Name: Hat Creek

 

County: Niobrara

 

Authority Name: 

 

GNIS Entry 

 

Longitude: 1042211W

Latitude: 425622N 

 

Legal Description:

 

Elevation:  4505/1373

(ft/m)

 

Feature Type: Populated Place

 

Origin of Name:

Probably named because of the headdress of a friendly Indian.

Source: Annals 14(3)

 

Named when a detachment of soldiers was sent to establish a fort on Warbonnet Creek in 1875. Thinking that they were on the right location when they got to Sage Creek, they build their dugout fort on the site of what became old Hat Creek Stage Station and Post Office and called it Hat Creek, short for Warbonnet. Warbonnet Creek is in Nebraska, near the Wyoming line and the error appears obvious.

Source: Annals 15(1)

 

Alternative Spellings: Hatcreek

 

Other Names: 

 

History:

Hat Creek Post Office was established in February, 1877 when the location was part of Laramie County. It was discontinued in December, 1878 then re-established in January 1879. Its name was changed from Hat Creek to Hatcreek in December, 1895 when the location was part of Converse County. It was discontinued in May, 1923 then re-established and renamed in January 1924. It was discontinued in December, 1971 and its mail then handled by the Lusk Post Office.

Source: Wyoming Post Offices

 

Postoffice in Converse County, 16 miles north from Lusk, the nearest railroad point. Stockraising the principal industry.

Source: Wyoming State Business Directory, 1910-11 

 

Stories:

 

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Hat Creek

 

Newspapers:

 

More Information: 

Niobrara County Library Historical Archives

http://www.niobraracountylibrary.org/history/#l

 

Pictures: