Battle Creek is a stream on the east slope of Prospect Hill south of Salem that flows eastward to Mill Creek near Turner. It was named for one of the few conflicts in Marion county between settlers and Indians. In June 1846, as a result of cattle depredations, a party of Oregon Rangers engaged in a minor encounter with a band of eastern Oregon Indians. One Indian was killed and peace was finally restored by gifts. The name now denotes a large subdivision in the south end of Salem.