Wheeling Creek (West Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Wheeling Creek is a tributary
of the Ohio River
, 25 miles (40 km) long, in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
in the United States
, with a watershed
extending into southwestern Pennsylvania
. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River
, draining an area of approximately 300 square miles (777 km²) on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau
. It flows into the Ohio River in downtown Wheeling
, just downstream of Ohio
's Wheeling Creek
on the opposite bank. According to the Geographic Names Information System
, it has also been known as Big Wheeling Creek.
, by the confluence of streams known as the Enlow Fork and the Dunkard Fork:
From the confluence of the Dunkard and Enlow forks, Wheeling Creek flows northwestwardly into the city of Wheeling in Ohio County
. In the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling, it collects Little Wheeling Creek, which rises in Ohio County just west of the Pennsylvania state line and flows southwestwardly through the communities of Valley Grove
and Triadelphia
. In Triadelphia, Little Wheeling Creek collects Middle Wheeling Creek, which rises in West Finley Township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and flows generally westwardly into southeastern Ohio County.
The National Road
(U.S. Route 40
) parallels Little Wheeling Creek through eastern Ohio County, and follows Wheeling Creek for part of its route through the city of Wheeling; the creek is also paralleled for five miles (8 km) in Wheeling by a rail trail
as part of the Wheeling Heritage Trail network.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, of the 141 square miles (365.2 km²) drained by Wheeling Creek in West Virginia, approximately 67% is forest
ed; approximately 27% is used for agriculture
; and approximately 5% is urban
.
operates a stream gauge
on the creek in the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling, downstream of the mouth of Little Wheeling Creek and 7.8 miles (12.6 km) upstream of the creek's mouth. Between 1941 and 2005, the annual mean flow of the creek at the gauge was 343 cubic feet per second (9.7 m³/s). The creek's highest flow during the period was estimated at 22,300 ft³/s (632 m³/s) on September 17, 2004. The lowest recorded flow was 0.1 ft³/s (0 m³/s) on October 7, 1963, and on two days in September 1964.
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 Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, 25 miles (40 km) long, in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with a watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
extending into southwestern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, draining an area of approximately 300 square miles (777 km²) on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
. It flows into the Ohio River in downtown Wheeling
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, just downstream of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
's Wheeling Creek
Wheeling Creek (Ohio)
Wheeling Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in eastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
on the opposite bank. According to the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
, it has also been known as Big Wheeling Creek.
Geography
Wheeling Creek is formed in northeastern Marshall County, West VirginiaMarshall County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,519 people, 14,207 households, and 10,101 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 15,814 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, by the confluence of streams known as the Enlow Fork and the Dunkard Fork:
- Enlow Fork, also known historically as "Enslow Fork," rises in Pennsylvania on the boundary of GreeneGreene County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,672 people, 15,060 households, and 10,587 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 16,678 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
and WashingtonWashington County, Pennsylvania-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
Counties, and flows west-southwestwardly along that boundary into Marshall County. Enlow Fork defines the northern boundaries of MorrisMorris Township, Greene County, PennsylvaniaMorris Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,040 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles , of which, 35.8 square miles of it is land and...
, GrayGray Township, PennsylvaniaGray Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 236 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, and RichhillRichhill Township, PennsylvaniaRichhill Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census. Ryerson Station State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on Duke Lake in the township.-History:...
Townships in Greene County; and the southern boundaries of MorrisMorris Township, Washington County, PennsylvaniaMorris Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,272 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 28.4 square miles , of which, 28.4 square miles of it is land and...
, East FinleyEast Finley Township, PennsylvaniaEast Finley Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,489 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, and West FinleyWest Finley Township, PennsylvaniaWest Finley Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 951 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
townships in Washington County.
- Dunkard Fork, also known historically as "Crow Creek," is formed in Pennsylvania by the confluence of the North Fork Dunkard Fork and the South Fork Dunkard Fork in Richhill Township in Greene County, and flows northwestwardly into Marshall County. Its north and south forks each flow northwestwardly into Richhill Township; the North Fork rises in Jackson TownshipJackson Township, Greene County, PennsylvaniaJackson Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 516 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.03% is water....
and flows through Ryerson Station State ParkRyerson Station State ParkRyerson Station State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It was previously home to Ronald J. Duke Lake, a artificial lake on the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek, that was constructed in 1960, but drained in...
, where it is dammed to form a lake; and the South Fork rises in Aleppo TownshipAleppo Township, Greene County, PennsylvaniaAleppo Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
.
From the confluence of the Dunkard and Enlow forks, Wheeling Creek flows northwestwardly into the city of Wheeling in Ohio County
Ohio County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 447 people per square mile . There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile...
. In the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling, it collects Little Wheeling Creek, which rises in Ohio County just west of the Pennsylvania state line and flows southwestwardly through the communities of Valley Grove
Valley Grove, West Virginia
Valley Grove is a village in Ohio County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Triadelphia
Triadelphia, West Virginia
Triadelphia is a town in Ohio County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 817 at the 2000 census.Triadelphia was originally chartered in 1829...
. In Triadelphia, Little Wheeling Creek collects Middle Wheeling Creek, which rises in West Finley Township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and flows generally westwardly into southeastern Ohio County.
The National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
(U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
) parallels Little Wheeling Creek through eastern Ohio County, and follows Wheeling Creek for part of its route through the city of Wheeling; the creek is also paralleled for five miles (8 km) in Wheeling by a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
as part of the Wheeling Heritage Trail network.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, of the 141 square miles (365.2 km²) drained by Wheeling Creek in West Virginia, approximately 67% is forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed; approximately 27% is used for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
; and approximately 5% is urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
.
Flow rate
The United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
operates a stream gauge
Stream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
on the creek in the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling, downstream of the mouth of Little Wheeling Creek and 7.8 miles (12.6 km) upstream of the creek's mouth. Between 1941 and 2005, the annual mean flow of the creek at the gauge was 343 cubic feet per second (9.7 m³/s). The creek's highest flow during the period was estimated at 22,300 ft³/s (632 m³/s) on September 17, 2004. The lowest recorded flow was 0.1 ft³/s (0 m³/s) on October 7, 1963, and on two days in September 1964.
See also
- Elm Grove Stone Arch BridgeElm Grove Stone Arch BridgeThe Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge, also known as the Monument Place Bridge, is the oldest extant bridge, built in 1817, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The bridge carries U.S. Route 40 over Little Wheeling Creek in Elm Grove...
- Fisher SiteFisher SiteThe Fisher Site is an archaeological site in northwestern Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located along a tributary of Wheeling Creek in northern Richhill Township, it was once occupied by a Monongahela village...
, an archeological site along Enlow Fork - List of tributaries of Wheeling Creek
- List of West Virginia rivers