Matawan Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matawan Creek |
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Looking towards the creek's mouth as seen from Front Street in Keyport
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| Counties | Monmouth |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Bakers Brook Marlboro Township 40°24′57″N 74°13′56″W / 40.41583°N 74.23222°W |
| River mouth | Keyport Harbor Keyport, New Jersey 0 feet (0 m) 40°26′20″N 74°12′18″W / 40.43889°N 74.20500°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,100 sq mi (700,000 acres; 2,800 km2) |
| Population | ~1.2 million |
| Tributaries |
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| Waterbodies | Lake Lefferts |
Matawan Creek is a waterway in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is partly a tidal inlet, meaning its water levels are affected by the ocean's tides. The creek flows into Raritan Bay, which is a large body of water near Staten Island, New York.
Contents
The Creek's Journey: Course of Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek starts as Bakers Brook in Marlboro Township, New Jersey. It flows north through Marlboro and Aberdeen Township. Near the Middlesex County border, it turns northeast.
Water Bodies and Tributaries
Along its path, Birch Swamp Brook joins Matawan Creek. After this, the creek forms a lake called Lake Lefferts. This lake is located in Aberdeen Township and Matawan Borough. The part of Bakers Brook in Aberdeen Township is also known as Matawan Brook.
Below a dam at Ravine Drive, Matawan Creek becomes a tidal estuary. This means it's a mix of fresh and saltwater, influenced by the tides. It winds through a salt marsh, which is a coastal wetland. Here, other smaller streams like Gravelly Brook, Clapboard Creek, and Mohingson Creek flow into it.
Parts of Matawan Creek are wide enough for boats. Between the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Route 35, small private boats can use the creek. Some homes along the creek even have their own docks.
Further downstream from Route 35, there are several marinas where boats can be kept. However, bridges at Route 35 and County Route 6 are low. This means boats with tall masts cannot pass under them.
From Route 35 to its end, Matawan Creek forms the border between Aberdeen Township and Keyport Borough. There are no more bridges after County Route 6. Finally, Matawan Creek flows into Keyport Harbor, which is part of Raritan Bay.
What's in a Name: Etymology of Matawan Creek
The name Matawan Creek comes from Matawan Neck. This area is between Matawan Creek and Whale Creek. In the 1600s and 1700s, it was a large farm. Today, this land is Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach in Aberdeen Township.
The name might come from the Southern Unami word Matawonge. This word means "bad riverbank" or "bad hill." It could refer to cliffs along Raritan Bay that used to crumble. A seawall was built in the 1970s to stop this. Another idea is that the name comes from Matawan, a Northern Unami word for "bad fog." This might describe the fog that often forms over Raritan Bay.
A Famous Story: History of Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek became well-known because of some unusual events in 1916. During the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, a shark entered the creek. On July 12, 1916, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the ocean, a young great white shark attacked people.
Sadly, 11-year-old Lester Stillwell and 24-year-old Stanley Fisher, who tried to save him, died. Another person, 14-year-old Joseph Dunn, was badly hurt. These events, along with other shark attacks nearby, inspired the famous novel Jaws. The book was written by Peter Benchley. He also helped write the movie script for the blockbuster film of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg.
Creek Connections: Tributaries of Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries.
- Bakers Brook
- Birch Swamp Brook
- Clapboard Creek
- Gravelly Brook
- Watson's Brook
- Mohingson Creek
- Joe's Hole
See also
In Spanish: Río Matawan para niños
