A Look into Creek Names in Pocahontas County

 

The sources provide information on the naming of several creeks in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

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Names Based on Features: Some creek names are descriptive, reflecting prominent natural features. For instance, Deer Creek was named due to the large deer population in the area during the pioneer settlement

. Similarly, Gum Branch got its name from an ice-cold spring located near an old pioneer's house

.

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Names Based on People: Other creeks are named after individuals who resided in the area. Knapps Creek provides an interesting example. While local tradition attributed the name to Knapp Gregory, an early settler

, further research revealed a more likely origin: Caleb Knapp, an early resident of Greenbrier County who later moved to Pocahontas County

.

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Ewings Creek also underwent a name evolution. Initially believed to be named after a surveyor named Ewing, later evidence suggests it was named after James Ewing, an early settler who owned land near the creek

.

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Names Based on Activities: Some creeks obtained their names from the activities associated with them. Tackets Fork, for example, was named after an old pioneer, Tacket, who was known for making hides a specialty

.

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Native American Names: The sources mention that Deer Creek was originally called "Ta-rin-ca, Waka-pa-dan" by the Native Americans, meaning "Big Deer Creek"

. This highlights the influence of indigenous languages on place names before the arrival of European settlers.

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Evolution of Names: The sources reveal that creek names could evolve over time, often due to evolving understandings of local history and genealogy. The cases of Knapps Creek and Ewings Creek exemplify this phenomenon

. This emphasizes the dynamic nature of place names and the importance of historical research in understanding their origins.

The sources offer valuable insights into the history and cultural landscape of Pocahontas County through the lens of creek names. They demonstrate how these names reflect the natural environment, the people who inhabited the region, and the activities that shaped their lives.