 29°51' N, 96°40' W) and runs south for 8 1/2 miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, near the Shaws Bend community (at 29°46' N, 96°40' W). It traverses level to gently sloping terrain surfaced by dark gray, silty loam topsoils lying over mottled clay subsoils. These cover beds of gravel that are mined near the Colorado River for use in construction. Vegetation along the creek is often dense mixed oak and cedar, but in open areas the land is good for pasture and hay crops. The stream is probably named for John Crier, one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists. Crier explored the area before settling near Matagorda in 1827.
CROWNOVER BRANCH. Crownover Branch rises in the generally flat floodplain of the Colorado River a mile northwest of Plum in west central Fayette County (at 29°57' N, 96°57' W) and runs east for two miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, directly across from Rabbs Prairie (at 29°56' N, 96°55' W). The area soils have firm, thick calcareous clay layers and are well suited to agriculture, producing good crops of grain and hay and providing improved pasture for cattle. In large areas, particularly near Plum and near the mouth of the creek, the topsoil has been removed to gain access to beds of gravel. The creek name is derived from that of the family of John Crownover, who arrived with the Rabb family in time to become one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred.
CRISWELL CREEK. Criswell Creek rises a mile east of U.S. Highway 77 and two miles northeast of the community of Swiss Alp in central Fayette County (at 29°48' N, 96°54' W) and runs east through steeply rolling pastureland for 6 1/2 miles to its mouth on Williams Creek, on the floodplain of the Colorado River a mile southwest of the community of Mullins Prairie (at 29°50' N, 96°49' W). The creek traverses an area of hills and prairies with some local shallow depressions, surfaced by clay and sandy loam soils that support hardwoods, conifers, mesquite, and grasses. Despite its steep slopes, much of this land produced cotton until the 1960s, and was consequently eroded. By the 1980s most of the area hillsides had stabilized and had been converted to pastureland, while the level terrain near the mouth of the creek still produced good crops of maize and hay.
CRISWELL CREEK. Criswell Creek rises about a mile west of the Southern Pacific tracks and 2 1/2 miles southwest of West Point in northwestern Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 97°03' W) and runs northeast for about five miles, crossing the Southern Pacific tracks, State Highway 71, and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas tracks, before reaching its mouth on the Colorado River (at 29°58' N, 97°01' W). South of West Point the creek traverses an area with a fine sandy loam surface soil over a very firm clay subsoil. This land is of marginal value for agriculture and is used primarily as cattle pasture. Between West Point and the Colorado River the stream runs through gently rolling terrain surfaced by firm calcareous clay layers overlying gravel deposits. This land produces good corn and hay crops, but much of the soil has been stripped to allow access to the gravel. The creek is probably named for John Yancy Criswell, an original settler in the area who in July 1835 accompanied John Henry Moore in an expedition against the Tawakoni (or Tehuacana) Indians.
CUMMINS CREEK. Cummins Creek rises near Giddings in Lee County (at 30°11' N, 96°55' W) and runs southeast through Lee, Fayette, and Colorado counties for sixty-five miles to its mouth on a horseshoe bend of the Colorado River, opposite Columbus (at 29°43' N, 96°31' W). The stream is named for James Cummins, one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, who was granted the land at its mouth in 1824. Cummins built a sawmill and gristmill there in 1826. The stream, known to the Spanish as San Benave, was also called Mill Creek before acquiring the name of the pioneer. Cummins Creek is a major tributary of the Colorado River and was for many years subject to extensive flooding. Throughout its course and along its tributaries a large number of flood-control impoundments built through programs of the United States Department of Agriculture provide both flood protection and opportunities for recreation. Soils along the stream vary in composition but are generally erosible. Before 1960 the Cummins Creek watershed produced large quantities of cotton and corn. Most of this land has reverted to pasture for cattle and horses. The densely wooded banks, especially along the lower reaches of the creek, provide good stands of native pecans and excellent wildlife habitat.
DOGWOOD BRANCH. Dogwood Branch rises three miles southeast of West Point in west central Fayette County (at 29°55' N, 97°02' W) and runs southeast for 3 1/2 miles to its mouth on Buckners Creek (at 29°53' N, 96°58' W). It traverses an area characterized by soils with a sandy loam surface layer over a firm clay subsoil. This land is generally not used for agriculture except as unimproved pasture. Local vegetation is primarily a mixture of oaks and cedar with an understory of yaupon. The stream is named for the occasional dogwoods that grow nearby but are rare in surrounding areas.
DOGWOOD CREEK. Dogwood Creek rises in Colony on State Highway 95 between Cistern and Flatonia in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°47' N, 97°10' W) and runs northeast for 7 1/2 miles to its mouth on Live Oak Creek, 2 1/2 miles west of Muldoon (at 29°49' N, 97°07' W). Soils in the area have a fine sandy loam surface layer and a deep, firm clay subsoil. Although highly erosible, they are rated as fair for agriculture, and some farms in the area raise corn as well as hay; much of the land is used as pasture for cattle. Along the creek grow dense stands of mixed oak, cedar, and hackberry, with an understory of yaupon and a few dogwoods, for which the creek was named. Several locations along the upper reaches of the creek have been stripped to mine clay deposits.
DUTYS CREEK. Dutys Creek rises two miles northeast of Ellinger in southeastern Fayette County (at 29°52' N, 96°41' W) and runs southwest for seven miles, crossing State Highway 71 before reaching its mouth on the Colorado River, near Horseshoe Bend and the Fayette county line in northwestern Colorado County (at 29°47' N, 96°44' W). It was named for George Duty. The surrounding flat terrain has local shallow depressions and is surfaced by clay and sandy loams that support water-tolerant hardwoods, conifers, and grasses.
