Chicken Creek is one of Milton’s most well-known waterways. This Etowah River tributary generally flows southwest from south of Holbrook Campground, including along the south side of Milton City Park and Preserve, under Freemanville Road, and ultimately into the Little River (near Arnold Mill Road).

 

But what about the creek’s name?

 

Most likely, according to the Milton Historical Society, it traces back to the “Chicken” family – with chicken being the anglicized version of their Cherokee name. These natives were indigenous to our area, with records indicating they lived and worked along the Little River (or the Alaculkut in the Cherokee language) and its tributaries.

One of those tributaries was what’s now known as Chicken Creek, around which the family raised livestock, tilled gardens, and managed apple and peach orchards. Chicken family members’ names are found, too, on the ledger for James Dorris’ general store, which sat roughly 200 yards west of the present-day Crabapple Chase/Heritage Walk/Crabapple Road roundabout between 1835-1838.

 

There are no indications of such sales involving Native Americans beyond 1838. That’s the year many Cherokees were forced, by the federal government, from this area to move to present-day northeastern Oklahoma in what’s referred to as the Trail of Tears.

 

The “Chicken” family’s legacy, at least, lives on nearly 200 years later right here in Milton – thanks to the creek bearing their name. And we’re grateful, too, to the Milton Historical Society for their efforts in helping share this story, including through the signage (shown above) installed at Milton City Park and Preserve.