Panoche Creek

Panoche Creek is a creek in San Benito and Fresno Counties, California, in the United States.

Panoche Creek
Big Panoche
Etymologybig sugarloaf creek
Native nameArroyo de Panoche Grande (Spanish)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionFresno County
Physical characteristics
Sourcesource
 • locationDrains the higher portion of the Diablo Range west of Llanada., San Benito County
 • coordinates36°37′32″N 121°00′30″W[1]
 • elevation2,070 ft (630 m)
Mouthmouth
 • location
empties into the San Joaquin Valley, 7.3 miles west of Mendota., Fresno County
 • coordinates
36°44′55″N 120°30′48″W[1]
 • elevation
259 ft (79 m)[1]

Historical names include Arroyo de Panoche Grande (Big Sugarloaf Creek)[2] and the anglicized Big Panoche Creek. For a time its lower reaches were called "Silver Creek."[1]

The source of Panoche Creek is a pond just east of Panoche Pass in the Diablo Range. It flows to the east through the Panoche Valley into the San Joaquin Valley west of Mendota near the former site of Hayes Station.[1]

Panoche Creek has the largest drainage area of any stream on the east slope of the Diablo Range.[1]

History

Arroyo de Panoche Grande was part of a route between the Indian settlements of the central coast of California and the San Joaquin Valley. It was also a watering place on El Camino Viejo between Arroyita de Panoche (Little Sugarloaf Creek) and Arroyo de Cantua (Cantua Creek).[2]

Spanish soldiers followed Panoche Creek on expeditions to explore the region. It was an area of frequent conflict with local native peoples, who raided mission properties and were subject to conversion during the period of Indian Reductions.[3] Vaqueros and musteneros followed the creek into the San Joaquin Valley to round up cattle and horses, respectively.

Both Panoche Creek and Panoche Valley, are referred to as the "Big Panoche", distinguishing them from the Little Panoche Creek, and valley.[1]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Panoche Creek
  2. Mildred B. Hoover, et al. Historic Spots in California. 3rd edition. Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1966. p.89
  3. Henry D. Barrows and Luther A. Ingersoll, A Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893, Chapter 3
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