Creel was founded with the name ‘Estación Creel’ on May 26, 1907, as a railroad depot on the Chihuahua–Pacific line. It was named after Enrique Creel governor of Chihuahua state at the time. He was the son of Reuben W. Creel, American delegate in Chihuahua. Creel was founded as a planned agricultural settlement that was intended to have a small number of Mexicans who were supposed to spread their culture onto the Tarahumara who were supposed to be the majority of the population. It was supposed to have 25 Mexican and 75 Tarahumara families, but in its early years only had about 30 Tarahumara families although the right number of Mexicans.
For many years before its completion the line ended at Creel
