Ellicott Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ellicott Creek |
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 Location of the mouth of Ellicott Creek in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Genesee County, Erie County |
| City | Tonawanda |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Genesee County 1,000 ft (300 m) 42°54′15″N 78°23′49″W / 42.90417°N 78.39694°W |
| River mouth | Tonawanda Creek Erie County 562 ft (171 m) 43°1′16″N 78°52′37″W / 43.02111°N 78.87694°W |
| Length | 45 mi (72 km) |
Ellicott Creek is a cool stream located in Western New York, United States. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. Ellicott Creek is a tributary (a smaller stream feeding into a larger one) of Tonawanda Creek. Tonawanda Creek then flows into the mighty Niagara River.
This creek is named after Joseph Ellicott. He was an important person who helped map out and sell land in Western New York a long time ago.
Contents
The Creek's Journey
Ellicott Creek starts its journey in the southwest part of Genesee County. This is near Darien Lakes State Park. It begins in the town of Darien.
Flowing West
The creek generally flows west. It crosses into Erie County and enters the town of Alden. Next, it goes through the northern edge of the Town of Lancaster. Here, it passes through a community called Bowmansville.
Through Cheektowaga and Williamsville
Continuing west, Ellicott Creek enters the Town of Cheektowaga. In this area, it flows near an old landfill and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The creek then turns northwest near the airport. It even goes under one of the airport runways through a tunnel!
After the airport, the creek turns more directly north. It then enters the pretty Village of Williamsville and the Town of Amherst.
Glen Falls and Beyond
At Island Park in Williamsville, Ellicott Creek briefly splits into two paths. One path has special gates to control water flow. The other path was once used to power old mills.
Below these gates, the creek flows quickly north. It passes under State Route 5. Then, it tumbles over a rocky cliff called the Onondaga Escarpment. This creates a beautiful waterfall known as Glen Falls in Amherst State Park.
After Glen Falls, Ellicott Creek keeps flowing north and northwest through Amherst. It passes by several golf courses. It also flows through the northern edge of the University at Buffalo campus. After that, the creek turns west and goes under Interstate 990.
Just west of I-990, the creek splits again for about 1.25 miles (2 km). The northern path is deeper and has been changed by people. It has businesses along its banks. The southern path is more winding and has more trees.
Reaching Tonawanda Creek
After these two paths rejoin, Ellicott Creek enters the Town of Tonawanda. It flows through Ellicott Creek Park, a popular spot. The creek continues west for about 3 miles (5 km). Finally, it empties into Tonawanda Creek in the City of Tonawanda.
This part of Tonawanda Creek is also part of the famous Erie Canal. Tonawanda Creek then flows into the Niagara River. The distance from where Ellicott Creek joins Tonawanda Creek to the Niagara River is only about 0.5 miles (0.8 km).
History of the Creek's Name
Ellicott Creek gets its name from Joseph Ellicott. He was a very important person for the Holland Land Company. This company owned a lot of land in Western New York.
Joseph Ellicott helped open up this area for new settlers. This happened after the Iroquois people agreed to give up their land claims in the 1780s. He surveyed, or carefully measured, most of the land. He divided it into townships and smaller pieces that could be sold.
Water Levels
The water level in Ellicott Creek can be affected by the Niagara River. Changes in the Niagara River's surface can influence the creek's water level up to 7 miles (11 km) upstream from its mouth.
Fun and Recreation
Ellicott Creek Bike Path
There's a great bike path that follows Ellicott Creek! It's called the Ellicott Creek Bike Path. You can find it in the Town of Amherst, near the University at Buffalo.
The path goes under Interstate 990. Then it leaves Amherst by crossing U.S. Route 62. Finally, it enters the Town of Tonawanda at Ellicott Creek Park. It's a perfect place for a bike ride!
