Neshannock Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neshannock Creek |
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Location of Neshannock Creek mouth
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| Other name(s) | Tributary to Shenango River |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Counties | Lawrence Mercer |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence of Cool Spring and Otter Creeks Mercer, Pennsylvania 1,090 ft (330 m) 41°13′26″N 080°13′34″W / 41.22389°N 80.22611°W |
| River mouth | Shenango River New Castle, Pennsylvania 800 ft (240 m) 40°59′33″N 080°21′15″W / 40.99250°N 80.35417°W |
| Length | 25.65 mi (41.28 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | south |
| River system | Beaver River |
| Basin size | 240.41 square miles (622.7 km2) |
| Tributaries | |
Neshannock Creek is a stream in Pennsylvania, about 25 miles (41 km) long. It starts where two smaller streams, Cool Spring and Otter Creek, meet in Mercer County. From there, it flows south into Lawrence County. People especially like to go fly fishing here, particularly near Volant, Pennsylvania.
The name "Neshannock" comes from a Native American language. It is thought to mean "double stream," which makes sense since the creek begins from two other streams joining together.
Where Does Neshannock Creek Flow?
Neshannock Creek begins just east of Mercer, Pennsylvania, where Cool Spring and Otter Creeks come together. The creek then flows south, traveling through the countryside, until it finally joins the Shenango River in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
What is the Neshannock Creek Watershed?
A watershed is like a giant bowl or basin where all the rain and snowmelt drain into a single river or stream. The Neshannock Creek watershed covers about 240 square miles (620 km2). This area gets about 41 inches (104 cm) of rain each year. About 41% of the land in this watershed is covered by forests. This means that a lot of the water flowing into Neshannock Creek comes from forested areas, which helps keep the water clean.
Smaller Streams Joining Neshannock Creek
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Neshannock Creek, adding to its water. Here are some of the main ones:
- Hottenbaugh Run: This stream joins Neshannock Creek from the left side. It starts in Lawrence County, not too far from Volant, Pennsylvania.
- Potter Run: Also joining from the left, Potter Run starts in a pond southeast of Volant and flows northwest to meet Neshannock Creek.
- Indian Run: This stream flows into Neshannock Creek from the right side. It begins southwest of Hoagland and flows southeast.
- Hunters Run: Joining from the left, Hunters Run starts in northeastern Lawrence County and flows northwest. This stream is known for the beautiful Springfield Falls.
- Mill Run: This stream also joins from the left. It rises southeast of Blacktown, Pennsylvania, and flows west to meet Neshannock Creek.
- Pine Run: Another left-bank tributary, Pine Run starts northeast of Blacktown and flows west.
- Beaver Run: This stream joins Neshannock Creek from the right side. It begins southwest of Mercer, Pennsylvania, and flows southeast.
These tributaries are important because they bring water from different parts of the watershed into Neshannock Creek, helping it grow larger as it flows towards the Shenango River.
