Ridley Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ridley Creek |
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Ridley Creek flowing through Ridley Creek State Park
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 Location of the Mouth of Ridley Creek in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Counties | Chester, Delaware |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Frazer, Chester County 2,180 ft (660 m) 40°01′03″N 75°32′22″W / 40.01750°N 75.53944°W |
| River mouth | Delaware River Eddystone Borough, Delaware County 39°50′59″N 75°20′38″W / 39.84972°N 75.34389°W |
| Length | 23.4 mi (37.7 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 37.9 sq mi (98 km2) |
Ridley Creek is a stream that flows into the Delaware River. It runs through Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, United States.
Even though it's close to the big city of Philadelphia, the upper parts of the creek and the large park areas around it still feel like the countryside. The water in Ridley Creek is known for being very clean. The creek got its name from a place called Ridley in Cheshire, England.
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Where Ridley Creek Flows
Ridley Creek starts with two smaller streams near Malvern and Frazer in Chester County. These two streams join together about a mile south.
From there, the creek flows south, then southeast. It enters Delaware County and goes through Ridley Creek State Park. After leaving the park, it passes by the Tyler Arboretum and the town of Media.
The creek then flows through a deep gorge. It passes local parks in Rose Valley and the Taylor Memorial Arboretum in Wallingford. Finally, before it reaches the Delaware River, it forms the border between the city of Chester and the town of Eddystone.
The main part of the creek is about 22 miles (35 km) long. If you include the longer starting branch, it's about 23 miles (37 km) long.
The Ridley Creek Watershed
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a particular river or stream. The Ridley Creek watershed covers about 38 square miles (98 square kilometers).
Seventeen different towns and areas are part of this watershed. About 62,000 people live in this area. Many residents in towns like Upper Providence, Nether Providence, Middletown, and Media get their drinking water from the creek. They use about 2.7 million gallons of water every day!
History of Ridley Creek
Ridley Creek has a long and interesting history.
Early Settlers and Names
In 1641, a Swedish mill builder named Olof Persson Stille settled near the creek. Because of him, the creek was first called "Olle Stille's Creek." Later, in 1687, a map by Thomas Holme called it "Preest Cr."
Water Mills and Industry
Many water mills were built along Ridley Creek very early on. These mills used the power of the flowing water to do work.
- The Providence Mills gristmill, built in 1718, ground grain into flour. It was later known as Sycamore Mills and also had a nail factory and a sawmill. It operated until 1901.
- The Old Mill in Rose Valley, built in 1789, started as a snuff mill. It then became a paper mill and later a woolen textile mill, making cloth until about 1880.
By 1826, there were 15 different mills working on the creek! They included mills for grinding grain, sawing wood, making cotton, rolling metal, and making wool.
America's First Railroad?
The Leiper Railroad operated from 1810 to 1828. Some people say it was America's first railroad! It was used to carry stone from Thomas Leiper's quarry on Crum Creek to Ridley Creek, where it could be loaded onto boats.
Modern Industry
From 1906 to 1956, the Baldwin Locomotive Works operated near the mouth of the creek. This factory built huge train engines. Today, an Exelon power plant operates in that area, generating electricity. In 2006, Harrah's Chester opened a horse racing track and casino near where Ridley Creek meets the Delaware River.
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In Ridley Creek State Park 39°56′57″N 75°25′48″W / 39.9491°N 75.4301°W
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Long Point in Rose Valley 39°53′38″N 75°23′09″W / 39.8938°N 75.3858°W
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Mouth of Ridley Creek on the Delaware River
Smaller Streams Joining Ridley Creek
Several smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Ridley Creek. They include:
- Vernon Run
- Spring Run
- Dismal Run
- Hunters Run
