French Creek (Cheyenne River)
| French Creek | ||
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| Data | ||
| Water code | US : 1267026 | |
| location | South Dakota , USA | |
| River system | Mississippi River | |
| Drain over | Cheyenne → Missouri → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico | |
| source | northeast of Custer 43 ° 46 ′ 51 ″ N , 103 ° 43 ′ 13 ″ W. |
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| muzzle | near Red Shirt in the Cheyenne River Coordinates: 43 ° 38 ′ 45 " N , 102 ° 55 ′ 20" W 43 ° 38 ′ 45 " N , 102 ° 55 ′ 20" W
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| length | 100 km | |
The French Creek is a river in the US state of South Dakota . It rises in the Black Hills about 8 km northeast of Custer and flows in an easterly direction through Custer State Park . After about 100 km the French Creek flows into the Cheyenne River near the Lakota settlement of Red Shirt .
The French Creek became famous in 1874 when an expedition of the 7th US Cavalry Regiment under the command of George Armstrong Custer discovered gold . The gold discoveries in the valley of the French Creek triggered the gold rush in the Black Hills and in 1875 led to the founding of the first gold rush town , which today bears the name Custers.