Neshaminy Creek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park
Native name	Nishamening "at the place we drink twice"
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bucks
Township	New Britain Doylestown Warwick Buckingham Wrightstown Northampton Newtown Middletown Lower Southampton Bensalem Bristol
Borough	Chalfont New Britain Langhorne Hulmeville
Physical characteristics
Main source	220 feet (67 m) 40°16′59″N 75°12′19″W / 40.28306°N 75.20528°W / 40.28306; -75.20528
River mouth	0 feet (0 m) 40°4′26″N 74°54′32″W / 40.07389°N 74.90889°W / 40.07389; -74.90889
Length	40.7 miles (65.5 km)
Basin features
Progression	Neshaminy Creek → Delaware River → Delaware Bay
River system	Delaware River
Basin size	232 square miles (600 km2)
Landmarks	Wilma Quinlin Nature Preserve Twin Streams Park Lenape Bike and Hiking Path Castle Valley Park Central Park-Kids Castle Bridge Point Park Dark Hollow Diamond Ridge Day Camp Middle Bucks Institute of Technology Tyler State Park Bucks County Community College George School Core Creek Park Playwicki Park Playwicki Farm Park Idlewood Neshaminy State Park
Tributaries	Left: North Branch Neshaminy Creek Cooks Run Mill Creek Newtown Creek Core Creek Right: West Branch Neshaminy Creek Mill Creek Little Neshaminy Creek Mill Creek
Slope	5.7 feet per mile (1.08 m/km)

Map of the Neshaminy Creek

The Neshaminy Creek is a stream that flows entirely through Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is about 40.7 miles (65.5 kilometers) long. The creek starts south of the town of Chalfont, where its north and west branches meet. From there, it flows southeast towards Bristol Township and Bensalem Township. Finally, it joins the Delaware River.

The name "Neshaminy" comes from the Lenape people. It is believed to mean "place where we drink twice." This special name refers to a part of the creek called the Neshaminy Palisades. Here, the water slows down and makes a sharp turn, almost flowing back on itself. These tall, cliff-like areas are found in Dark Hollow Park.

About the Creek

Throughout Bucks County, the Neshaminy Creek runs mainly through wooded areas.

The area of land that drains into Neshaminy Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 236 square miles (611 square kilometers). Most of this area (86 percent) is in Bucks County, and a smaller part (14 percent) is in Montgomery County. The Neshaminy Creek watershed is part of the larger Delaware River watershed.

The creek flows mostly through suburban areas located north of Philadelphia. However, some parts of the creek still run through rural and forested areas. The Neshaminy Creek also flows through two state parks: Tyler State Park and Neshaminy State Park. Interestingly, the creek has three different smaller streams that flow into it, all named Mill Creek!

History of Neshaminy Creek

The name "Neshaminy" comes from the Lenape language, meaning "the place where we drink twice" or "two drinking places." This might refer to two springs that were once near a Lenape village. Native people often preferred to drink from springs rather than streams.

The Neshaminy was one of the first streams in Bucks County to have ferries and bridges built across it. In 1832, a book called the Gordon Gazetteer even called it the Neshaminy River. It mentioned that there were many bridges, including a special drawbridge near its mouth. This drawbridge allowed boats to pass through.

The creek has experienced several big floods over the years. In 1833, a flood known as the Mina flood washed away most of the bridges. Then, in 1865, an even bigger flood happened. This flood was 6 feet (1.8 meters) higher than the 1833 flood! It destroyed almost all the bridges downstream and caused a lot of damage. When the floodwaters reached the Delaware River, they were so strong that they carried a huge pile of debris all the way to the New Jersey shoreline. This even stopped ships from moving on the river.

Flooding and Safety

Like many other rivers and streams, the Neshaminy Creek can cause flooding in nearby areas, especially after heavy rains. The water level can rise more than 10 feet (3 meters) above its normal level during severe storms.

For example, during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, the creek flooded significantly. In 2005, money was set aside to help prevent future floods along the Neshaminy Creek. More major flooding occurred in 2006.

In 2011, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee (2011) caused the Neshaminy Creek to reach levels not seen in 100 years. Repairs from these storms cost around $1 million.

Creek Crossings and Bridges

Historic Bridge Valley Bridge (1804) on Neshaminy Creek, north of Hartsville.

Many roads and railways cross over the Neshaminy Creek. Bridges are important for people and vehicles to get from one side to the other. Here is a list of some of the crossings over the Neshaminy Creek:

Tributaries of Neshaminy Creek

Many smaller streams flow into the Neshaminy Creek. These are called tributaries. Here are some of the named tributaries:

• Mill Creek
  • Pine Run
  • Ironworks Creek
• Newtown Creek
• Mill Creek
  • Robin Run
  • Watson Creek
  • Lahaska Creek
• Little Neshaminy Creek
  • Park Creek
• Cooks Run
• Mill Creek
• North Branch Neshaminy Creek
  • Pine Run
• West Branch Neshaminy Creek
  • Reading Creek

Towns and Townships Along the Creek

The Neshaminy Creek flows through or near many towns and townships in Bucks County and Montgomery County. Here are some of them:

• Bensalem Township
• Bristol Township
• Buckingham Township
• Chalfont
• Doylestown
• Doylestown Township
• Hatfield
• Hulmeville
• Ivyland
• Langhorne
• Langhorne Manor
• Lansdale
• Lower Southampton Township
• Middletown Township
• New Britain
• New Britain Township
• Newtown
• Newtown Township
• Northampton Township
• Penndel
• Plumstead Township
• Upper Southampton Township
• Warminster Township
• Warwick Township
• Wrightstown Township