EAST BRANCH OF CEDAR CREEK. The East Branch of Cedar Creek rises about two miles west-northwest of the Byler Point Church in western Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 97°07' W) and runs northeast for about 3 1/2 miles to its mouth on Cedar Creek (at 29°56' N, 97°06' W). It traverses an area of rolling terrain with a fine sandy loam surface layer and a very firm clay subsoil. The area is used mainly as unimproved pasture. Local vegetation varies from scattered to dense clumps of mixed oak and cedar with an understory of yaupon that provides good wildlife habitat.
EAST NAVIDAD RIVER. The East Navidad River rises at an elevation of 455 feet above sea level in a series of tanks a mile south of O'Quinn in south central Fayette County (at 29°49' N, 96°58' W) and runs southeast for twenty-three miles to a point where it joins the West Navidad River to form the Navidad River, just above Oakland in Colorado County (at 29°36' N, 96°50' W). For a portion of its route before its confluence with the West Navidad River, it forms the boundary between Colorado and Lavaca counties. The area is flat with some low-rolling hills, surfaced by firm calcareous clay layers extending to a depth of some fifty inches. On uplands these soils are fair for agriculture and pasture. The low-lying areas are subject to frequent flooding. Vegetation along the stream is a mixture of oak, pecan, and sycamore with an understory of cedar, yaupon, and wild grape. It is an excellent area for wildlife.
GREENS CREEK. Greens Creek rises six miles southeast of Giddings in southern Lee County (at 30°08' N, 96°52' W) and runs southeast for about six miles to its mouth on Rabbs Creek, about two miles southeast of Warda in Fayette County (at 30°05' N, 96°52' W). It traverses terrain with sandy surface layers and mottled yellow with red and gray loamy subsoils that support post oak woods. The creek was probably named for David G. Green, an early land grantee in Fayette and Lee counties.
HARVEYS CREEK. Harveys (Harvey) Creek rises in a stock tank about two miles northwest of Weimar in southern Fayette County (at 29°44' N, 96°48' W) and runs east for twelve miles, passing into Colorado County and through lands originally granted to Henry Austin in May 1831, before reaching its mouth on the Colorado River, opposite the rural community of Shaw's Bend (at 29°44' N, 96°40' W). It traverses rolling terrain surfaced with shallow, easily erodible soils that are good for agriculture. Before 1955 much cotton was produced in the area, along with corn and dairy products. Later a large part of this land reverted to pasture for beef cattle and to improved fields for hay production. Near its mouth the creek passes through the Osage community. Harveys Creek has two named tributaries: the Middle Fork of Harveys Creek (or Little Harveys Creek) and the South Fork. The Borden community is built along the South Fork, and it was there that pioneer entrepreneur Gail Borden, Jr., established a beef-processing plant before he began producing condensed milk. Water from the South Fork was used in the production of a meat-extract biscuit designed for use by explorers and overland travelers. Vegetation along Harveys Creek is a mixture of oak and cedar with a dense understory of yaupon and a large number of bois d'arc or Osage orange trees. The area provides excellent wildlife habitat for small game and white-tailed deer.
HAW CREEK. Haw Creek rises between Farm Road 1457 and the Austin county line in northeastern Fayette County (at 30°02' N, 96°37' W) and runs southwest for about eight miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 29°59' N, 96°40' W). It traverses gently rolling to flat terrain surfaced by a moderately deep sandy loam topsoil that overlies dense layers of clay and sandy loam. The surrounding farmland is used primarily as pasture for cattle and horses. Vegetation along the stream is a mixture of oak and cedar with a yaupon understory and an abundance of wild haw, from which the creek takes its name. Midway through its course the creek passes through the Haw Creek community, about a half mile west of the Haw Creek church and cemetery on Farm Road 389.
HELLERS BRANCH. Hellers Branch rises in a stock tank at the foot of the eastern slope of Hellers Hill in north central Fayette County (at 30°02' N, 96°47' W) and runs north for about three miles to its mouth on the flood control lake formed by Dam Number Ten on Shaw Creek (at 30°04' N, 96°46' W). The stream traverses flat to rolling terrain with soils characterized by upper layers of loose gravelly sand and subsoils of firm, gravelly, clay and sandy loam. Native vegetation includes mesquite, some pecan trees, and occasional patches of grasses. The creek is named for Tom and Louis Heller, who were among the first settlers in nearby Walhalla.
HIGH HILL CREEK. High Hill Creek rises three miles northeast of La Grange in central Fayette County (at 29°57' N, 96°50' W) and runs south for four miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, two miles east of La Grange (at 29°54' N, 96°50' W). The surrounding rolling to steep terrain is surfaced by dark clay loam that supports chaparral and grasses.
HILL CREEK. Hill Creek rises in a stock tank in open pastureland a mile south of Plum in west central Fayette County (at 29°55' N, 96°58' W) and runs 4 1/2 miles east-northeast to its mouth in a gravel extraction area on the Colorado River (at 29°56' N, 96°55' W). It traverses low to moderately rolling terrain with a fine sandy loam topsoil over a very firm clay subsoil. There was once productive soil near the stream's mouth, but most of it was removed during gravel extraction operations. The area near the creek's intersection with State Highway 71 was moderately industrialized and dotted with oil and gas wells in the mid-1980s. In the nonindustrialized areas native vegetation consists mainly of grasses, with occasional mesquite. Hill Creek is probably named for the family of Thomas M. Hill, an early resident in the area. He was a private in the Plum Grove Rifles, formed on July 8, 1861, as a training unit to supply soldiers to the Confederate Army.
