Tuscarora State Forest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State Forest Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Pennsylvania, United States
Area	91,165 acres (368.93 km2)
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Tuscarora State Forest

Tuscarora State Forest is a large state forest located in Pennsylvania, United States. Its main office is in Blain, a town in Perry County. This forest covers a huge area of 91,165 acres (36,893 ha) (about 36,893 hectares). It spreads across several counties, including Cumberland, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry.

Forest History

Tuscarora State Forest was created because Pennsylvania's forests were being cut down too much in the late 1800s. People like Dr. Joseph Rothrock were worried that the forests would not grow back. Lumber and iron companies had cut down almost all the old trees. They used a method called clearcutting, which meant cutting down every tree in an area. This left behind lots of dry tree tops and stumps.

Sparks from passing steam locomotives often started huge wildfires. These fires stopped new trees from growing. Dr. Rothrock and other conservationists feared the forests would disappear forever. They asked the state to buy land from the companies. The companies were happy to sell because they had already used up all the trees.

Changes began in 1895 when Dr. Rothrock became the first leader of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. This department is now called the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In 1897, the state passed a law to buy land for "forest reservations." This was the start of Pennsylvania's State Forest system.

Naming the Forest

The forest is named after Tuscarora Mountain, which is inside the forest. The mountain got its name from the Tuscarora, a Native American tribe. This tribe joined the Iroquois Nation around 1714 after a war in North Carolina.

Forest Growth and Restoration

Tuscarora State Forest was once part of a larger forest reserve. It later combined with other reserves to become what it is today. Much of the land was bought from lumber and iron companies. These companies had used old trees like hemlock, chestnut, and oak for wood and to make charcoal. Charcoal was used to power iron furnaces across Pennsylvania.

When the state bought the land, it was mostly empty and burned. This was because of the many wildfires started by train sparks. A program called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped a lot. President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the CCC during the Great Depression. Young men in the CCC cleared away dry brush from the forests and streams. They lived in six camps within Tuscarora State Forest. They also built roads, bridges, and trails. Many of the picnic areas and other facilities you see in state parks today were built by the CCC. Thanks to their hard work, the forest grew back into the thriving second-growth forest we see now.

Special Natural Areas

Tuscarora State Forest has several unique natural areas:

• Hemlocks Natural Area: This area covers 120 acres (49 ha). It has very old Eastern Hemlock trees growing in a narrow valley.
• Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area: This small area is 10 acres (4.0 ha). It is home to a special Box Huckleberry plant that is over 1,300 years old!
• Frank E. Masland Jr. Natural Area: This area is 1,270 acres (510 ha) and contains an old secondary forest.
• Tuscarora Wild Area: This is a large area of 5,382 acres (2,178 ha) with an old secondary forest.

Nearby State Parks

Four Pennsylvania State Parks are located within or very close to Tuscarora State Forest:

• Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area
• Colonel Denning State Park
• Fowlers Hollow State Park
• Little Buffalo State Park

Neighboring State Forests

Tuscarora State Forest shares borders with several other state forests:

• Bald Eagle State Forest (to the north)
• Weiser State Forest (to the east)
• Michaux State Forest (to the southeast)
• Buchanan State Forest (to the southwest)
• Rothrock State Forest (to the west)