Sharps Creek (Oregon)

Sharps Creek is a tributary of the Row River in Lane County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins near Bohemia Mountain and the Calapooia Divide of the Cascade Range and flows generally northwest to meet the river. Much of its course lies within the Umpqua National Forest.[3] Sharps Creek enters the Row River at the unincorporated community of Culp Creek, about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Cottage Grove.[1]

For other places with the same name, see Sharps Creek.
Sharps Creek
Sharps Creek (Oregon) is located in Oregon
Sharps Creek (Oregon)
Location of the mouth of Sharps Creek in Oregon
EtymologyFor 19th-century miner James H. "Bohemia" Sharp
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLane
Physical characteristics
SourceBohemia Mountain
 • locationCascade Range, Umpqua National Forest
 • coordinates43°34′10″N 122°39′39″W[1]
 • elevation5,317 ft (1,621 m)[2]
MouthRow River
 • location
Culp Creek
 • coordinates
43°41′44″N 122°50′17″W[1]
 • elevation
958 ft (292 m)[1]

According to Oregon Geographic Names, Sharps Creek was named for James H. "Bohemia" Sharp, a local prospector and road builder.[4][5] The "Bohemia" in Sharp's nickname stemmed from another miner, James Johnson, who in 1863 found lode gold deposits on the mountain. Earlier prospectors had found placer gold in the creek in 1858. Johnson was nicknamed "Bohemia" because he had grown up in Bohemia in eastern Europe. He and other miners organized the Bohemia Gold and Silver Mining District (later referred to as the Bohemia mining district) in 1867.[6]

The Sharps Creek Recreation Site, overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, is along the creek 18 miles (29 km) from Cottage Grove. Open usually from mid-May through the end of September, it has a day use area, 11 campsites, potable water, toilets, picnic tables and fire rings, and a swimming hole. Recreational activities near the site include fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and gold panning.[7]

Tributaries

Named tributaries listed from source to mouth include Bohemia Creek, which enters from the right; Judson Rock Creek, right; Fairview Creek, right; Sailors Gulch, left; Martin Creek, left, and White Creek, right. Also, Walker Creek, left; Buck Creek, left; Lick Creek, right; Staples Creek, right; Pony Creek, right; Table Creek, left; Damewood Creek, left, and Boulder Creek, left.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Sharps Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. "United States Topographic Map". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 10, 2015 – via ACME Mapper.
  4. "Indians, Surveyors, Incidents Gave Names to Streams, Lakes and Mountains". Eugene Register-Guard. January 4, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  5. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 864. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  6. Orr, Elizabeth L.; Orr, William N. (1999). Geology of Oregon (5th ed.). Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. p. 152. ISBN 0-7872-6608-6.
  7. "Sharps Creek Recreation Site" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
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