Raccoon Creek (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Raccoon Creek, also called the Raccoon River, is a 22.6 miles (36.4 km) tributary
of the Delaware River
in southern New Jersey
in the United States
.
, and flows east, meeting Cartwheel Brook at Wrights Mill. Just below, it is impounded to form Gilman Lake. It turns to the north and is again dammed to form Ewan Lake. Clems Run and Miery Run empty into the stream, which is steeply banked on the east side. It flows through Mullica Hill
(formerly the head of navigation), where it is dammed to form Mullica Hill Pond, and turns east again, flowing through a wide but steep valley. The South Branch (of the creek) joins it about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the town. Flowing along the north side of Swedesboro
, the creek becomes tidal and passes under the Locke Avenue moveable bridge, marking more recent limits of navigation. (The bridge was last opened in the 1960s.) The creek turns north again and meanders through the marshlands, passing under the (fixed) Interstate 295
bridge and running along the west side of the Pureland Industrial Complex
, one of the largest industrial park
s in the United States. A tangle of marshy channels leads to the west side of Bridgeport
, where the creek passes under moveable spans of the Conrail Penns Grove Secondary and U.S. Route 130
. It empties into the Delaware River just south of the Commodore Barry Bridge
where it crosses Raccoon Island
(now connected to the mainland by fill).
came upstream along Raccoon Creek to found and settle the communities of Bridgeport
(originally called New Stockholm) and Swedesboro
.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Location
Raccoon Creek rises to the west of GlassboroGlassboro, New Jersey
Glassboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 19,068....
, and flows east, meeting Cartwheel Brook at Wrights Mill. Just below, it is impounded to form Gilman Lake. It turns to the north and is again dammed to form Ewan Lake. Clems Run and Miery Run empty into the stream, which is steeply banked on the east side. It flows through Mullica Hill
Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Mullica Hill is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Harrison Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, Mullica Hill population was 1,658.-History:...
(formerly the head of navigation), where it is dammed to form Mullica Hill Pond, and turns east again, flowing through a wide but steep valley. The South Branch (of the creek) joins it about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the town. Flowing along the north side of Swedesboro
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
, the creek becomes tidal and passes under the Locke Avenue moveable bridge, marking more recent limits of navigation. (The bridge was last opened in the 1960s.) The creek turns north again and meanders through the marshlands, passing under the (fixed) Interstate 295
Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey)
Interstate 295 in New Jersey and Delaware is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, designated as a bypass around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The route begins at a junction with Interstate 95 south of Wilmington, Delaware, and runs to another junction with I-95 north of Trenton, New Jersey...
bridge and running along the west side of the Pureland Industrial Complex
Pureland Industrial Complex
Pureland Industrial Complex is a industrial park located in Logan Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. It borders the Delaware River and Raccoon Creek, and is located south of the ports of Camden and Philadelphia. Interstate 295, U.S. Route 322 and U.S. Route 130 run through...
, one of the largest industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
s in the United States. A tangle of marshy channels leads to the west side of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, New Jersey
Bridgeport is an unincorporated area within Logan Township, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08014....
, where the creek passes under moveable spans of the Conrail Penns Grove Secondary and U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
. It empties into the Delaware River just south of the Commodore Barry Bridge
Commodore Barry Bridge
The Commodore Barry Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Delaware River from Chester, Pennsylvania to Bridgeport, in Logan Township, New Jersey, USA...
where it crosses Raccoon Island
Raccoon Island (New Jersey)
Raccoon Island is an island on Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey, comprising about with mixed private homes and lots. Seasonal , limited schedule ferry service provides access to the island by car or light truck...
(now connected to the mainland by fill).
History
During the 17th century Swedish settlers from the Swedish colony of New SwedenNew Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
came upstream along Raccoon Creek to found and settle the communities of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, New Jersey
Bridgeport is an unincorporated area within Logan Township, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08014....
(originally called New Stockholm) and Swedesboro
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
.
Tributaries
- South Branch (Raccoon Creek)
- Miery Run
- Clems Run
- Cartwheel Brook