Goose Creek (Potomac River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goose Creek |
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Goose Creek Bridge
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| Region | Loudoun County, Fauquier County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Linden 1,040 ft (320 m) 38°54′53″N 78°04′13″W / 38.9148335°N 78.0702756°W |
| River mouth | Potomac River Leesburg 187 ft (57 m) 39°06′04″N 77°28′38″W / 39.1012177°N 77.4772109°W |
| Length | 55 mi (89 km) |
Goose Creek is a cool river, about 55 miles (88 km) long, located in northern Virginia, USA. It's a major branch, also called a tributary, of the bigger Potomac River. This creek is super important because it helps drain a large area called the Loudoun Valley in Fauquier and Loudoun counties.
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Where Goose Creek Flows
Goose Creek starts high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains near a town called Linden. At first, it flows downhill quickly, dropping about 600 feet (183 meters) in its first 10 miles (16 km).
Near Delaplane, the land becomes flatter, and the creek turns to flow northeast for another 10 miles (16 km). It then goes under U.S. Route 50 and enters Loudoun County.
Once in Loudoun, the creek keeps flowing northeast for about 15 miles (24 km). It reaches the western side of Catoctin Mountain. Here, it briefly turns north before joining with its "North Fork" branch. Then, it turns east and cuts right through a gap in the mountain.
On the other side of the mountain, the creek turns northeast again. It joins with the Little River. Goose Creek then flows for another 15 miles (24 km) through the middle of Loudoun County. Finally, it reaches the Potomac River just east of Leesburg.
There's a partial dam on Goose Creek north of State Route 267. If you want to get around the dam, you can walk through the woods on the eastern side of the creek.
North Fork of Goose Creek
The North Fork of Goose Creek begins at the east end of Sleeter Lake in Round Hill. It flows southeast for about 13.3 miles (21.4 km). This branch then joins the main Goose Creek in a water gap within the Catoctin Mountain.
Protecting Goose Creek
The Goose Creek Association is a group that works hard to protect the creek's watershed (the area of land that drains into the creek) and the beautiful landscape around it. They help keep the water clean and the area healthy.
Goose Creek's History
Back in 1849, people started building a system of locks and dams on Goose Creek. The idea was to make the creek easy to travel by boat up to three large mills in the Loudoun Valley. There was even a special lock built on the C&O Canal across the Potomac River. This allowed boats from Goose Creek to enter the bigger canal.
By 1845, the Goose Creek and Little River Navigation Company had finished their canal system on Goose Creek. It reached Ball's (Evergreen) Mill, which was 12 miles (19 km) upstream from the mouth of the creek. They decided not to build the canal any further upstream because of money problems.
Even though the lower part of the canal was used a lot, only one boat is known to have traveled the entire length! By 1857, the canal business stopped. This happened because the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad was completed to Leesburg, offering a faster way to transport goods. Most of the locks and dams were later destroyed by the Union Army during the American Civil War.
The Goose Creek Bridge, part of the Ashby's Gap Turnpike, was the site of a Civil War battle. This happened during the Gettysburg Campaign in 1863. (You can find more details about this battle at Battle of Upperville#Goose Creek.) The bridge itself was built a long time ago, between 1801 and 1803. It's the longest stone turnpike bridge still standing in Virginia!
Goose Creek's Branches
Here are some of the smaller streams and creeks that flow into Goose Creek, listed from its beginning to where it meets the Potomac River:
- Mitchell's Branch
- Bolling Branch
- Gap Run
- Panther Skin Creek
- Cromwell's Run
- Wancopin Creek
- North Fork Goose Creek
- Jacks' Run
- Crooked Run
- Beaverdam Creek
- Big Branch
- Little River
- Tan Branch
- Black Branch
- Beaver Dam Creek
- Sycolin Creek
- Tuscarora Creek
- Dry Mill Branch
- Cattail Branch
Other Names for Goose Creek
Over time, Goose Creek has been known by several different names. Here are some of them:
- Cokongoloto
- Cokongoloto Anglice
- Goes Creek
- Goes Flug
- Gohongarestaw
- Gooscreek
- Goose River
- Lee's Creek
- Tiber River
