Freedom Creek, formerly known as Runaway Negro Creek, is a stream in
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County ( ) is located in the U.S. state of Georgia, on the state's Atlantic coast. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. One of the original counties of Georgia, Chatham County was created February 5, 1777, and is named after Will ...
, in the
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 creek runs along the edge of
Skidaway Island State Park
Skidaway Island State Park is a state park near Savannah, Georgia. The park borders Skidaway narrows, a part of Georgia’s intracoastal waterway. Trails wind through maritime forest and past salt marsh
A salt marsh or saltmarsh, also known a ...
.
The unusual former name of the creek has attracted the attention of media commentators.
History
The name Runaway Negro Creek, for the tidal creek located 8 miles SE of downtown Savannah, GA, did not appear on any map until 1906. A different creek, nearer to Savannah, and bordered by plantations with slave villages, was named Runaway Negro Creek from 1785 until at least 1875. Today that creek is named Habersham Creek. That creek was the site of some military action during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
. In 2019, the
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a federal body operating under the United States Secretary of the Interior. The purpose of the board is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the federal governm ...
voted to rename the creek Freedom Creek.
See also
*
List of rivers of Georgia
References
Mentioned on SuperMegaCast - EP 305: Shrimp & White Wine (ft. jacksfilms)
Rivers of Chatham County, Georgia
Rivers of Georgia (U.S. state)
{{GeorgiaUS-river-stub