Paint Creek (West Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paint Creek |
|
|---|---|
Paint Creek in Ash Branch Park in Kanawha County
|
|
A map of Paint Creek and its watershed
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| Counties | Raleigh, Fayette, Kanawha |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | northern Raleigh County 2,322 ft (708 m) 37°48′32″N 81°16′10″W / 37.80889°N 81.26944°W |
| River mouth | Kanawha River Hansford 604 ft (184 m) 38°12′34″N 81°23′30″W / 38.20944°N 81.39167°W |
| Length | 42.1 mi (67.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 123 sq mi (320 km2) |
Paint Creek is a river in southern West Virginia, United States. It flows for about 42 miles (68 km) and is a tributary of the Kanawha River. This means Paint Creek flows into the Kanawha River, which then flows into the Ohio River, and finally into the mighty Mississippi River. All the water from Paint Creek eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico! The area of land that drains into Paint Creek is about 123 square miles.
Contents
The Path of Paint Creek
Paint Creek starts in the northern part of Raleigh County. It begins high up, about 2,322 feet (708 meters) above sea level.
Journey Through Counties
As it flows north, the creek passes through several communities in Raleigh County, like Sweeneyburg and Maynor. It often runs alongside County Route 7 and the West Virginia Turnpike.
The creek then enters Fayette County. Here, it winds through towns such as Willis Branch, Pax, and Lively. After a while, it turns towards the northwest.
Finally, Paint Creek reaches Kanawha County. It continues its journey north through places like Burnwell, Standard, and Gallagher.
Where it Ends
Paint Creek finishes its long journey by flowing into the Kanawha River. This meeting point is in a town called Hansford. At this spot, the creek is about 604 feet (184 meters) above sea level.
How Paint Creek Got Its Name
The name "Paint Creek" comes from a cool fact about how Native Americans used to mark trees. They would use natural paints to "blaze" or mark trees along the creek. This is how the creek got its unique name!
