Blacklick Creek (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Blacklick Creek is a cool waterway, kind of like a natural highway, located in western Pennsylvania in the United States. It's about 30 miles (48 kilometers) long and eventually flows into the Conemaugh River. Think of it as a smaller stream that joins a bigger river!
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Where Does Blacklick Creek Start?
Blacklick Creek actually begins with two main parts, called "forks," in western Cambria County. This area is on the western side of the Allegheny Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian mountain range.
The North Branch
The North Branch is one of these starting points. It's about 12 miles (19 kilometers) long. This branch begins north of a town called Colver. From there, it flows west, then turns southwest.
The South Branch
The South Branch is the other starting point. It begins near a place called Revloc. This branch flows west until it meets up with the North Branch.
How the Creek Flows
The two branches, the North and South, come together at a spot called Rexis. This meeting point is close to the border between Cambria County and Indiana County.
After the two branches join, the main Blacklick Creek flows west. It then meets another stream called Two Lick Creek near a town called Josephine. This is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of the town of Indiana.
Finally, Blacklick Creek continues flowing west-southwest until it joins the Conemaugh River. This happens about 3 miles (5 kilometers) northwest of Blairsville.
What's in a Name?
The name "Blacklick Creek" is quite interesting! It's also the name of the township (a type of local government area) that covers a lot of the northern branch and some of the southern branch of the creek.
The "lick" part of the name probably refers to the stream itself, which is sometimes called a "lick" in older terms. The "black" part likely comes from the fact that the creek often flows over rocks and banks that contain coal. Coal is a black mineral, so it would make the streambed look dark or "black."
