Carolina Creek
Before being unundated in 1969 by Lake Livingston, Carolina Creek was a
spring-fed perennial stream that rose at the confluence of two forks,
West Carolina and East Carolina creeks, near the northwestern boundary
of the Sam Houston National Forest in far eastern Walker County (at
30°51' N, 95°20' W) and flowed north for two miles to its mouth on the
Trinity River, near the Walker and San Jacinto county lines (at 30°52'
N, 95°20' W). East Carolina Creek rises two miles east of Dodge (at
30°45' N, 95°21' W) and flows north ten miles through northwestern San
Jacinto County along the Walker county line, and West Carolina Creek
rises two miles northeast of Dodge (at 30°45' N, 95°22' W) and flows
north nine miles. Both forks now drain into Lake Livingston. They
traverse gently rolling to nearly level terrain surfaced by sandy loam
that supports loblolly pine, sweet gum, short-leaf pine, post oak, and
black hickory trees near the banks. Settlement in the vicinity began in
the mid-1830s. In the late 1830s the original Carolina community was
founded in the vicinity of the forks' mouths; a settlement known as
Carolina Mill existed farther upstream from 1870 to 1900. The Palmetto
Park community is located just west of the west fork, and Staley lies
just east of the east fork. The present Carolina community, first known
as Gilbert Settlement, was established during the 1850s where the two
tributaries meet. The Gospel Hill community has been located on the west
bank of the west fork since the early twentieth century. TSHA
Texas State Historical Association
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/carolina-creek
Excerpt from;
Early History Of Walker County, Texas
by John L. Baldwin
Chapter VII
Carolina
Carolina was the oldest riverboat town in Walker County, pre-dating
Cincinnati by 2 or 3 years. On January 5, 1835, John H. Cummings received
a league of land from the Mexican Government. His survey was located in
the extreme northeastern part of the area which was later to become Walker
County, and part of the league fronted on the Trinity River. At the mouth
of Carolina Creek, where it empties into the river, the town of Carolina was
established. The Trinity makes a decided bend there, and the high bluffs
in the are offered a beautiful location for a town which was easily accessible
to the water. Carolina was laid into 10 blocks.
With steamboat travel becoming more popular and the town being the first
river portion this area, Carolina enjoyed a rapid growth from the very
beginning. Another factor in its advancement was that there were a number
of sulphur springs nearby along Carolina Creek. In those days people were
of the opinion that sulphur water had excellent medicinal qualities, and soon
the town became quite famous resort for this area of Texas. People came
from all of the surrounding counties to cure their ailments by drinking the
water. (Mrs. Helen Walterman, Riverside)
One disadvantage possessed by Carolina was its poor accessibility by
road. What few roads were there were usually remained in poor state, and
were often impassable because of mud.
Thus in a few short years the prosperous little town dwindles away to
nothing. Today there is no indication that a town ever existed on this
site.