INDIAN CREEK. Indian Creek rises in north central Fayette County near Farm Road 2145 about 1 1/2 miles north of the Cedar Grove Church (at 30°00' N, 96°51' W) and runs southwest for about five miles, passing through one flood control impoundment before reaching its mouth on Rabbs Creek, near its confluence with the Colorado River (at 29°59' N, 96°55' W). Throughout its course Indian Creek flows primarily through low to moderately rolling terrain with a fine sandy loam surface layer over a firm clay subsoil. Native vegetation consists primarily of a mosaic of post oak woods and grassland.
JACKS CREEK. Jacks Creek rises in a stock tank in the northern corner of Fayette County (at 30°07' N, 96°39' W) and runs south for nine miles, passing through a major flood control impoundment formed by Dam Number Fifteen at Winedale before reaching its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 30°01' N, 96°41' W). It traverses an area of gently sloping hills surfaced by shallow sandy loam surface soils over a dense clay sublayer. The area is good for agriculture and is used primarily to produce hay and to provide improved pasture for cattle and horses. The creek's name may be derived from that of William H. Jack, who had a land grant in the area.
JENNY CREEK. Jenny Creek rises in a stock pond 1 1/2 miles northwest of Winedale in northern Fayette County (at 30°06' N, 96°39' W) and runs south for two miles to its mouth on Jacks Creek (at 30°04' N, 96°40' W). It traverses terrain surfaced by shallow sandy loams over firm clays. The area is used primarily for pasture.
JONES CREEK. Jones Creek rises about a mile northwest of Shelby and a half mile east of the Fayette county line in western Austin County (at 30°02' N, 96°37' W) and runs southwest for six miles, passing into Fayette County and on to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 29°57' N, 96°38' W). It traverses the Fayetteville Northeast oilfield. The area soils are a moderately deep sandy loam topsoil overlying dense layers of heavy clay interspersed with more sandy loam. The surrounding land is used for oil production and as pasture for cattle and horses. The creek's name may be derived from that of John Rice Jones, Jr., the first postmaster general of Texas, who in 1831 was granted a league of land on Cummins Creek.
JONES CREEK. Jones Creek rises in a stock tank 1 1/2 miles west of Waldeck in northwestern Fayette County (at 30°04' N, 96°49' W) and runs southwest for four miles to its mouth on Owl Creek (at 30°03' N, 96°51' W). Soils in the area consist of a shallow topsoil of light sandy loam over a heavy subsoil of clay. The stream passes through a densely wooded area of oak, cedar, and yaupon. The creek's name may be derived from that of Myers Fisher Jones, who lived in the area and participated in military actions in the 1840s.
JORDON CREEK. Jordon Creek rises about a half mile north of Luther Hill Camp in north central Fayette County (at 30°00' N, 96°49' W) and runs south-southwest for about seven miles, passing through several flood-control impoundments before reaching its mouth on the Colorado River, at the foot of Chalk Bluff about two miles north of La Grange (at 29°57' N, 96°53' W). The stream traverses rolling terrain surfaced by a loose gravelly sand upper layer and a firm gravelly clay loam subsoil. These soils are poor for agricultural use. They are, however, used for unimproved pasture and are frequently mined for sand and gravel.
KUHN BRANCH. Kuhn Branch rises a mile north of Warrenton in northeastern Fayette County in a small tank (at 30°02' N, 96°43' W) and runs east for 2 1/2 miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek, one mile south of Round Top (at 30°02' N, 96°41' W). Throughout its course it flows through soils characterized by very firm clay layers frequently topped by a thin layer of highly erodible sandy loam. These soils are generally well drained and possess fair to good agriculture potential. At one time they produced good crops of cotton and corn but since the 1950s have been primarily used for pasture for cattle and horses. The area is characterized by rolling terrain, and grasses provide the main vegetation. The creek's name is derived from that of Fritz Kuhn, a resident of Round Top during the 1930s; Kuhn bought land originally granted to the Townsend family, who came to Texas in 1826 from Florida.
KREB BRANCH. Kreb Branch rises on the Austin-Fayette county line two miles north of Willow Springs (at 29°59' N, 96°35' W) and flows intermittently southwest for two miles, to its mouth on Jones Creek in extreme east Fayette County (at 29°59' N, 96°37' W). It crosses rolling terrain surfaced by limy-clay soils that are rated as good for agriculture and are used primarily as pasture for cattle and horses, as evidenced by a number of stock watering tanks along the stream and its minor tributaries. Grasses provide the major vegetation. The creek's name may be derived from that of Theodore, Eduard, or Hermann Krebbs, who enlisted in Company G, Fourth Regiment of Texas Cavalry, at nearby Shelby in 1861 and for whom the community of Krebsville is named.
LITTLE FIVEMILE CREEK. Little Fivemile Creek rises on State Highway 95 one-half mile south of Colony in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°46' N, 97°11' W) and flows south for seven miles to its mouth on Big Fivemile Creek, just south of U.S. Highway 90 and the Southern Pacific Railroad in Gonzales County (at 29°41' N, 97°12' W). Throughout its course it crosses nearly level to gently sloping farming and ranching land that generally has erodible sandy loam topsoils and firm clay subsoils. These soils are rated from poor to fair for agriculture. They once produced cotton, but after the 1950s they reverted primarily to pasture and the production of hay and some corn. The area is an active oil producer; many wells dot both sides of the creek. The stream's name is derived from that of Big Fivemile Creek.
