Falls Run facts for kids

Falls Run is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into Black Creek. It's located in two counties in Pennsylvania: Columbia County and Luzerne County. This stream is about 3.1 miles (5.0 km) long.

Falls Run flows through Beaver Township in Columbia County and Black Creek Township in Luzerne County. The area of land that drains water into Falls Run, called its watershed, is at least 2.44 square miles (6.3 km²). Long ago, people used the stream for their water supply. There is also one bridge that crosses over it. The stream is found near a place called Buck Mountain.

Where Does Falls Run Flow?

Falls Run starts in a valley on Buck Mountain. This is in Beaver Township, Columbia County. It flows towards the east for more than a mile. Then, it leaves Beaver Township and Columbia County.

After leaving Columbia County, Falls Run enters Black Creek Township in Luzerne County. It keeps flowing east. After a short distance, the stream turns northeast. It leaves the mountain area and enters a community called Rock Glen.

Next, Falls Run turns north. It leaves Rock Glen and flows next to Black Creek. A bit further downstream, it joins Black Creek. This joining point is called its confluence.

How High is Falls Run?

The land near where Falls Run joins Black Creek is about 801 feet (244 m) above sea level. Where the stream begins, its source, the land is higher. It's between 1,020 and 1,040 feet (310 and 320 m) above sea level.

The end of Falls Run is close to Buck Mountain. It is also near a hill known as Middle Hill. Part of the stream flows to the west of a deep valley called the Black Creek Gorge.

Some people thought that an area near Falls Run might have a coal bed underground. This coal bed is known as the Buck Mountain Bed. However, a book from 1895 said that no one had proven this was true.

What is the Falls Run Watershed?

The watershed of Falls Run is the entire area of land where water drains into the stream. This area is at least 2.44 square miles (6.3 km²) big. Falls Run is completely within a map area called the Nuremberg quadrangle, which is used by the United States Geological Survey.

Falls Run is one of eleven streams in the Nescopeck Creek watershed that has an official name. However, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has not yet studied or "assessed" this stream.

A Look Back: History of Falls Run

Falls Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. This system keeps track of names for places like rivers and mountains. Its special ID number in the system is 1202216. The stream was added because it was shown in a book called Atlas of the Anthracite Coalfields of Pennsylvania, published in 1888.

In the early 1800s, the part of Falls Run that flowed through Luzerne County was in Sugarloaf Township. Today, that same part is in Black Creek Township.

In the early 1900s, Falls Run was an important water supply for the village of Rock Glen. Rock Glen was a mining community with about 300 people living there at the time. The Tomhicken Water Company used to own the water supply from Falls Run. Later, the Wyoming Water Company took over. The water from Falls Run was used by homes in Rock Glen.

The Pennsylvania Railroad also used the stream for its water supply. The water flowed to them using gravity, which means it flowed downhill naturally.

Around 1906, people suggested building a stone arch bridge over Falls Run. This bridge would have been on the road from Rock Glen to Conyngham. It was estimated to cost $550. Later, in 1936, a concrete slab bridge was built over Falls Run. This bridge carries a road called T-309/Park Street. It is 24.0 feet (7.3 m) long and is located near the intersection with State Route 3020.