White Clay Creek Preserve

Geobox Protected Area
name =White Clay Creek Preserve
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III


image_caption = Confluence of the East and Middle Branches White Clay Creek, in the Preserve.
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = White Clay Creek
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Chester
district_type = Township
district = London Britain
city =
location =
lat_d = 39
lat_m = 44
lat_s = 35
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 47
long_s = 21
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web
url=Gnis3|2351710
title="White Clay Creek Preserve"
date = August 30 2007
work=Geographic Names Information System
publisher=United States Geological Survey
accessdate=2007-12-13]
elevation_imperial = 253
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 1255
area_round = 1
area_note =
area1_imperial =
area1_type =
length_imperial =
length_orientation =
width_imperial =
width_orientation =
highest =
highest location =
highest_lat_d =
highest_lat_m =
highest_lat_s =
highest_lat_NS =
highest_long_d =
highest_long_m =
highest_long_s =
highest_long_EW =
highest_elevation_imperial =
lowest =
lowest_location =
lowest_lat_d =
lowest_lat_m =
lowest_lat_s =
lowest_lat_NS =
lowest_long_d =
lowest_long_m =
lowest_long_s =
lowest_long_EW =
lowest_elevation_imperial =
biome =
biome_share =
biome1 =
biome1_share =
geology =
geology1 =
plant =
plant1 =
animal =
animal1 =
established_type =
established = 1984
established_note =
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
management_location =
management_lat_d =
management_lat_m =
management_lat_s =
management_lat_NS =
management_long_d =
management_long_m =
management_long_s =
management_long_EW =
management_elevation =
visitation =
visitation_year =
free_type = Nearest city
free = Newark, Delaware
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of White Clay Creek Preserve in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map_first =
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/whiteclaycreek.aspx White Clay Creek Preserve]

White Clay Creek Preserve is a convert|1255|acre|km2|2|adj=on Pennsylvania state park along the valley of White Clay Creek in London Britain Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park was donated by the DuPont Company in 1984 for the purpose of "preserving the diverse and unique plant and animal species, and the rich cultural heritage of the area". Dupont also donated an additional convert|3300|acre|km2|2 for the adjoining White Clay Creek State Park to the state of Delaware. White Clay Creek Preserve is convert|3|mi|0 north of Newark on Pennsylvania Route 896.

History

Opasiskunk

The land on which White Clay Creek Preserve is located was originally sold to William Penn by Lenape Chief Kekelappen in 1683. Historians believe that Chief Kekelappen may have lived in Opasiskunk an Indian town that was at the confluence of the east and middle branches of White Clay Creek. This town was quite large and covered several acres. Archeologists have found evidence that Opasiskunk was inhabited from the Archaic Period until the early 18th century.

Colonial times

There are several buildings from the early colonial era still standing in the vicinity of White Clay Creek Preserve. The Yeatman Mill House was once the hub of a prosperous milling and agriculture complex during the 18th and 19th centuries. The London Tract Baptist Meetinghouse was built in 1729. It is at the intersection of Sharpless and London Tract roads. Many of the area's earliest settlers are buried in the cemetery of the church.

Mason-Dixon Line

White Clay Creek Preserve borders the Mason-Dixon Line and Twelve-Mile Circle at the Pennsylvania border with Delaware and Maryland. The line was established to end a protracted boundary dispute between the British colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania, in 1750. Monuments marking points along the border line and arc can be seen at White Clay Creek Preserve.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/whiteclaycreek.aspx
title = White Clay Creek Preserve (Pennsylvania)
accessdate = 2006-12-10
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

Recreation

White Clay Creek Preserve is the only state park in Pennsylvania designated as a preserve. This designation has kept development to a minimum.

* Hunting - The park is open to white-tailed deer hunting only, on about convert|1220|acre|km2|2.

* Fishing - White Clay Creek is stocked with trout several times a year by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The middle branch and east branch of the creek are also open to fishing.

* Hiking - A convert|3|mi|0 hiking trail runs the length of the northern part of the park and connects with trails in White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.

* Cycling - There are two trails, Peltier and New Peltier trails, that are designated for biking. Roads in and surrounding the park are also open to biking.

* Horseback riding - There is an convert|8|mi|0 trail for recreational horseback riding at White Clay Creek Preserve.

* Cross-country skiing - All trails and fields of the park are open to cross-country skiing during the winter months.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|0 of White Clay Creek Preserve: [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/region_philadelphia.aspx
title = Map Reference for White Clay Creek Preserve
accessdate = 2006-12-10
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources] [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/chester_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Chester County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows White Clay Creek Preserve"] cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation"
publisher = Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-23]
*Bellevue State Park (Delaware)
*Brandywine Creek State Park (Delaware)
*Elk Neck State Park (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}

References

External links

*