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Germany Creek, Washington, upstream of mouth.
Image taken July 28, 2005.
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Germany Creek ...
Early Germany Creek ...
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The mouth of Germany Creek is located in T8N R4W, Section 12. The 1885 cadastral survey (tax survey) shows this to be on the Donation Land Claim of John Guizendorfer (Guisendorfer). The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office Records (GLO) database (2016) shows John Guisendorfer being granted title to 323.27 acres of T8N R4W, parts of Sections 11 and 12, on December 22, 1865 (1850 Oregon-Donation Act).
Henry Landis wrote in "Geographic Dictionary of Washington" (1917, Washington State Geological Survey Bulletin 17):
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"German Creek ... A small tributary of Columbia River, near Stella, in western Cowlitz County. (Same as Nequally Creek.)"
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Name Chronology ...
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There are three creeks in the Stella/Oak Point area which have sported various names throughout the years, often sharing and switching names. They are today's Germany Creek (RM 56), Abernethy Creek (RM 54), and Mill Creek (RM 54).
The 1858 Cadastral Survey (tax survey) for T8N R4W has Mill Creek named "Abernethy's Mill Creek" ("South Fork" and "North Fork").
At its mouth, a "Mill" is shown on the right bank and a "Store" is shown on the left bank.
The Abernethy home was shown upstream, about half way between today's Mill Creek and today's Abernethy Creek (shown but not named).
Further upstream is depicted a "Methodist Church", "Meagers" homestead, and "Nequally Creek" (today's Germany Creek).
The 1878 U.S. Coast Survey's Chart No.6142, "Columbia River, Sheet No.3", had today's Mill Creek labeled "Negisticook Cr." and today's Abernethy Creek labeled "Nequally Cr.". Germany Creek was depicted but not named.
Between 1902 and 1937, today's Germany Creek sported many names. According to the U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database (2006), Decision Card dated June 30, 1937, early names for Germany Creek were "Nequally Creek", "German Creek" and "Germany Creek".
- 1902, "Nequally Creek", Map of Washington showing Classification of Land by G.F. Plummer.
- 1908, "Germany Creek", Post Route Map of Washington.
- 1911, "Nequally Creek", Soil Map of Southwest Washington by U.S. Bureau of Soils.
- 1912, "German Creek", Channel Maps of the Columbia River from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Locks by the National Colortype Co..
- 1912, "Nequally Creek", Columbia River through the Cascade Mountains, to the Pacific Ocean by O.R.R. & N. Co.
- 1918, "Nequally Creek", Heald's New Authentic Classified Road Map of Washington.
- 1918, "German Creek", Henry Landis, "Geographic Dictionary of Washington", Washington Geological Survey Bulletin 17.
- 1918, "German Creek", Map issued by the Bureau of Statistics & Immigration of the State of Washington.
- 1919, "Germany Creek", Corps of Engineers Tactical Map, Magyer Quad., Washington.
- 1925, 1927, 1929, and 1935, "Germany Creek", various maps.
- 1937, "Germany Creek" or "Nequally Creek", Local usage according to the Cowlitz County Engineer, March 1937.
In 1937 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made official "Germany Creek".
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Views ...
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Germany Creek, Washington.
Germany Creek near mouth, view from moving car from Washington State Highway 4.
Image taken January 28, 2007.
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Click image to enlarge
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Germany Creek, Washington.
Germany Creek near mouth.
Image taken August 9, 2012.
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Click image to enlarge
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Germany Creek, Washington, at mouth.
Looking upstream along the Columbia River. The mouth of Germany Creek is in the foreground. Willow Grove is in the background.
Image taken July 28, 2005.
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Click image to enlarge
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Germany Creek at mouth, Washington.
View from moving car on Washington State Highway 4.
Image taken August 7, 2011.
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View from Germany Creek ...
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A nice view of the Columbia River, Walker Island, and the bluff of Green Point can be had from the mouth of Germany Creek. On the night of March 26, 1806, Lewis and Clark passed the Germany Creek area and camped on Walker Island.
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Click image to enlarge
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Walker Island and Green Point, Oregon.
View from Washington State Highway 4, at the mouth of Germany Creek. Mount Hood, Oregon, can just be seen on the horizon.
Image taken July 28, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 6, 1805 ...
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