Mosby Creek (Oregon) Explained

Mosby Creek
Name Etymology:David Mosby, pioneer settler
Map Size:300
Pushpin Map:USA Oregon
Pushpin Map Size:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth of Mosby Creek in Oregon
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Oregon
Subdivision Type4:County
Subdivision Name4:Lane
Length:21miles
Source1:confluence of West and East forks
Source1 Location:near the Calapooia Divide
Source1 Coordinates:43.5533°N -122.8506°W[1]
Source1 Elevation:1508feet[2]
Mouth:Row River
Mouth Location:near Cottage Grove
Mouth Coordinates:43.7797°N -123.0133°W
Mouth Elevation:669feet

Mosby Creek is a 21miles tributary of the Row River in Lane County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It begins at the confluence of the east and west forks of the creek near the Calapooia Divide and the border with Douglas County. From its source it flows generally north-northwest to meet the river slightly east of Cottage Grove and about 4miles from the larger stream's confluence with the Coast Fork Willamette River.[3]

Mosby Creek was named for David Mosby, an early settler.[4] He lived near the mouth of the stream, once known as Brumbaugh Creek.[5]

Mosby Creek Covered Bridge, 90feet long, carries Layng Road over the creek east of Cottage Grove. Built in 1920, it is the oldest covered bridge in Lane County.[6]

Further upstream near Walden, the Stewart Covered Bridge carries Garoutte Road over the creek. Built in 1930 and restored in 1996, this 60feet span is used only for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.[7]

Tributaries

Mosby Creek's east and west forks meet to form the main stem. Named tributaries from source to mouth include Cove, Tom, Miles, Tones, Lilly, Brownie, and Shea creeks. Then come Gray, Norwegian, Dahl, Little Dry, Dry, Bark Shanty, and Stell creeks, followed by Allen, Cedar, Clearing, Cow, Palmer, Rock, and Lewis creeks. Below that are Simpson, Blue, Short, Fall, Kennedy, Smith, Perkins, Kizer, and Champion creeks.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{gnis3|1146481}} Mosby Creek]. Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 28, 1980. November 13, 2015.
  2. Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. Web site: United States Topographic Map. United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper. November 13, 2015. The map includes mile markers along the creek.
  4. News: Indians, Surveyors, Incidents Gave Names to Streams, Lakes and Mountains . . January 4, 1942 . April 23, 2015 . 5.
  5. Book: McArthur, Lewis A. . McArthur, Lewis L. . Oregon Geographic Names. 7th . Oregon Historical Society Press . 2003 . 1928. Portland, Oregon . 660–61 . 0-87595-277-1.
  6. Web site: Mosby Creek Covered Bridge. Lane County. April 23, 2015 .
  7. Web site: Lane County Covered Bridge Coins. Lane County, Oregon. 2012. January 9, 2016.