West Branch Susquehanna River
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The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is sometimes regarded as an extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch being its principal tributary. The West Branch, which is 160 mi (257 km) long, is entirely within the state of Pennsylvania, draining a large mountainous area within the Allegheny Plateau in the western part of the state. Along most of its course it flows in tight meanders along mountain ridges and through water gaps, forming a large zigzag arc through central Pennsylvania around the north end of the Allegheny Ridge. In colonial times the river provided an important water route to the Ohio River valley. In the 18th century, its lower valley became a significant industrial heartland of Pennsylvania.
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[edit] Description
The West Branch rises on the west side of the Alleghenies, in northwestern Cambria County, approximately 20 mi (32 km) east of the city of Indiana. It flows generally north, crossing the eastern corner of Indiana County at Cherry Tree, then into southern Clearfield County. Near Mahaffey it turns generally northeast and flows past Clearfield. In northern Clinton County it turns to the southeast to Lock Haven. At Lock Haven it turns east, flowing through the West Branch Susquehanna Valley along the foot of Bald Eagle Mountain ridge past Williamsport, the largest city on the river, then turns south at the end of the ridge. From there, it winds around the Muncy Hills, emerging from a water gap between Mountour Ridge and Shamokin Mountain and joining the North (Main) branch of the Susquehanna from the northwest approximately 2 mi (3 km) north of Sunbury.
[edit] Tributaries
From its upper reaches to its lower reaches, it receives:
- Chest Creek from the south at Mahaffey
- Clearfield Creek from the south 2 mi (3 km) east of Clearfield
- Sinnemahoning Creek from the northwest at Keating
- Bald Eagle Creek from the southwest at Youngdale
- Pine Creek and Larrys Creek from the north near Jersey Shore
- Lycoming Creek from the north at Williamsport
- Loyalsock Creek from the northeast at Montoursville
- Muncy Creek from the northeast at Muncy
- White Deer Hole Creek from the south at Allenwood.
[edit] History
Up through the early 19th century the river provided the principal canoe route across the Alleghenies connecting the Susquehanna and Ohio valleys, with a portage at Cherry Tree to Blacklick Creek, a tributary of the Conemaugh River. In the late 18th century, Cherry Tree marked the frontier between the Pennsylvania Colony and the Shawnee and Lenape lands to the west as specified by treaty.
[edit] Trivia
- There is an area in Clearfield County named after the river, called West Branch. This includes Morris Township, Cooper Township, and Graham Township among other towns and villages. It is also the namesake for the West Branch Area School District.
[edit] See also
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