Armstrong Creek (West Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Armstrong Creek |
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Armstrong Creek in Kimberly
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A map of Armstrong Creek and its watershed
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Fayette |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Left Fork Armstrong Creek north-northeast of Westerly 2,655 ft (809 m) 38°00′54″N 81°18′35″W / 38.015°N 81.3097222°W |
| 2nd source | Right Fork Armstrong Creek north-northeast of Westerly 2,665 ft (812 m) 38°00′45″N 81°18′55″W / 38.0125°N 81.3152778°W |
| River mouth | Kanawha River Mount Carbon 627 ft (191 m) 38°08′56″N 81°17′31″W / 38.1489955°N 81.2920548°W |
| Length | 8.6 mi (13.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 22.8 sq mi (59 km2) |
| Hydrologic Unit Code | 050500060302 (USGS) |
Armstrong Creek is a small river, or tributary, in West Virginia, United States. It flows into the Kanawha River. This creek is about 8.6 miles (13.8 kilometers) long.
Armstrong Creek is part of a huge water system. Its waters eventually join the Ohio River and then the mighty Mississippi River. This means it's part of the large watershed (or drainage basin) of the Mississippi River. The area it drains is about 22.8 square miles (59 square kilometers).
The creek flows entirely within western Fayette County. Some smaller streams that feed into it also drain a small part of eastern Kanawha County. The land around the creek is part of the Allegheny Plateau, a high, flat area of land.
Contents
Where Armstrong Creek Begins
Armstrong Creek starts when two smaller streams meet. These are called the Left Fork Armstrong Creek and the Right Fork Armstrong Creek.
The Forks of the Creek
- The Left Fork is about 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometers) long. It begins north-northeast of a small place called Westerly.
- The Right Fork is about 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers) long. It also starts north-northeast of Westerly.
These two forks come together about 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers) southwest of McDunn. This is where Armstrong Creek officially begins.
The Journey of Armstrong Creek
From where its two forks meet, Armstrong Creek flows generally north-northeast. It passes through several small communities.
Communities Along the Creek
As it travels, the creek flows past:
Finally, Armstrong Creek reaches Mount Carbon. Here, it flows into the Kanawha River. Roads run alongside the creek for most of its journey, making it easy to follow its path.
A Bit of History
The official system for naming places, called the Geographic Names Information System, notes that "Armstrong's Creek" was once another name for this creek.