LITTLE JACKS CREEK. Little Jacks Creek rises near the Washington county line in northeastern Fayette County (at 30°03' N, 96°37' W) and runs southwest for 2 1/2 miles to its mouth on Jacks Creek (at 30°02' N, 96°39' W). It crosses rolling terrain surfaced by shallow, sandy loam over dense layers of clay. The land is rated as fair to good for agriculture and is used primarily as improved pasture for cattle and horses. Vegetation in the uncleared creek bottoms is a mixture of oak and cedar with a yaupon understory and occasional pecan.
LIVEOAK CREEK. Liveoak Creek rises five miles southeast of Rosanky in southeastern Bastrop County (at 29°53' N, 97°15' W) and runs southeast for seventeen miles, passing by Cistern and turning northeast to its mouth on Buckners Creek, a mile north of Muldoon near the Southern Pacific line in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°50' N, 97°04' W). The creek rises in flat to rolling prairie surfaced by dark, commonly calcareous clays that support mesquite, grasses and cacti. Later in its course it runs through an area of sandy and clay loam soils that support scrub brush, cacti, and grasses.
MILLER CREEK. Miller Creek rises in northwestern Fayette County (at 30°02' N, 96°59' W) about 1 1/2 miles northeast of Winchester and runs southeast for four miles to its mouth (at 29°59' N, 96°58' W) on the Colorado River. In its upper reaches it runs through terrain characterized by a shallow topsoil of loamy sand and a subsoil of heavy clay. In this area agriculture is marginal, and most of the land is covered with a heavy stand of mixed oak, cedar, pine, and yaupon. As it nears the Colorado River, the stream falls into the floodplain, where deep soils of silty loam and clay, though occasionally flooded, produce good crops of corn, pecans, and hay. The name of the creek is probably derived from that of Jacob A. Miller, a settler in the area who joined the volunteer company of Thomas J. Rabb and fought with it during the Ráfael Vásquez raid on San Antonio in 1842.
MULBERRY CREEK. Mulberry Creek rises in a tank a mile south of Flatonia and directly east of State Highway 95 and Obar Hill in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°40' N, 97°07' W) and runs southeast for 17 1/2 miles to its mouth (at 29°38' N, 96°55' W) on the West Navidad River, a half mile northeast of the point where U.S. Highway 77 crosses the southern boundary of Fayette County. The stream initially traverses gently rolling terrain with soils consisting of moderately deep loams and firm clay layers. These soils are fair to good for agriculture and are used primarily for improved pasture for cattle and for the production of hay. The stream passes north of Praha and south of Engle, where it enters an area of relatively shallow sandy loam over a firmer clay subsoil. These soils are only fair for agriculture because they are easily eroded. They are used mainly as pasture. Mulberry Creek drains a large portion of southern Fayette County. The name is derived from the wild mulberry trees that early settlers found along its banks; the Mulberry community on its north banks was also named for these trees.
NAVIDAD RIVER. The Navidad River rises at the juncture of the East and West Navidad rivers and Middle Creek two miles east of Schulenberg in southern Fayette County (at 29°36' N, 96°50' W) and flows south-southeast for seventy-four miles to its mouth on the Lavaca River, below Lake Texana in southern Jackson County (at 28°50' N, 96°35' W). The river was named for the Nativity of Christ. The East Navidad River rises north of Freyburg in southern Fayette County (at 29°49' N, 96°58' W) and flows nineteen miles east and south to join the West Navidad River just northwest of Oakland in northeastern Lavaca County (at 29°36' N, 96°50' W). The west branch rises south of Farm Road 609 and east of Muldoon in southern Fayette County (at 29°48' N, 96°59' W) and flows south and east for twenty miles to its confluence with the east branch. Middle Creek rises between the two branches southeast of Freyburg near the juncture of Farm roads 956 and 2672, in southern Fayette County (at 29°46' N, 96°56' W), and flows eight miles before joining the East Navidad near the Southern Pacific Railroad line southwest of Weimar (at 29°40' N, 96°51' W). After the three branches unite, the Navidad River meanders southeast through the coastal plains, largely parallel to the Lavaca River, across eastern Lavaca and central Jackson counties, to form Lake Texana seven miles east of Edna. The remains of an old steamer are located at the juncture of the Navidad and the Lavaca rivers. The upper reaches of the Navidad are narrow and often filled with log jams. The river is not spring-fed and depends on runoff for its flow, giving it limited recreational use except in periods of heavy rainfall. In 1915 efforts were made to encourage improvements along the river. In 1941 the Jackson County Flood Control District was established; it was renamed the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority in 1969. Major towns along the river include Edna and Morales, and major tributaries of the river include Sandy and Mustang creeks. The river is flanked generally by flat terrain with local shallow depressions, surfaced by clay and sandy loam that supports water-tolerant hardwoods, conifers, and grasses.
OBAR CREEK. Obar Creek rises in a privately owned recreational lake just east of the Gonzales county line in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°39' N, 97°08' W). It flows southwest for eleven miles to its mouth on Peach Creek, seven miles northwest of Moulton (at 29°37' N, 97°14' W). The name may be derived from a member of the families of John and Alexander O'Bar who settled in Fayette County possibly before 1836. Throughout its course the stream flows over shallow to moderately deep sandy loam overlying dense clay subsoils. The area is rated as poor to fair for agriculture but produced good crops of cotton during the period 1870 to 1950 and is used as pasture for cattle. Vegetation along Obar Creek consists of mixed oak, hackberry, pecan, and sycamore with an understory of yaupon and wild grape; oak mottes and mesquites appear on the uplands. Wildlife habitat is good.
