Ashby Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashby Creek |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 40°10′53″N 74°30′54″W / 40.1813447°N 74.5150226°W |
| River mouth | 66 ft (20 m) 40°10′15″N 74°34′40″W / 40.1708140°N 74.5778350°W |
| Length | 4.2 mi (6.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Doctors Creek, Crosswicks Creek, Delaware River, Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Delaware River system |
Ashby Creek is a small stream in Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey, located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the United States. It flows for about 4.2 miles (6.8 km) (which is about 6.8 kilometers). The creek starts near a place called Wrightsville and flows into Doctors Creek. Doctors Creek then flows into Crosswicks Creek, which eventually joins the Delaware River and then the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
Where Does Ashby Creek Flow?
Ashby Creek begins its journey near Wrightsville in Upper Freehold Township. It first flows west through farmlands. Then, it turns south and enters a wooded area. Here, it goes under Interstate 195 (I-195).
Lakes and Roads Along the Creek
After passing under I-195, the creek forms a small, unnamed lake. It then continues flowing west through more woods and farmlands, staying close to I-195. The creek also passes under the Union Transportation Trail, which used to be a railroad line. It also flows under Sharon Station Road.
Further along, the creek forms another unnamed lake between a farm and some houses. After this lake, Ashby Creek goes under Allentown-Lakewood Road, also known as County Route 526. It then flows southwest through woods, located between two neighborhoods. Finally, Ashby Creek joins Doctors Creek about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) (about 1.1 kilometers) southeast of downtown Allentown.
How Did Ashby Creek Get Its Name?
For a long time, since the 1700s, this creek was known by a different name. This name might have been chosen to honor people who were seeking freedom and traveled through the area on the Underground Railroad.
Changing the Creek's Name
By 1948, the creek's name appeared on maps with a term that is now considered very offensive. In 1957, the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) officially changed the name to "Negro Run." This happened around the same time that other names considered offensive were changed.
In the 1990s, a local person suggested changing the name of Negro Run to Martin Luther King Jr. Creek or Freedom Creek. However, many local residents and governments wanted to keep the historical name.
Honoring George Ashby
Through historical research, people learned about George Ashby (1844–1946). He was a Black farmer who lived and worked near the creek. George Ashby also bravely served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was the last surviving Civil War veteran from New Jersey.
In 2016, after a park was created in Allentown, a local resident started an online effort to rename the creek after George Ashby. Even though some local historical groups and the Upper Freehold Township council had some concerns, the BGN Domestic Naming Committee voted in November 2018 to officially rename the creek to Ashby Creek. This new name honors George Ashby and his connection to the area.
