| Sharps Creek | |
| Name Etymology: | For 19th-century miner James H. "Bohemia" Sharp |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Sharps Creek in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Lane |
| Source1: | Bohemia Mountain |
| Source1 Location: | Cascade Range, Umpqua National Forest |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 43.5694°N -122.6608°W[1] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 5317feet[2] |
| Mouth: | Row River |
| Mouth Location: | Culp Creek |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 43.6956°N -122.8381°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 958feet |
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 12miles southeast of Cottage Grove.[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 18miles 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]
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]