Cornplanter State Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cornplanter State Forest |
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IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
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 Cornplanter State Forest
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 1,585 acres (6.41 km2) |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Cornplanter State Forest |
Cornplanter State Forest is a special protected area in Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #14. The main office for this forest is in North Warren, which is in Warren County, Pennsylvania.
This forest is named after a very important leader, Chief Cornplanter. He was a chief of the Seneca Nation, one of the tribes that belonged to the Iroquois Confederacy. The forest covers about 1,585 acres (641 hectares). You can find parts of it in Crawford, Forest, and Warren Counties. The forest district also includes Erie and the northern part of Venango Counties.
Contents
Why We Have State Forests
Long ago, in the late 1800s, many forests in Pennsylvania were cut down. Companies harvested trees for lumber and iron. They often cut down almost every tree, leaving behind dry branches and stumps. Sparks from passing trains sometimes started huge wildfires. These fires made it hard for new trees to grow.
People like Dr. Joseph Rothrock became worried. They feared the forests might never grow back if no one took care of them. These conservationists believed the state should buy land from the companies. The companies were happy to sell because they had already used up most of the trees.
How Cornplanter Forest Began
Changes started happening in 1895. Dr. Rothrock became the first leader of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. This group later became today's Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In 1897, the state government passed a law. This law allowed them to buy land to create "forest reservations." This was the start of Pennsylvania's amazing State Forest system, which includes Cornplanter State Forest.
Nearby Natural Places to Explore
Cornplanter State Forest is surrounded by other interesting natural areas. To the north is Lake Erie, and to the west is the state of Ohio.
Other State Forests Nearby
- Susquehannock State Forest (to the east)
- Elk State Forest (to the southeast)
- Clear Creek State Forest (to the south)
State Parks in the Area
While there are no state parks right inside Cornplanter State Forest, there are five great parks in District #14:
- Chapman State Park (in Warren County)
- Erie Bluffs State Park (in Erie County)
- Oil Creek State Park (in Venango County)
- Presque Isle State Park (in Erie County)
- Pymatuning State Park (in Crawford County)
Special Natural Areas
- Anders Run Natural Area: This is a 96-acre (39-hectare) special area. It protects 50 acres (20 hectares) of very old trees. These trees are part of an old-growth forest, meaning they have never been cut down by humans.