OWL CREEK. Owl Creek rises two miles northwest of Waldeck in northwest Fayette County (at 30°05' N, 96°49' W) and flows southwest for nine miles to its mouth on Rabbs Creek, one mile southeast of Warda (at 30°03' N, 96°54' W). Throughout its length it crosses terrain with an easily eroded shallow topsoil of sandy loam and a heavy subsoil of clay. The area is marginal for agriculture, and much of the land is covered with thickets of oak and cedar with a yaupon understory that provide good wildlife habitat. The creek's name may be derived from the numerous owls that nest in the thickets and hunt the edges of nearby pasture land.
PEACH CREEK. Peach Creek rises 6 1/2 miles southwest of Rosanky in southern Bastrop County (at 29°51' N, 97°22' W) and flows southward for forty-eight miles, through Bastrop, Fayette, and Gonzales counties, to its mouth on the Guadalupe River, near Hamon in Gonzales County (at 29°24' N, 97°19' W). It rises in an upland area of sandy surface soils and flows through post oak woods, with soil composition changing from sandy to clayey along the course.
PECAN CREEK. Pecan Creek rises a mile west of Holman in eastern Fayette County (at 29°47' N, 96°48' W), on land originally granted to S. A. Pugh in 1831. It flows northeast for 4 1/2 miles past the site of the old Pecan school, through Holman (which was once named Pecan after the creek), and across Farm Road 155 to its mouth on the Colorado River (at 29°49' N, 96°46' W). Throughout its upper course the stream flows over soils with a fine sandy loam surface layer over a firmer clay subsoil. As it passes Holman it enters the bottomland soils that exhibit deep calcareous silty loam and silty clay layers over deep beds of alluvial sand and gravel. Vegetation along the stream consists of a mixture of oak, pecan, hackberry, and sycamore with an understory of yaupon and wild grape. Before 1960 cotton was produced and ginned in Holman. Afterward, most of the land reverted to pasture for cattle and, in the bottomland, to the production of corn and maize, wherever the surface layers have not been striped to remove sand and gravel for construction.
PETTYS CREEK. Pettys Creek rises on Ross Prairie two miles southwest of Fayetteville in east central Fayette County (at 29°53' N, 96°41' W) and flows intermittently in a southwesterly direction for 6 1/2 miles. It runs to the west of Ellinger and drains into the Colorado River (at 29°48' N, 96°44' W). Throughout most of its length the stream flows through fine sand or firm clay loam topsoils over firm clay subsoils. The land is rated as fair for agriculture and is used primarily as pasture for cattle and horses. Near the creek's mouth the soils change to calcareous clay and sandy loam layers rated good for agriculture. These produce good crops of grain, pecans, and hay. The creek is located in a grassy area with rolling terrain. Its name is derived from that of John Petty, one of Austin's Old Three Hundred, who settled here before 1830.
PIN OAK BRANCH. Pin Oak Branch rises in a tank one-half mile south of Northrup in southeastern Lee County (at 30°05' N, 96°58' W) and runs 6 1/2 miles southeast, through parts of Lee and Fayette counties, to its mouth on Rabbs Creek (at 30°04' N, 96°53' W). Throughout its length it traverses rolling terrain surfaced by shallow and easily eroded sandy loam topsoil and a very firm clay subsoil, not well suited to agricultural uses other than grazing. Vegetation along the stream is generally sparse and includes a mixture of oak, cedar, and scattered pine.
PIN OAK CREEK. Pin Oak Creek rises one mile south of Giddings in southwestern Lee County (at 30°08' N, 96°51' W) and flows southeast for 4 1/2 miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek, in northern Fayette County (at 30°07' N, 96°47' W). Throughout its length it meanders through shallow, highly erodible topsoil of sandy loam and a heavy subsoil of clay. The area is considered marginal for agriculture and is used primarily for grazing and wildlife habitat. Vegetation along the creek consists of a mixture of oaks and cedar with an understory of yaupon.
PIN OAK CREEK. Pin Oak (Pinoak) Creek rises just south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 21 in eastern Bastrop County (at 30°12' N, 97°09' W) and flows southeasterly for 24 1/2 miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, north of West Point in Fayette County (at 29°59' N, 97°03' W) at. The creek crosses an area of post oak woods, stream terraces, and uplands with sandy surface soils, ending in the loamy soils of the Colorado River floodplain.
PIN OAK CREEK. Pin Oak Creek rises two miles south of Cistern in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°47' N, 97°13' W) and runs south for 6 1/2 miles, past Elm Grove on Farm Road 2762, to its mouth on Peach Creek, one mile inside Gonzales County (at 29°42' N, 97°14' W). Its course crosses sloping terrain surfaced by erodible sandy loam over clay subsoil. These soils are fair for agriculture and are used primarily as improved pastures. Wooded areas are often dense mixtures of oak, cedar, and hackberry with a yaupon understory. Abandoned fields show cedar and mesquite.
PIN OAK CREEK. Pin Oak Creek rises just east of State Highway 95 in the Southwest Muldoon oilfield four miles north of Flatonia in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°45' N, 97°08' W) and flows northeast for 12 1/2 miles to its mouth on Buckners Creek (at 29°50' N, 97°01' W). The creek is crossed by State Highway 154 and the Southern Pacific Railroad south of Floy and passes to the east of Muldoon. Its course crosses gently sloping terrain with a fine sandy loam upper layer over very firm clay subsoil. These soils are generally poor for agricultural use. There are several strip mines for the removal of clay, and the dense stands of mixed oak are used to make charcoal. Near its mouth the stream flows through part of the two leagues of land in Fayette County granted to Michael Muldoon, curate of Stephen F. Austin's colony in 1831.
PINEY CREEK. Piney Creek rises in a stock tank (at 30°04' N, 96°58' W) in southeastern Lee County and runs southwest and then southeast for a total of about 7 1/2 miles before reaching its mouth (at 30°01' N, 96°55' W) on Rabbs Creek in Fayette County. The land throughout its course is characterized by highly erodible shallow sandy loam topsoils transected by surface deposits of sand and gravel, with heavy subsoils of clay and clay mixed with gravel. The area is marginal for agriculture but is used for pasture; sand and gravel are occasionally removed for local use. The creek name may be derived from the presence of loblolly pine interspersed with oak, cedar, and yaupon.
POOL BRANCH. Pool Branch rises near State Highway 159 2 1/2 miles northwest of Fayetteville in east central Fayette County (at 29°56' N, 96°42' W) and runs east for 7 1/2 miles, crossing State 159 again between the Mount Pilgrim and Sweet Home churches and passing through a large unnamed flood prevention pool, to its mouth on Cummins Creek, near the Fayette-Colorado county line (at 29°55' N, 96°37' W). The stream flows through an area characterized by low, rolling hills and prairies, running first through soils with heavy clay layers and then through soils made up of heavy sand and gravel deposits. Extensive mining of these deposits results in many small, often muddy lagoons. In areas where industrialization has not been extensive, vegetation consists primarily of native and introduced grasses.
POPLAR CREEK. Poplar Creek rises in a tank in Austin County just north and east of the corners of Fayette and Colorado counties (at 29°59' N, 96°35' W) and flows south for five miles to its mouth on Boggy Creek, near its crossing of the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad in Fayette County (at 29°55' N, 96°35' W). Throughout its course it flows through soils composed of a mixture of sandy loam and calcareous clay, which are rated as fair to good for agriculture but are primarily used as pasture for cattle.
RABBS CREEK. Rabbs Creek rises in southern Lee County (at 30°11' N, 97°03' W) west-southwest of Giddings and runs south for about 24 1/2 miles, passing into Fayette County before reaching its mouth (at 29°58' N, 96°55' W) on the Colorado River, northwest of La Grange. The creek is a major tributary of the Colorado and has at least ten named tributaries of its own. It passes through terrain surfaced by shallow, highly erodible topsoils of sand and sandy loam, with subsoils of heavy clay and clay mixed with gravel. Land along the stream is marginal for most agricultural purposes, and though it has produced good crops of corn, it is now used primarily for grazing and hay production. The flat lands along Rabbs Creek are prone to flooding, and there are many natural wide spots used for stock watering. Expanded oil extraction in the vicinity during the 1980s increased the potential for pollution from that source. Rabbs Creek was named for William Rabb, who settled in the area with his extended family sometime before Texas independence. As a part of his commitment to Stephen F. Austin's colony, he constructed on the creek the first gristmill in what is now Fayette County. The grinding stones were shipped from Scotland, and the mill works came from New Orleans.
ROBINSON CREEK. Robinson Creek rises one mile northeast of the Byler Point Church in western Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 97°05' W) and flows north for five miles, to its mouth on the Colorado River, just below the mouth of Cedar Creek (at 29°58' N, 97°04' W). Throughout its course it flows through rolling terrain and soils with a fine sandy loam surface layer over a very firm clay subsoil. Because of its high erodibility, the land is rated from poor to fair for farming and is used primarily as unimproved pasture for cattle. Vegetation in the area consists of scattered clumps of oak mixed with cedar and a yaupon understory that provides good wildlife habitat. Near the Colorado River strip-mining operations have removed large quantities of gravel. The creek's name is derived from that of Joseph C. Robinson, an early settler who was captured by the Mexican Army during the Dawson Massacre. He was released from Perote Prison on March 23, 1844, and made his way back to Fayette County, where his detailed account of the affair provided much that is known
ROCKY CREEK. Rocky Creek rises at State Highway 237 in northern Fayette County near the Washington county line (at 30°08' N, 96°39' W) and flows south for 7 1/2 miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek, 1 1/2 miles southeast of Round Top (at 30°03' N, 96°41' W). Throughout its course it flows primarily through soils characterized by a shallow, highly erodible topsoil of sandy loam and firm clay underlayers. The area is considered fair to good for agriculture, and the gently sloping to rolling hillsides are used primarily as improved pasture for cattle and horses.
ROCKY CREEK. Rocky Creek rises 1 1/2 miles northeast of the Hickory Ridge Cemetery in north central Fayette County (at 30°00' N, 96°49' W) and flows north and then west for 11 1/2 miles to its mouth on Rabbs Creek, two miles south of Warda (at 30°02' N, 96°55' W). Throughout its course it flows through soils that range from shallow, highly erodible, sandy loam to clay and gravel. The land is marginal for agriculture and is used primarily for unimproved pasture and wildlife habitat. Vegetation along stream bottoms is a mixture of oak and cedar with scattered pines and an understory of yaupon.
