Matadero Creek for kids
The Creek With Many Names. A true story near Palo Alto, CA, told for kids 6-8.
Read along
Psst, do you hear a little splash? Somewhere near here, a creek is wiggling along. It starts up in the hills and runs about eight miles down to the bay. Eight miles! That's a long wiggle for a little creek.
And here's the funny part. This creek has had lots of names! Long ago, mapmakers called it Matadero Creek, and also Crosby's Creek, and even Madera Creek. That's like a kid getting a brand new nickname every time somebody draws a new map! Madera is a Spanish word that means wood, so people think it was named for the trees nearby.
Now it's your turn! If you could give this creek a name, what would it be? Say it out loud!
Quiz the back seat
Which of these was a real name mapmakers gave this creek?
Show the answer
Madera Creek. Yes, Madera Creek! Madera means wood in Spanish, and people think it was named for the trees nearby. Splashy Pants would be a great name too, though!
Fun facts
- Matadero Creek starts in the hills and runs about 8 miles to the bay.
- Old maps called it Matadero Creek, Crosby's Creek and Madera Creek.
- Madera means wood in Spanish.
- People think the creek was named Madera for the trees nearby.
For grown-ups
Written with AI from public sources, then checked claim by claim against the sources below before it was published; stories that don't pass stay off the app and this site. Narration is pre-recorded, and nothing you do on this page is tied to your kids.
Sources
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Town and county names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).