Cooks Creek (Delaware River tributary) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cooks Creek
Knecht's Covered Bridge, September 2012
Cooks Creek
Other name(s)	Cook Creek, Durham Creek, Schooks Creek, Scookes Creek, Scooks Creek, Squooks Creek
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bucks
Township	Springfield
Township	Durham
Physical characteristics
Main source	750 feet (230 m) 40°31′25″N 75°20′17″W / 40.52361°N 75.33806°W / 40.52361; -75.33806
River mouth	141 feet (43 m) 40°34′48″N 75°11′48″W / 40.58000°N 75.19667°W / 40.58000; -75.19667
Length	13 miles (21 km)
Basin features
Progression	Cooks Creek → Delaware River
River system	Delaware River
Basin size	29.50 square miles (76.4 km2)
Tributaries	Right: Hollow Run
Bridges	Passer Road State Road Richlandtown Pike Funks Mill Road Pennsylvania Route 212 (Durham Road) Molasses Way Bridge Street Old Bethlehem Road Shale Road Township Road Knecht Bridge Road Slifer Valley Road Pennsylvania Route 412 (Durham Road) Durham Road Stouts Valley Road Pennsylvania Route 611 (Easton Road)
Slope	46.85 feet per mile (8.873 m/km)

Cooks Creek is a small river in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is also known by other names like Cook Creek or Durham Creek. The creek starts in Springfield Township and flows through Durham Township. Finally, it empties into the Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division) and then the Delaware River.

History of Cooks Creek

Historians believe Cooks Creek might have been named after Arthur Cooke. He owned land in the area before the year 1700. However, this is not certain. In 1727, an old document called the creek "Scooks Creek." The modern name might have come from that.

Cooks Creek was very important for power. It helped run the Durham Mill and Furnace. It also supplied water to the nearby canal. In the 1940s, Cooks Creek was special. It was the only creek in Bucks County where brook trout (a type of fish) lived naturally.

One famous spot on the creek is Knecht's Mill Covered Bridge. This historic bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Facts and Figures About the Creek

Cooks Creek is officially recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey. It was given an identification number in 1979.

The creek begins in Springfield Township. This is about halfway between Coopersburg and Pleasant Valley. At its start, the creek is about 750 feet (230 m) above sea level.

Cooks Creek flows for about 13 miles (21 km). It ends by joining the Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division) and then the Delaware River. This happens near Reigelsville. At this point, the creek is about 141 feet (43 m) above sea level.

The Creek's Path

Cooks Creek starts in Springfield Township. It begins west of Richlandtown Pike. From there, it flows southeast.

The creek then passes under Pennsylvania Route 212. After this, it turns northeast. It continues in this direction until it reaches the western side of Cressman Hill.

Next, Cooks Creek turns north. It flows past the eastern part of Springtown. Then, it turns northeast again. As it gets closer to Mine Hill, another small stream called Hollow Run joins it.

Finally, the creek flows around Rattlesnake Hill. It then empties into the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. From there, its water flows into the Delaware River. Besides Hollow Run, several other smaller streams also join Cooks Creek along its journey.

Rocks and Geology Along the Creek

The area around Cooks Creek has different types of rocks. These rocks formed over millions of years.

• Quartz Fanglomerate: Where the creek starts, you can find this rock. It formed during the Jurassic and Triassic periods. It's made of rounded pebbles and boulders of hard rocks like quartzite and sandstone, all mixed in red sand.
• Brunswick Formation: The creek then flows through an area with Brunswick Formation rocks. These also formed during the Jurassic and Triassic times. They are mostly mudstone, siltstone, and shale.
• Leithsville Formation: Farther along, the creek passes through rocks from the Cambrian period. This formation includes dolomite, a type of rock similar to limestone, and chert.
• Hardyston Quartzite: In a couple of spots, the creek briefly touches Hardyston Quartzite. This rock is also from the Cambrian period. It contains quartzite and feldspathic sandstone.
• Allentown Formation: Near the end of its path, Cooks Creek flows over Allentown Formation rocks. These Cambrian rocks include dolomite, limestone, and chert. You can also find interesting features like oolites (small round grains) and stromatolites (layered rock structures made by ancient microbes).

Bridges Over Cooks Creek

Many bridges cross over Cooks Creek. They allow roads and people to pass over the water. Here are some of the main crossings: