Steele Creek (Mohawk River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steele Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Central New York Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | unnamed swamp S of Cedarville, New York 42°54′58″N 75°07′18″W / 42.91611°N 75.12167°W |
| River mouth | Mohawk River Ilion, New York 383 ft (117 m) 43°01′20″N 75°02′38″W / 43.02222°N 75.04389°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 27.4 sq mi (71 km2) |
Steele Creek is a small river in New York State. It starts in a swamp south of Cedarville. The creek then flows northeast. It eventually empties into the Mohawk River in the village of Ilion.
For much of its journey, Steele Creek runs through a place called the Ilion Gorge. It also flows right next to NY-51. The creek got its name from Rudolph Stahl. He was the first person to build a grist mill in Ilion along the creek. A grist mill is a place where grain is ground into flour.
Contents
What is Steele Creek?
Steele Creek is a waterway located in Herkimer County, New York. It is part of the larger Mohawk River system. The creek's basin, or the area of land that drains into it, covers about 27.4 square miles.
The creek's journey ends when it joins the Mohawk River. This meeting point is in Ilion, New York. The elevation at its mouth is about 383 feet above sea level.
When Does Steele Creek Flood?
Sometimes, Steele Creek can experience flooding. This happened on January 12, 2018. Unusually warm weather and heavy rain caused ice in the creek to break apart. This created "ice jams" near Ilion.
These ice jams blocked the water flow. As a result, the water level rose very high. It even spilled over onto Otsego Street, which is also known as NY-51.
The History of Steele Creek and Ilion
Steele Creek played an important role in the early development of Ilion. Many mills were built along its banks. These mills used the power of the flowing water to operate machinery.
Early Mills Along the Creek
- Rudolph Stahl built the very first grist mill in Ilion on Steele Creek. This mill was located near where the Ilion Episcopal Church stands today.
- Sam Newton built a cider mill in a place once called "Smokey Run." This area is now known as South Ilion. He created a pond on the creek to power his mill. This mill made cider and vinegar. It also had a blacksmith shop and a woodworking shop.
- The first 800 washing machines made in Central New York were built here. A big flood in 1938 destroyed the mill dam and part of the mill building.
- Other types of mills also appeared along Steele Creek. The Dexter oil mill and saw mill were near where Weber Avenue is now. The Ingersoll plaster mill and saw mill were close to Philip Street. There was also a fulling mill near present-day Richfield Street. A fulling mill was used to clean and thicken cloth.
Images for kids
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This is a USGS stream gauge in Ilion. It helps measure the water level and flow of Steele Creek.
