White Clay Creek Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Clay Creek Preserve |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Confluence of the East and Middle Branches White Clay Creek, in the Preserve.
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 White Clay Creek Preserve
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | London Britain, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 1,255 acres (5.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Named for | White Clay Creek |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | White Clay Creek Preserve Friends of White Clay Creek Preserve |
The White Clay Creek Preserve is a special park in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It covers about 1,255 acres along the White Clay Creek. This beautiful area was given to Pennsylvania in 1984 by the DuPont Company.
The main goal of the preserve is to protect the many different plants and animals that live there. It also helps save the important history of the area. The DuPont Company also gave 528 acres to Delaware for the nearby White Clay Creek State Park. You can find White Clay Creek Preserve about 3 miles north of Newark, Delaware.
A group called the Friends of White Clay Creek Preserve helps take care of the park.
Contents
Discovering the Preserve's Past
Native American History at Opasiskunk
Long ago, the land where White Clay Creek Preserve now sits was home to the Lenape people. In 1683, their leader, Chief Kekelappen, sold this land to William Penn.
Historians believe that Chief Kekelappen might have lived in a large Native American town called Opasiskunk. This town was located where the east and middle branches of White Clay Creek meet. Archeologists have found signs that people lived in Opasiskunk for a very long time, from ancient times until the early 1700s.
Buildings from Colonial Times
You can still see several old buildings near White Clay Creek Preserve that date back to the early days of the colonies. The Yeatman Mill House was once a busy center for grinding grain and farming in the 1700s and 1800s.
The London Tract Baptist Meetinghouse was built in 1729. It stands at the corner of Sharpless and London Tract roads. Many of the first settlers in the area are buried in the church's cemetery.
The Famous Mason-Dixon Line
White Clay Creek Preserve is right next to the famous Mason–Dixon line. This line marks the border between Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. It was created in 1750 to settle a long argument about the land borders between the British colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
You can still see special monuments in White Clay Creek Preserve that mark points along this historic border line.
Fun Activities at the Preserve
White Clay Creek Preserve is the only state park in Pennsylvania that is called a "preserve." This means it's kept very natural, with not much building or development. It's a great place to enjoy the outdoors!
- Hunting: You can hunt white-tailed deer in about 1,220 acres of the park.
- Fishing: The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regularly adds trout to White Clay Creek. You can also fish in the middle and east branches of the creek.
- Hiking: There's a 3-mile hiking trail in the northern part of the park. It connects to more trails in White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.
- Biking: The Peltier and New Peltier trails are perfect for biking. You can also bike on the roads in and around the park.
- Horseback Riding: The preserve has an 8-mile trail just for horseback riding.
- Cross-country Skiing: In winter, all the trails and open fields are open for cross-country skiing.
Big Elk Creek Area
The White Clay Creek Preserve also includes a section called the Big Elk Creek Section. This area is a few miles west of the main preserve. It covers about 739 acres of open land.
This section was added in 2010 to help protect more natural spaces. It is managed by the same team that runs White Clay Creek Preserve. In 2020, another 978 acres were added to this section. The Big Elk Creek Section borders Maryland to the south. It has a free parking area off Strickersville Road.
Nearby Parks to Explore
There are many other state parks within 30 miles of White Clay Creek Preserve. Here are some of them:
- Alapocas Run State Park (Delaware)
- Auburn Valley State Park (Delaware)
- Bellevue State Park (Delaware)
- Brandywine Creek State Park (Delaware)
- Elk Neck State Park (Maryland)
- Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area (Maryland)
- Fort Delaware State Park (Delaware)
- Fort DuPont State Park (Delaware)
- Fort Mott State Park (New Jersey)
- Fox Point State Park (Delaware)
- Lums Pond State Park (Delaware)
- Marsh Creek State Park (Chester County)
- Ridley Creek State Park (Delaware County)
- Susquehanna State Park (Maryland)
- Susquehannock State Park (Lancaster County)
- White Clay Creek State Park (Delaware)
- Wilmington State Parks (Delaware)
