Honey Creek (also Honeycreek) is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

located in the town of Spring Prairie, Walworth County, and

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

Racine County Racine County (, sometimes also ) is a county in southeastern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population was 197,727, making it Wisconsin's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Racine. The county was founded in 1836, then a par ...

, both in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The population is approximately 400. Honey Creek is a small, unincorporated town located 35 miles southwest of

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...

. Honey Creek received its name shortly after early settlers arrived because of the hives of bees located along the shores of the small river flowing through the area.

History

The first known non-indigenous settlers in the area were the Hoyts. Gilman Hoyt of Vermont took up a claim in July 1836. He spent most of the summer in

Rochester, Wisconsin Rochester is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,785 at the 2020 census. The village is located within the former Town of Rochester. On November 4, 2008, the village of Rochester voted to consolidate with t ...

, then returned in October with Reuben Clark of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. The two men built a hut and wintered on the land. In September 1837, Hoyts' parents, Benjamin and Susan Hayes Hoyt, natives of

Deerfield, New Hampshire Deerfield is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,855 at the 2020 census, up from 4,280 at the 2010 census. Deerfield is the location of the annual Deerfield Fair. History Deerfield was originally pa ...

, came to live in Honey Creek. Two daughters and a son made the journey with them. Soon after the Hoyts' arrival, the town grew in size so that, in the summer of 1838, the first schoolhouse was built in the area, and in 1849, the first church (a Free Will Baptist Church).

Notable people

Ginger Beaumont Clarence Howeth "Ginger" Beaumont (July 23, 1876 – April 10, 1956) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1899–1906) and Boston Braves (1907–1909). He was born in Roc ...

, early Major League baseball player, lived for many years in Honey Creek.

History

Notable people

References

Further reading