White Clay Creek Preserve
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- For the Delaware State Park, see White Clay Creek State Park.
| White Clay Creek Preserve, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Newark, Delaware |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 1,255 acres (5.08km²) |
| Established: | 1984 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
White Clay Creek Preserve is a Pennsylvania State Park along the valley of White Clay Creek 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 3,300 acres (13.35 sq km) for the adjoining White Clay Creek State Park to the state of Delaware. White Clay Creek Preserve is 3 miles (4.83km) north of Newark on Pennsylvania Route 896.
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[edit] History
[edit] 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.
[edit] Colonial times
There are several buildings from the early colonial era still standing in the vicinty 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 areas earliest settlers are buried in the cemetery of the church.
[edit] Mason-Dixon Line
White Clay Creek Preserve borders the Mason-Dixon Line at the Pennsylvania border with Delaware and very near Maryland. The line was established to end a boundary dispute between the British colonies of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware in 1750. Monuments to the line can be seen at White Clay Creek Preserve.
[edit] 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 1,220 acres.
- 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 3 mile (4.83 km) hiking trail runs the length of the northern part of the park and connects with trails in White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.
- Bicycling - 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 8 mile (12.87 km) 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.
[edit] Nearby state parks
- White Clay Creek State Park (Delaware)
- Ridley Creek State Park
- Marsh Creek State Park
- Brandywine Creek State Park (Delaware)
[edit] References
- White Clay Creek Preserve (Pennsylvania). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- Map Reference for White Clay Creek Preserve. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- Latitude and Longitude from Topozone. Topozone.com.