ROCKY CREEK. Rocky Creek rises south of Rosanky in south central Bastrop County (at 29°54' N, 97°18' W) and flows southward into Fayette County, reaching its mouth on Peach Creek, 7 1/2 miles from its source (at 29°50' N, 97°16' W). The stream flows through uplands with sandy surface soils, then enters a section of primarily loamy surface soils. Post oak woods predominate in the area.
ROPER CREEK. Roper Creek begins in southeastern Fayette County (at 29°46' N, 96°49' W) and flows east for 5 1/2 miles to its mouth on Brushy Creek, which leads to the Colorado River (at 29°47' N, 96°46' W). Roper Creek flows through low rolling hills and prairies with loamy surface layers and cracking clayey subsoils. The vegetation consists primarily of oak savanna, grasses, and mesquite.
ROSS CREEK. Ross Creek rises 2 1/2 miles northwest of Fayetteville in eastern Fayette County (at 29°55' N, 96°42' W) and runs south for 9 1/2 miles to its mouth on the Colorado River (at 29°49' N, 96°45' W). The upper half of the creek flows through relatively poor soils with loose sandy gravel that is extensively mined for construction purposes. As the stream enters the Colorado River floodplain, the soils flanking it range from a fine sandy loam upper level over a firm clay subsoil to productive soils that support good crops of grain, pecans, and hay. The creek runs through rolling terrain. Its name is derived from that of James J. Ross, one of Austin's Old Three Hundred, who settled on the flat bottomland near the Colorado River.
SHAW CREEK. Shaw Creek rises 1 1/2 miles northeast of Waldeck in north central Fayette County (at 30°05' N, 96°49' W) and runs east for nine miles through two large flood control reservoirs to its mouth on Cummins Creek, a mile southwest of Round Top (at 30°04' N, 96°42' W). The stream runs through terrain surfaced by shallow, easily eroded topsoils of sandy loam and sand mixed with gravel and heavy subsoils with a high component of clay and gravel. Generally the land is marginal for agriculture but, with care, can produce corn and hay or pasture for cattle. On flat land at the juncture of Shaw and Cummins creeks is a large orchard. The creek is probably named for Joseph or Peter Shaw, locally prominent colonists who took active roles in the Texas Revolution and in community life.
SHILOH BRANCH. Shiloh Branch rises a mile north of Winchester in northwestern Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°59' W) and flows for five miles, first south past Winchester, and then east to its mouth on Millers Creek (at 29°59' N, 96°58' W), just above the confluence of the latter with the Colorado River. Throughout the upper two-thirds of its length Shiloh Branch flows through shallow and highly erodible topsoil of sandy loam that is marginal for agriculture but used locally for grazing and the production of hay. Toward its mouth the stream passes through the floodplain of the Colorado River, which yields good crops of corn, pecans, and hay. The terrain is rolling. Local sources credit the origins of the creek's name to a church that was formerly in the area.
SMALLEY CREEK. Smalley Creek rises in a flood-control impoundment a mile southwest of the Cedar Grove Church and three miles north of La Grange in north central Fayette County (at 29°57' N, 96°51' W) and runs south for two miles, first through a deep, narrow, and heavily wooded valley, and then, as it is crossed by U.S. Highway 77, through relatively flat, open pastureland, to its mouth on Jordan Creek (at 29°57' N, 96°52' W). It flows first through terrain with a shallow sandy loam surface layer over a firm clay subsoil, with a significant amount of volcanic material; this land is marginal for agricultural use and is used primarily as unimproved pasture for cattle. As the stream enters the floodplain of the Colorado River, it passes through productive soils made up of calcareous clay layers, which yield good crops of grains and hay.
SPECKELS BRANCH. Speckels Branch rises in a tank a half mile southwest of Hellers Hill in north central Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°47' W) and flows west for 1 1/2 miles to its mouth on Rocky Creek (at 30°01' N, 96°48' W). Throughout its course it flows through rolling terrain characterized by a shallow, friable sandy loam topsoil overlying a very firm clay subsoil that contains volcanic materials. These soils are easily eroded and generally poorly drained. They are poor for agricultural use and are used mainly for unimproved pasture and wildlife. Vegetation consists of mixed oak and cedar with scattered pines and a yaupon understory that provides fair wildlife habitat. The stream's name is derived from that of John Speckels, an early settler in the area who drove ox wagons loaded with cotton to Mexico to bypass the Union blockade during the Civil War.
SPENCER POOL CREEK. Spencer Pool Creek rises a mile west of Walhalla in north central Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 96°46' W) and flows south for 7 1/2 miles to its mouth on Clear Creek, one mile south of Roznov (at 29°57' N, 96°42' W). Throughout its course it flows through rolling terrain surfaced by firm clay soils interspersed with fine sandy loam that is highly erodible and marginal for agriculture. Most of the land was heavily farmed at one time but is now used for unimproved pasture for cattle. The creek flows through one large flood control impoundment known locally as Spencer Pool. The vegetation in the area is a mixture of oak and cedar with occasional pine and an understory of yaupon.
SPRING BRANCH. Spring Branch rises a mile north of Winchester in northwestern Fayette County (at 30°01' N, 97°01' W) and runs south for four miles to its mouth on an oxbow in the Colorado River (at 29°58' N, 97°00' W). It crosses rolling terrain with a fine, highly erodible, sandy loam surface over a firm clay subsoil. The land is rated as poor to fair for agriculture and used primarily as unimproved pasture for cattle. Vegetation in the area is a mixture of oak and cedar with an understory of yaupon that provides good wildlife habitat.
