San Francisquito Creek (Santa Clara River)
Encyclopedia
San Francisquito Creek, in Los Angeles County, is a tributary
stream of the Santa Clara River
. It drains the south facing slopes of the Sierra Pelona Ridge of the San Gabriel Mountains
within the Transverse Range of California
, USA.
The closest populated place to the Creek is Green Valley
that lies along the upper course of the creek, in the upper part of San Francisquito Canyon
, southeast of the source of the Creek at San Francisquito Pass
. At its mouth and confluence with the Santa Clara River
is Santa Clarita
.
into the San Joaquin Valley
. The first was El Camino Viejo
, later there was the Stockton - Los Angeles Road
and the Butterfield Overland Mail
stage route. The wagon road followed the course of the stream in the bottom of the canyon.
Two stage stations for the Overland Mail were along the Creek. Widow Smith's Station was located about a mile down the canyon from Green Valley. and King's Station, located 10 miles south of Widow Smith's Station in lower San Francisquito Canyon.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
stream of the Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River (California)
The Santa Clara River is approximately long, located in southern California in the United States. It drains an area of the coastal mountains north of Los Angeles. The Santa Clara is one of the largest river systems along the coast of Southern California and one of only a few remaining river...
. It drains the south facing slopes of the Sierra Pelona Ridge of the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
within the Transverse Range of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
The closest populated place to the Creek is Green Valley
Green Valley, Los Angeles County, California
Green Valley is a census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2936 feet...
that lies along the upper course of the creek, in the upper part of San Francisquito Canyon
San Francisquito Canyon
San Francisquito Canyon is a canyon created by the erosion of the Sierra Pelona Ridge of the San Gabriel Mountains within the Transverse Range of California, USA by San Francisquito Creek. At its head is the San Francisquito Pass which the early routes between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin...
, southeast of the source of the Creek at San Francisquito Pass
San Francisquito Pass
San Francisquito Pass, is a mountain pass of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Green Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. This pass, at the elevation 3655 feet, was at the head of San Francisquito Canyon where from the time of the Spanish roads to the north from Los Angeles to the San...
. At its mouth and confluence with the Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River may refer to:*Santa Clara River , a river in Southern California, United States.*Santa Clara River , a river in Utah, United States*Carmen River, a river in Mexico that is sometimes called the Santa Clara River...
is Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
.
History
San Francisquito Creek and its canyon was for many years the major route of wagon and stage roads nortward from Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
into the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
. The first was El Camino Viejo
El Camino Viejo
El Camino Viejo à Los Angeles , also known as the Old Los Angeles Trail, established in 1820's, was the oldest north-south trail in the interior of Alta California...
, later there was the Stockton - Los Angeles Road
Stockton - Los Angeles Road
Stockton-Los Angeles Road, also known as the Millerton Road, Stockton-Mariposa Road, Stockton-Fort Miller Road or the Stockton-Visalia Road was established about 1853 following the discovery of gold on the Kern River in Old Tulare County...
and the Butterfield Overland Mail
Butterfield Overland Mail
The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail was a stagecoach route in the United States, operating from 1857 to 1861. It was a conduit for the U.S. mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, meeting Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continuing through Indian Territory, New Mexico,...
stage route. The wagon road followed the course of the stream in the bottom of the canyon.
Two stage stations for the Overland Mail were along the Creek. Widow Smith's Station was located about a mile down the canyon from Green Valley. and King's Station, located 10 miles south of Widow Smith's Station in lower San Francisquito Canyon.