Spa Creek was once known as Carroll's Creek, in reference to Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who lived along the creek. The creek was also known as Todd's Creek and Acton's Creek, named after Thomas Todd and Richard Acton, respectively, who were amongst the first settlers in Annapolis. In 1904, the United States Board on Geographic Names made the name Spa Creek official for usage in federal publications. The current name purportedly originates “from the fact that an old pork barrel was placed in a spring on Primrose farm, and the deluded public, tasting the essence of the meat, concluded that the spring had medicinal qualities in it, and called the fountain Spa Spring. Hence, the name of the creek.” ('Maryland - The Pioneer of Religious Liberty: The Only Catholic Colony of the Thirteen and the First to Establish Civil and Religious Freedom' By Elihu Samuel Riley, 1917)
You read that right. Annapolis' premier creek is named in honor of BACON.
Top of the 'Shed
A watershed, or drainage basin, is the area of land that drains to a common waterway or a specific geographic point at a lower elevation.
Mt. Olive Church sits at the vertex of three watersheds. When facing the church, the left side of the roof drains south to Church Creek and the South River. The right side of the roof drains north to Weems Creek and the Severn River. In this example, the peak of the church roof is actually part of the dividing line between two of the three watersheds that meet at this site. The third watershed drains east to Spa Creek and the Severn River and starts just behind the house across the street from the church.
In a 2008 statewide survey 73% of Maryland residents answered 'no' when asked, 'do you live in a watershed?'
Sources:
http://dnr2.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/education/shed.aspx
http://baltimorewaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/public-perceptions.pdf
Congrats to Fossil Fae on FTF