Mahantango Creek (Snyder and Juniata Counties, Pennsylvania) facts for kids

Mahantango Creek is a small river, or tributary, that flows into the large Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. It's about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long. The creek forms part of the border between Snyder County and Juniata County. Its name comes from an old Delaware Indian word that means "where we had plenty to eat." This suggests that the area was once a great place for food!

Long ago, many sawmills and gristmills were built along the creek. These mills helped early settlers process wood and grain. The first people to live in this area arrived in the late 1700s. For example, in the 1750s, farmers Peter and Michael Shaffer owned land near where the creek meets the Susquehanna River. Michael even had a lumber mill and a place to make drinks. The area of land that drains into the creek, called its watershed, covers about 86.2 square miles (223 km²). While some fish like trout live in the smaller streams that feed the creek, you might find smallmouth bass in Mahantango Creek itself.

Where Does Mahantango Creek Flow?

Mahantango Creek starts where two smaller streams, the North Branch Mahantango Creek and the West Branch Mahantango Creek, join together. This spot is near Pennsylvania Route 104, right on the edge of Perry and Chapman Townships in Snyder County, and Susquehanna Township in Juniata County.

The creek first flows a short way to the southeast, then turns northeast. After a little while, it turns southeast again, passing by the small community of Mahantango. Then, it turns almost straight south. It flows under two major roads, U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15, before finally meeting the Susquehanna River. Mahantango Creek joins the Susquehanna River about 105.98 miles (170.55 km) upstream from where the Susquehanna ends, and about 27 miles (43 km) upstream from the city of Harrisburg.

What Streams Feed Mahantango Creek?

Mahantango Creek has two main streams that flow into it:

• North Branch Mahantango Creek: This stream is about 13.1 miles (21.1 km) long.
• West Branch Mahantango Creek: This stream is about 18 miles (29 km) long.

Both of these smaller streams begin in Bald Eagle State Park.

What is the Land Around Mahantango Creek Like?

The land around Mahantango Creek has interesting features. There's a broken ridge made of flint rock between the town of Richfield and the creek. Near where the creek meets the Susquehanna River, there's a spot called McKee's Half Falls. You can also find limestone and sandstone rock formations at the creek's mouth. At the very start of the creek, you can see dark rock called Marcellus black slate sticking out of the ground.

Mahantango Creek is important because it forms part of the natural boundary between Snyder County and Juniata County.

How is the Creek's Water Quality?

Efforts have been made to keep Mahantango Creek healthy. In 2009, a big project costing $600,000 helped reduce soil erosion along the creek. This means less dirt washes into the water. Farmers in the creek's watershed also use special "no-till" planting methods. This helps stop sediment (tiny bits of soil) from flowing from the fields into the creek, and eventually into the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. The water in Mahantango Creek can get quite warm, sometimes as high as 85°F (29°C).

What is the Mahantango Creek Watershed?

The watershed of Mahantango Creek is the entire area of land where all the rain and snowmelt drain into the creek. This watershed covers about 86.2 square miles (223 km²) and is located in both Snyder and Juniata counties. Much of the land in the watershed is rural and is mainly used for farming.

A Look Back at Mahantango Creek's History

The name Mahantango Creek comes from the Delaware word mahantongo. This word means "where we had plenty to eat." It's believed the creek was named after a group of Native Americans had a big meal there.

Early settlers began to claim land along the creek in the mid-1700s. For example, George Herrold owned a large piece of land, about 146.2 acres (59.2 ha), on the creek in 1765. Michael Witmer also got land along Mahantango Creek around 1770.

In May 1772, there were plans to build a road from Sunbury all the way to Mahantango Creek. The area around the creek was also part of the Mahantongo Methodist Circuit, which was a route for religious leaders.

Mills and Bridges on the Creek

Historically, Mahantango Creek and its smaller streams were busy places. There were once twelve gristmills (for grinding grain) and fourteen sawmills (for cutting wood). Even as late as 1919, many mills were still working. One famous mill, the Old West Perry Mill, was built in 1778 and made fermented pear cider, called perry.

In March 1901, severe flooding and ice jams caused a lot of damage to bridges over Mahantango Creek. Today, there are two historic covered bridges near Pennsylvania Route 104. One is the North Oriental Covered Bridge, built in 1908. The other is the Sheaffer Covered Bridge, built in 1907. Both of these beautiful bridges use a special design called a burr arch truss.

Wildlife Around Mahantango Creek

Near where Mahantango Creek meets the Susquehanna River, there are small water areas called the Mahantango Creek Confluence Pools. These pools are surrounded by thick forests, though some trees have been cut down over time. There are also special pools called vernal pools on the West Branch Mahantango Creek. These pools fill with water in spring and are important for certain animals.

Mahantango Creek flows through a large forested area that is bigger than 5,000 acres (2,000 ha).

Fish and Other Animals

Mahantango Creek is not stocked with fish, meaning people don't add fish to it. It's considered a warmwater community for fish, meaning it's home to fish that prefer warmer water. While trout don't live in the main creek, it's possible to find smallmouth bass there. However, trout are stocked in the West Branch Mahantango Creek, and Brook trout have lived in the North Branch Mahantango Creek in the past.

A barn on the flat land next to Mahantango Creek is home to a huge group of 30,000 bats! These include little brown myotis bats and big brown bats.