Derby Creek - History

Not much is known about the history of Derby Creek.  According to Charles C. Emslie, who grew up in Berkeley in the late 1800s:

  • Derby Creek was filled in and culverted about 1901.
  • Its sources were the canyon at the head of Dwight Way and a spring at the south entrance to the Deaf and Blind school grounds (now the Clark Kerr Campus). 
  • The waters joined at College Avenue and Derby Street and flowed down the general course of Derby Street to the bay.

If you know more about Derby Creek, let us know at creeks@berkeley.edu!

Fun Fact:  According to this website, this little stone circle (located at Hillegass and Derby) used to have an old fashioned hand pump, so you could "liberate" a bit of Derby Creek from underground.