Tearcoat Creek facts for kids
Tearcoat Creek is an 18.3-mile (29.5-kilometer) long flowing stream in the United States. It is located in central Hampshire County, West Virginia. In 1931, the federal Board on Geographic Names officially decided that its name is spelled "Tear Coat Creek." This waterway is a natural branch of the North River. From there, the water flows into the larger Cacapon River. That means it is an important part of the giant Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay drainage areas.
The creek has a very funny and interesting name! Local legend says it got its name during an early war, like the French and Indian War or the American Revolutionary War. According to the story, British soldiers had to walk across the water. Thick, low-hanging tree branches caught their clothes and ripped them right off!
Exploring the Course of Tearcoat Creek
The start of the stream, called its headwaters, begins near the small town of Ruckman. From there, it flows northeast along the side of Short Mountain. As it winds through the countryside south of the community of Augusta, smaller farm streams join it. These extra waters help Tearcoat Creek grow wider and deeper.
Next, the creek travels through a twisting, rocky canyon west of Dunmore Ridge. Along the way, it collects water from other small streams. The two largest ones are named Turkeyfoot Run and Bearwallow Creek. After meeting Bearwallow Creek, the water passes under the Northwestern Turnpike, also known as U.S. Route 50, near Pleasant Dale. Finally, the stream curves toward the east. It finishes its journey by emptying into the North River just north of Hanging Rock.
See also
- List of West Virginia rivers
