Champoeg Creek
The creek near Champoeg Road, looking north
Champoeg Creek is located in Oregon
Champoeg Creek
Location of the mouth of Champoeg Creek in Oregon
Location
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyMarion County
Physical characteristics
SourceFrench Prairie
 • coordinates45°11′02″N 122°55′49″W / 45.18389°N 122.93028°W / 45.18389; -122.93028[1]
 • elevation121 ft (37 m)[2]
MouthWillamette River
 • location
near Champoeg
 • coordinates
45°15′14″N 122°52′56″W / 45.25389°N 122.88222°W / 45.25389; -122.88222[1]
 • elevation
62 ft (19 m)[1]
Length6 mi (9.7 km)[3]

Champoeg Creek is a tributary, roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) long, of the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The creek is formed by the confluence of its two forks in the French Prairie region of the Willamette Valley and flows generally northeast to meet the Willamette 45 miles (72 km) from the river's confluence with the Columbia River. Its course lies entirely in Marion County.[3][4]

The name "Champoeg" comes from the Kalapuyan word [čʰámpuik], which might be an abbreviation of [čʰa-čʰíma-púičuk], referring to the edible root [púičuk], or yampa.[5]

Course

The creek begins at the confluence of East Fork Champoeg Creek and West Fork Champoeg Creek in French Prairie and flows generally northeast. The East Fork is about 5 miles (8.0 km) long, and the West Fork is about 6 miles (9.7 km) long. Not far from its source, Champoeg Creek enters McKay Reservoir then Spada Reservoir, where it passes under St. Paul Highway Northeast. Shortly thereafter, it receives Murphy Creek from the left. It passes under McKay Road Northeast and Champoeg Road Northeast before receiving Case Creek from the right and Mission Creek from the left in Champoeg State Heritage Area. Less than 1 mile (1.6 km) later, it enters the Willamette River 45 miles (72 km) from the larger stream's mouth on the Columbia River.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Champoeg Creek". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  2. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. ^ a b c Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (2008 ed.). DeLorme Mapping. § 28. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
  4. ^ a b United States Geological Survey. "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: St. Paul and Newberg quadrants". TopoQuest. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  5. ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
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