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Montana Geographic Names Advisor

Geographic Name Change Request

Change Squaw Creek to Jurds Creek
Beaverhead County, Montana

Status = Withdrawn

Description	stream, 14 km (9 mi) long, heads in Beaverhead National Forest/West Pioneer Mountains Wilderness Study Area, 1.6 km (1 mi) N of Foolhen Mountain at 45°45’31”N, 113°11’48”W, flows W then NW to enter an unnamed tributary of the Big Hole River; named for Jurd Williams who settled and farmed in the Big Hole Valley in the 1880’s
Location	45°48’31”N, 113°19’49”W
PLSS Location	Tps1N&1S, R14W
Proposal	to change a name considered by some to be derogatory
Proponent	Tim Fay; Wise River, MT
Not	Squaw Creek
Administrative area	Beaverhead National Forest/West Pioneer Mountains
Previous BGN Action	None
See also	38306, 39102, 39202, 39203, 39301, 39618, 39619
GNIS ID	791376
Local Usage	None found
Published	Squaw Creek (USGS 1962, 1990, 1994; USFS 1981; Beaverhead County 1958)
This is one of two proposals submitted by the U.S. Forest Service on behalf of a resident of Wise River, who wishes to change officially the name of two features in the Big Hole Valley that are currently named “Squaw.” This proposal would rename Squaw Creek to Jurds Creek. The stream in question is 14 km (9 mi) long and flows generally north and northwestward to enter an unnamed tributary of the Big Hole River. It heads within the West Pioneer Mountains Wilderness Study Area, which is administered by the Beaverhead National Forest. The name Squaw Creek has appeared on Federal maps since at least 1962, but the specific origin of the name is not known. The replacement name would honor Jurd Williams, who with his brother settled in the Big Hole Valley in the 1880’s. The proponent reports that the stream in question was known at one time as Jurds Creek, although no maps or documents have yet been located to substantiate that claim. This proposal was withdrawn.
Domestic Names Committee Discussion - awn

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