Rancocas Creek
Encyclopedia
Rancocas Creek is a tributary
of the Delaware River
in southwestern New Jersey
in the United States
. The creek's main stem is 8.3 miles (13.4 km) long, with a North Branch of 28.3 miles (45.5 km) and a South Branch flowing 21.7 miles (34.9 km). The creek system drains a rural agricultural and forested area on the western edge of the Pinelands
north and northeast of Camden
and the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia.
rises in northern Burlington County
, in Mirror Lake, just south of Fort Dix. It flows west-northwest past Mount Holly.
The South Branch
rises in central Burlington County near Chatsworth
and flows generally northwest. It receives the 13.8 miles (22.2 km) Southwest Branch
from the south approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of Mount Holly. The North and South branches join near Rancocas State Park, approximately 3 miles (5 km) west of Mount Holly, near the crossing of the New Jersey Turnpike
and Interstate 295. A few hundred yards downstream of the Interstate 295 and NJ Turnpike bridges, Burlington County Route 635 passes over the Creek on a bridge built less than 4 feet (1.2 m) over the average water level. This bridge has the capability for the center section of the bridge to swivel from the perpendicular to the river to parallel, to allow small boat traffic through. The bridge has rarely opened in the past three decades, however, due to removal of the powered opening mechanism. The mechanism, installed in 1911 a few short years after the bridge was constructed, had allowed for easier openings for Rancocas Creek barge traffic, once a very popular means for freight transport. After rehabilitation of the bridge in the 1980s, the powered mechanism was removed due to the near-lack of creek barge traffic and expense of maintenance. The bridge may be opened in case of emergency, but requires manual labor to be swiveled open. The combined stream flows 8 miles (13 km) northwest past Willingboro and joins the Delaware from the east at Riverside, where it is crossed by the Riverside-Delanco Bridge
.
It is navigable for approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) upstream from its mouth on the Delaware. However, the CR 635 bridge effectively places a barrier to boat traffic 7.6 miles (12.2 km) upstream from the Delaware.
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 southwestern 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...
. The creek's main stem is 8.3 miles (13.4 km) long, with a North Branch of 28.3 miles (45.5 km) and a South Branch flowing 21.7 miles (34.9 km). The creek system drains a rural agricultural and forested area on the western edge of the Pinelands
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
north and northeast of Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
and the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia.
Overview
Rancocas Creek rises as two main branches in the Pinelands National Reserve. The North BranchNorth Branch Rancocas Creek
The North Branch Rancocas Creek is a tributary of Rancocas Creek in southwestern New Jersey in the United States.The creek starts in the Pine Barrens of Brendan T...
rises in northern Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, in Mirror Lake, just south of Fort Dix. It flows west-northwest past Mount Holly.
The South Branch
South Branch Rancocas Creek
The South Branch Rancocas Creek is a tributary of Rancocas Creek in Burlington County, New Jersey in the United States.-See also:*List of rivers of New Jersey*North Branch Rancocas Creek*Rancocas Creek*Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek-References:...
rises in central Burlington County near Chatsworth
Chatsworth, New Jersey
Chatsworth is an unincorporated area within Woodland Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08019...
and flows generally northwest. It receives the 13.8 miles (22.2 km) Southwest Branch
Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek
The Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek is a tributary of the South Branch Rancocas Creek in Burlington County, New Jersey in the United States.-See also:*List of rivers of New Jersey*North Branch Rancocas Creek*Rancocas Creek*South Branch Rancocas Creek...
from the south approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of Mount Holly. The North and South branches join near Rancocas State Park, approximately 3 miles (5 km) west of Mount Holly, near the crossing of the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
and Interstate 295. A few hundred yards downstream of the Interstate 295 and NJ Turnpike bridges, Burlington County Route 635 passes over the Creek on a bridge built less than 4 feet (1.2 m) over the average water level. This bridge has the capability for the center section of the bridge to swivel from the perpendicular to the river to parallel, to allow small boat traffic through. The bridge has rarely opened in the past three decades, however, due to removal of the powered opening mechanism. The mechanism, installed in 1911 a few short years after the bridge was constructed, had allowed for easier openings for Rancocas Creek barge traffic, once a very popular means for freight transport. After rehabilitation of the bridge in the 1980s, the powered mechanism was removed due to the near-lack of creek barge traffic and expense of maintenance. The bridge may be opened in case of emergency, but requires manual labor to be swiveled open. The combined stream flows 8 miles (13 km) northwest past Willingboro and joins the Delaware from the east at Riverside, where it is crossed by the Riverside-Delanco Bridge
Riverside-Delanco Bridge
The Riverside–Delanco Bridge is a truss bridge with a central swing span that carries County Route 543 across the Rancocas Creek, between Riverside and Delanco in New Jersey. The current bridge was built in 1934-1935 to replace the 1901 bridge, which itself replaced an 1870 structure...
.
It is navigable for approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) upstream from its mouth on the Delaware. However, the CR 635 bridge effectively places a barrier to boat traffic 7.6 miles (12.2 km) upstream from the Delaware.
Tributaries
- North Branch Rancocas CreekNorth Branch Rancocas CreekThe North Branch Rancocas Creek is a tributary of Rancocas Creek in southwestern New Jersey in the United States.The creek starts in the Pine Barrens of Brendan T...
- South Branch Rancocas CreekSouth Branch Rancocas CreekThe South Branch Rancocas Creek is a tributary of Rancocas Creek in Burlington County, New Jersey in the United States.-See also:*List of rivers of New Jersey*North Branch Rancocas Creek*Rancocas Creek*Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek-References:...
- Southwest Branch Rancocas CreekSouthwest Branch Rancocas CreekThe Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek is a tributary of the South Branch Rancocas Creek in Burlington County, New Jersey in the United States.-See also:*List of rivers of New Jersey*North Branch Rancocas Creek*Rancocas Creek*South Branch Rancocas Creek...