Buck Mountain (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buck Mountain |
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| Bucks Mountain | |
Buck Mountain as seen from Buck Mountain Road
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,942 ft (592 m) |
| Geography | |
| Topo map | Nuremberg (for official coordinates) |
Buck Mountain, also called Bucks Mountain, is a cool mountain located in Pennsylvania, USA. It stretches across parts of Columbia County and Luzerne County. This mountain stands tall at about 1,942 feet (592 meters) above sea level.
Buck Mountain is special because it has lots of coal inside, especially a type called anthracite. People used to mine this coal a long time ago, which changed some parts of the mountain's look. Today, many different animals call Buck Mountain their home. The mountain was probably named after a person nicknamed "Buck."
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Exploring Buck Mountain's Location
Buck Mountain is about 1,942 feet (592 meters) high. This makes it the fourth-tallest mountain in Columbia County.
You can find the exact spot of Buck Mountain on maps from the United States Geological Survey. It is located in the southeastern part of Beaver Township, Columbia County.
Nearby Streams and Hills
A stream called Beaver Run flows between Buck Mountain and another mountain named McCauley Mountain. Buck Mountain is also near the Beaver Valley, a bit north of the town of Shumans.
Another stream, Falls Run, flows between Buck Mountain and a hill called Middle Hill. This stream eventually joins Black Creek. Buck Mountain also has a smaller peak, like a mini-mountain, called a spur.
What's Inside Buck Mountain?
Buck Mountain is known for having a lot of coal. In the past, people dug up this coal, which changed the mountain's surface.
The mountain also has layers of red shale. Below these shale layers, you can find other rock formations made of conglomerate. These rocks are also found under the anthracite coal on the mountain.
A Look at Buck Mountain's Past
Long ago, in the early 1800s, a famous hotel owned by Adam Michael was located at the bottom of Buck Mountain. It was a busy place for many years. The Reading Railroad even had a tunnel that went through a small part of Buck Mountain.
Mining History on the Mountain
Coal mining was a big deal on Buck Mountain. First, the Buck Mountain Coal Company did the mining. Later, another company, Coxe Brothers & Co., took over. Around the early 1900s, the Lehigh Valley Coal Company operated the mines.
The coal dug from the mountain was sent to the town of Gowen. From there, it was loaded onto railroad cars and taken to Hazleton to be sold.
Future Plans and Naming the Mountain
There are ideas to build a wind farm on Buck Mountain in the future. This would use wind power to create electricity.
Buck Mountain was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names for places in the United States.
The mountain was most likely named after Albert Ansbach. He was known as "Buck" and owned a nearby colliery, which is a coal mine. The name "Buck Mountain" was given to the mountain around 1869 or 1870.
Animals and Nature on Buck Mountain
Many different kinds of animals and plants live on Buck Mountain. It's an important home for them. However, experts say that detailed studies of the mountain's wildlife haven't been done yet.
