[OKGIS] Barren Fork or Baron Fork?

[Dan Hough]

David,

My copy of Oklahoma Place Names, Second Edition, has an entry for Baron, 
   a post office in Adair county from 1895 to 1942.  It states that the 
local name for the community was Barren Fork, from the Barren Fork of 
the Illinois river.

Don't know if that helps.

Dan

David W. Wheelock wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> 
> I just did a new delineation of the Scenic Rivers Watershed and am 
> attributing the data, and have again come up against the question of the 
> correct spelling of Baron/Barren Fork Creek.
> 
> Here's the problem.  The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers legislation spells it* 
> Barren Fork*, but the USGS quad maps have* Baron Fork*.  There is a town 
> called Baron close to it, as well, so it may have been named after 
> that.  However, when I Google “Baron Fork Creek Oklahoma” I get 88,000 
> hits; whereas, when I Google “Barren Fork Creek Oklahoma” I get 98,000 
> hits.  It appears that both terms are in equally common use, although 
> possibly Baron Fork may have been the original spelling.
> 
> Does anyone have any insight or knowledge that might help us resolve 
> this issue this issue?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> David Wheelock     Application Specialist    _ __david at oda.state.ok.us_
> 
> Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
> 2800 North Lincoln Boulevard
> Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298
> Phone: (405) 522-5477 FAX: (405) 522-3590
> ___http://www.oda.state.ok.us_____
> 
> "We are usually convinced more easily by reasons we have found ourselves,
> than by those which have occurred to others."
> Pascal
> 

-- 
Dan Hough			email:dhough at ou.edu
Oklahoma Biological Survey
Norman, OK  73019