Hylebos Creek
Encyclopedia
Hylebos Creek is a stream located in the U.S. state
of Washington near Tacoma
and emptying into Commencement Bay
, part of Puget Sound
. It flows through southern King County
and northern Pierce County
, through the cities of Tacoma
, Federal Way
, Milton
, and Fife
, as well as the Puyallup Indian Reservation
.
(I-5) and Washington State Route 18 (SR 18), at 47°16′45"N 122°18′30"W. It flows generally south, collecting small tributaries including one that drains Lake Killarney. The creek enters Federal Way, turns to the southwest, flows through a ravine and enters Pierce County and the city of Milton. Just east of I-5 the creek is joined by its main tributary, West Hylebos Creek. From there Hylebos Creek flows south close to I-5, then turns northwest. At the southern end of the creek's bend along I-5 it is joined by a long tributary from the east, which drains Surprise Lake. Parts of this tributary stream are channelized ditches running in straight lines and turning sharp 90-degree corners. Hylebos Creek continues northwest from this tributary's confluence, crossing a small corner of Fife's Lower Hylebos Nature Park before entering the Port of Tacoma
, part of the city of Tacoma. The creek empties into Hylebos Waterway, an inlet of Commencement Bay and part of Puget Sound. The mouth of Hylebos Creek is located at 47°17′06"N 122°24′40"W, where Hylebos Waterway joins Commencement Bay. This final part of Hylebos Creek runs along the King-Pierce county line, which follows Hylebos Waterway to Puget Sound.
West Hylebos Creek originates at an elevation of 229 feet (69.8 m), in Federal Way, King County in West Hylebos State Park, at 47°17′21"N 122°19′34"W. It flows generally south, collecting first an intermittent tributary stream flowing from Panther Lake in Panther Lake Park, then a long tributary rising from North Lake and the vicinity of The Commons shopping center, then flowing south along the west side of I-5. At the interchange of I-5 and SR-18 this tributary turns west toward West Hylebos State Park, then south, joining West Hylebos Creek in southern Federal Way. From this confluence, West Hylebos Creek continues south to join the main stem Hylebos Creek at 47°15′06"N 122°19′54"W, elevation 22 feet (6.7 m). A significant portion of West Hylebos Creek's course consists of wetlands.
who founded schools and hospitals in Washington Territory
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington near Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
and emptying into Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay
Commencement Bay is a bay of Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. The city of Tacoma is located on the bay, with the Port of Tacoma occupying the southeastern end. A line drawn from Point Defiance in the southwest to Browns Point in the northeast serves to mark the generally accepted...
, part of Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
. It flows through southern King County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
and northern Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
, through the cities of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, Federal Way
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
, Milton
Milton, Washington
Milton is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 6,968 at the 2010 census. Milton borders the larger but younger town of Edgewood...
, and Fife
Fife, Washington
Fife is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,173 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1940, it was described as "Fife...at a valley crossroads in the midst of a thickly settled berry growing and truck-gardening district is represented by a string of markets, taverns,...
, as well as the Puyallup Indian Reservation
Puyallup (tribe)
The Puyallup are a Coast Salish Native American tribe from western Washington state, U.S.A. They were forcibly relocated onto reservation lands in what is today Tacoma, Washington, in late 1854, after signing the Treaty of Medicine Creek. The Puyallup Indian Reservation today is one of the most...
.
Course
The main stem of Hylebos Creek originates at an elevation of 290 feet (88.4 m), in unincorporated King County just south of the interchange of Interstate 5Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
(I-5) and Washington State Route 18 (SR 18), at 47°16′45"N 122°18′30"W. It flows generally south, collecting small tributaries including one that drains Lake Killarney. The creek enters Federal Way, turns to the southwest, flows through a ravine and enters Pierce County and the city of Milton. Just east of I-5 the creek is joined by its main tributary, West Hylebos Creek. From there Hylebos Creek flows south close to I-5, then turns northwest. At the southern end of the creek's bend along I-5 it is joined by a long tributary from the east, which drains Surprise Lake. Parts of this tributary stream are channelized ditches running in straight lines and turning sharp 90-degree corners. Hylebos Creek continues northwest from this tributary's confluence, crossing a small corner of Fife's Lower Hylebos Nature Park before entering the Port of Tacoma
Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an independent seaport located in Tacoma, Washington. The port was created by a vote of Pierce County citizens on November 5, 1918...
, part of the city of Tacoma. The creek empties into Hylebos Waterway, an inlet of Commencement Bay and part of Puget Sound. The mouth of Hylebos Creek is located at 47°17′06"N 122°24′40"W, where Hylebos Waterway joins Commencement Bay. This final part of Hylebos Creek runs along the King-Pierce county line, which follows Hylebos Waterway to Puget Sound.
West Hylebos Creek originates at an elevation of 229 feet (69.8 m), in Federal Way, King County in West Hylebos State Park, at 47°17′21"N 122°19′34"W. It flows generally south, collecting first an intermittent tributary stream flowing from Panther Lake in Panther Lake Park, then a long tributary rising from North Lake and the vicinity of The Commons shopping center, then flowing south along the west side of I-5. At the interchange of I-5 and SR-18 this tributary turns west toward West Hylebos State Park, then south, joining West Hylebos Creek in southern Federal Way. From this confluence, West Hylebos Creek continues south to join the main stem Hylebos Creek at 47°15′06"N 122°19′54"W, elevation 22 feet (6.7 m). A significant portion of West Hylebos Creek's course consists of wetlands.
History
Hylebos Creek is named after Peter Francis Hylebos, a Catholic priest born in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
who founded schools and hospitals in Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
.