Mahantango Creek facts for kids

Mahantango Creek is a stream in Pennsylvania, United States. It is about 36.2 miles (58.3 kilometers) long. This creek flows into the Susquehanna River. It passes through several counties, including Dauphin, Northumberland, Schuylkill, and Snyder County.

What Does Mahantango Mean?

The name Mahantango (pronounced Ma-ha-tun-ga) comes from the Lenape language. The Lenape were a Native American tribe. This word means "where we had plenty of meat to eat." It can also mean "good hunting grounds" or "where we kill deer." You might see this name used for a creek, a valley, a mountain, or even street names in central Pennsylvania.

Where Mahantango Creek Flows

Mahantango Creek starts in northern Schuylkill County. It begins between two mountains, Line Mountain and Mahantango Mountain. From there, it flows towards the west. As it continues, it forms the border between Northumberland and Dauphin counties.

Another Part of the Creek

There is also another part of Mahantango Creek. This section is on the other side of the Susquehanna River. It is located in Snyder County and Juniata County. This part of the creek also starts in the mountains. It then flows into the Susquehanna River near a place called McKee's Half Falls.

Early Settlers by the Creek

In the mid-1750s, people began to settle along Mahantango Creek. Peter and Michael Shaffer were among the first. They were given land in this area. Both of them had farms. Michael Shaffer also built a lumber mill and a distillery.

Other Creeks That Join Mahantango

Smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Mahantango Creek.

• Little Mahantango Creek joins Mahantango Creek near the village of Rough and Ready.
• Pine Creek flows into Mahantango Creek near Klingerstown.

Where Mahantango Creek Ends

Mahantango Creek finally joins the Susquehanna River. This meeting point is about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) upstream from the town of Millersburg.