Fourteen Mile Creek facts for kids
Fourteen Mile Creek is a cool creek in Clark County, Indiana, near Charlestown. It's about 22.7 miles (36.5 km) long. People call it "Fourteen Mile Creek" because its mouth, where it flows into the Ohio River, is 14 miles upstream from the Falls of the Ohio. Other places like Eighteen Mile Island and Twelve Mile Island got their names in a similar way. You can even travel by boat on the first 2.9 miles (4.7 km) of the creek from the Ohio River.
How the Creek Was Formed
Fourteen Mile Creek was created a long, long time ago. Imagine a time when huge glaciers melted, and their water flowed through a valley that wasn't covered by ice. That's how this creek was formed!
The creek is surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. This area is famous for its interesting natural features. You can find karst sinkholes, which are like natural dips in the ground. There are also hidden waterfalls and small caves to explore.
Because the Ohio River has dams, much of Fourteen Mile Creek is at the same height as the river. Sometimes, it might even look like the creek is flowing backward! But really, it's just the rising water from the Ohio River pushing into the creek. Further upstream, away from the river, the creek can be very shallow, sometimes only a foot or two deep. That's why, in the past, mills that used the creek needed to build dams. These dams helped keep a steady flow of water to power their machinery.
You can find different kinds of fish in the creek. The most common ones are bass, bluegill, and catfish.
A Look at History
Fourteen Mile Creek has a rich history. Long ago, the Talligewi Indian tribe lived in this area.
Many local mills used the creek's power to operate. One of the most famous was Tunnel Mill. It was an important place for grinding grain.
A popular place called Rose Island used to be right where the creek meets the Ohio River. It was an exciting amusement park where people went for fun!
In the past, there was a factory nearby called the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. When it was running, it used to treat its wastewater very carefully. This treated water, which met all safety rules, was then released into the creek. But don't worry, the factory is no longer operating, so this is not something to be concerned about today.
Gallery
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Upstream from the bridge of Tunnel Mill Road
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Upstream from the mouth
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Remains of the Rose Island suspension bridge
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Waterfront along Charlestown State Park