TAYLOR BRANCH. Taylor Branch rises two miles southeast of Plum and 3 1/2 miles west of La Grange in north central Fayette County (at 29°54' N, 96°56' W) and flows east, roughly parallel to State Highway 71, for four miles to its mouth on Buckners Creek, just east of the Guenther Airport and south of the Fayette County Livestock Commission auction barn on Highway 71 (at 29°53' N, 96°53' W). Throughout its course the creek crosses relatively productive soils characterized by layers of calcareous clay. Much of the land north of the stream adjacent to the highway is developed by industries catering to oilfield needs, and gas and oil wells dot the landscape. Near its mouth the stream outlines the west, south, and southeast boundaries of the airport. Sand and gravel have been extracted from the creekbed, and surrounding lands still in agricultural use produce good crops of grain and hay. The terrain is rolling. The creek's name is probably derived from that of N. C. (or C. H.) Taylor, who was listed as a landholder in the area in 1840.
TURKEY CREEK. Turkey Creek rises three miles north-northeast of Waldeck in northern Fayette County (at 30°06' N, 96°49' W) and runs east for four miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 30°06' N, 96°45' W). Throughout its length it dawdles through shallow, highly erodible topsoils of sandy gravel and sandy loam with subsoils of heavy clay mixed with gravel. The land is marginal for agriculture and is used primarily as unimproved pasture and wildlife habitat. The vegetation along the creek is mainly oak mixed with cedar, with a yaupon understory.
TUTTLE CREEK. Tuttle Creek rises in a tank at the community of Pin Oak just west of Farm Road 609 7 1/2 miles northeast of Flatonia in south central Fayette County (at 29°46' N, 97°02' W). It flows northwest for 2 1/2 miles to its mouth on Pin Oak Creek, a mile south of Muldoon (at 29°48' N, 97°04' W). The stream was named for George Washington Tuttle, a prominent local merchant who fought in the Republic of Texas and Confederate armies. Tuttle Creek flows through gently sloping terrain, surfaced by moderately deep, and highly erodible soils. From 1875 to 1950 the surrounding land produced good crops of cotton, but it has largely reverted to pasture and hayfields. Oak, cedar, and hackberry trees predominate along the stream, with scattered groves of wild pecan. Mesquite is encroaching on old fields.
WEST NAVIDAD RIVER. The West Navidad River rises 3 1/2 miles southwest of Muldoon in southwestern Fayette County (at 29°48' N, 96°59' W) and flows southeasterly for twenty-three miles to the point where it joins the East Navidad River to form the Navidad River (at 29°36' N, 96°50' W). Throughout the upper half of its course it traverses land surfaced by clay and sandy loams and considered good for pasture and cropland. In its lower reaches, where dense stands of oak, pecan, sycamore, and associated species provide excellent wildlife habitat, the creek flows through low rolling hills subject to periodic flooding. Although water quantity fluctuates widely with the seasons, there are enough natural springs along the stream to keep water in pools even in summer.
WILLIAMS BRANCH. Williams Branch rises in a tank a mile northwest of Walhalla in north central Fayette County (at 30°02' N, 96°46' W) and runs east for four miles to its mouth on Shaw Creek, two miles southwest of Round Top (at 30°03' N, 96°44' W). It crosses firm clay layers that are well drained and often have a shallow, highly erodible sandy loam top layer. These soils range from fair to good for agriculture and once produced good crops of cotton and corn. Since the 1950s, however, the land has been used primarily for improved pasture for cattle and horses. The stream's name is probably derived from that of one of the four men named Williams who received original grants of land in Fayette County.
WILLIAMS CREEK. Williams Creek rises 1 1/2 miles southwest of Hostyn in central Fayette County on lands originally granted to the Fayette County school system (at 29°49' N, 96°56' W). It flows easterly, through rolling prairie used for farming and ranching, for eleven miles to its mouth on the Colorado River, one mile southeast of the community of Mullins Prairie (at 29°50' N, 96°48' W). The stream was probably named for Samuel May Williams, who was granted land near its source in 1831. It flows through productive soils that exhibit well drained and firm calcareous clay layers to more than fifty inches in depth. For many years this soil produced excellent crops of corn and cotton, which was ginned locally and carried to the railroad at La Grange or Schulenburg. With the passing of cotton production during the 1950s and 1960s, much of the land was converted to improved pasture for beef cattle and an increased production of grain. Vegetation along the stream consists of a mixture of oak, cedar, hackberry, and sycamore, with willows in wetter sites and, near the Colorado River, pecans.
WILLOW BRANCH. Willow Branch rises a mile northeast of the community of Willow Springs in the northeastern corner of Fayette County (at 29°59' N, 96°35' W) and runs south for three miles, to its mouth on Poplar Creek, just inside Colorado County (at 29°56' N, 96°35' W). The name is derived from nearby springs for which the Willow Springs community is also named. The stream flows primarily through soils composed of a mixture of sandy loam and calcareous clay, which are rated as fair to good for agriculture but are used primarily for pasture for cattle and horses.
WOODS CREEK. Woods Creek rises in a tank near Farm Road 1457 a mile southeast of Nassau Cemetery in northeast Fayette County near the juncture of Fayette, Washington, and Austin counties (at 30°02' N, 96°37' W). It runs southwest for four miles to its mouth on Cummins Creek (at 30°00' N, 96°40' W). It crosses gently rolling terrain surfaced by a shallow sandy loam topsoil over very firm clay layers. The area is used primarily as pasture for cattle and horses. A flood-control dam impounds a small, unnamed body of water a mile upstream from the creek's mouth.
