| Ellerbe Creek | |
| Name Other: | Tributary to Neuse River |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA North Carolina |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Ellerbe Creek mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | Durham |
| Length: | 13.04miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Location: | Neuse River (Falls Lake) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 51.79cuft/s at mouth with Neuse River[2] |
| Source1: | divide between Ellerbe Creek and Eno River |
| Source1 Location: | Durham, North Carolina[3] |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 36.0256°N -78.9736°W[4] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 460feet[5] |
| Mouth: | Neuse River (Falls Lake) |
| Mouth Location: | Durham, North Carolina[6] |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 36.0708°N -78.785°W[7] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 252feet[8] |
| Progression: | east |
| River System: | Neuse River |
| Tributaries Left: | unnamed tributaries |
| Tributaries Right: | unnamed tributaries |
Ellerbe Creek is a tributary of the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Neuse River Basin, and flows for more than twenty miles through North Durham. The Ellerbe's watershed begins near Orange County north of Interstate 85, near the WDNC radio tower and Bennett Place. The creek flows through many of Durham's most historic and culturally significant areas, including Ninth Street, Downtown Durham, beneath Durham Athletic Park, The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the Museum of Life and Science, the old Durham Landfill, Duke University East Campus, Trinity Park, Walltown, Northgate Mall, and towards the end crosses Fishdam Road.[9] The Ellerbe eventually flows into Falls Lake, about a mile south of the Eno River.
It has been cited as the most polluted creek in The Triangle region of North Carolina.[10] A watershed improvement plan was prepared by the Brown and Caldweld firm for the City of Durham in 2010.[11]
Some say Ellerbe is a name derived from a Native American language, while others believe the creek is named after John Ellerby, an early settler.[12]