Talk:Fall line
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Why would Boston be on a fall line? Wouldn't it have to be an area further up the Charles River? Jolomo 14:43, 15 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Not clear from other sources whether Trenton or Philadelphia would be the Fall Line city for the Delaware. Seems to depend on whether the distinction refers to the point where the river ceases to be navigable, or where it provides water power.
Two major East Coast rivers that are missing from this list are the Connecticut and the Susquehanna. I want to say that Hartford is situated at the fall line for the Connecticut, but I'm not sure; I won't even hazard a guess for the Susquehanna. Izzycat 05:58, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
the peidmontis
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[edit] The Fall Line vs A Fall Line
The article begins by pointing out the distinction between the general concept of a fall line and "the" Fall Line of the United States that separates the coastal plain from the piedmont. Then the text describes "the" fall line, ending with a list of cities. The list is introduced with the sentence: "Cities along the fall line include, from north to south:" So it sounds to me like this is not merely a list of cities on "a" fall line in the generic sense, but "the" fall line between the piedmont and the coastal plain. The first cities, in New England, Lowell, MA, Pawtucket, RI, and Troy, NY don't satisfy any definition of the fall line that I have heard. I'm skeptical about the next set of cities. Then there is Conowingo Dam, which isn't even a city even though this is a list of cities.
The cities from Washington DC southward all sound fine to me. The rest... can someone provide a source? I'm tempted to delete as least the New England ones. "The" Fall Line, as described in the article, is something quite specific, not just any river that has rapids or a waterfall as it nears the coast.. Pfly 22:43, 30 September 2006 (UTC)
- You're right, I think the term is more meaningful and historically noteworthy for the mid-atlantic states (and to a lesser extent Ga/SC) than the others. Maybe the article should do a better job of explaining the importance of the fall line (ie how geography impacted development and commerce). It's fine with me if you pare down the list. --Alcuin 02:41, 1 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Split article
Seems it would be appropriate to split the article into "Fall line (geography)" and "Fall line (skiing)". Any objections? Gjs238 04:51, 2 November 2006 (UTC)
- Go for it --Alcuin 14:36, 2 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Baltimore
This city was built at the mouth of the Jones Falls. Baltimore is a special case in that it was built along the fall line not along a river, but a small tributary, emptying into a harbor. The closest river is the Patapsco, but its fall line is located at Elkridge at the Howard/Baltimore county border.
[edit] Texas and other countries
Fall lines are found in many areas of the world. There are very few fall line cities on the US Pacific coast due to its ruggedness and lack of year-round rivers in the Los Angeles Basin, but there are small cities in Texas on the Gulf Coast fault line and many more in other countries. I'd like to see some up here and will add as I find any. The research won't be easy at all. Heff01 02:53, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
