Evitts Creek

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Approximately a mile upstream of the confluence with the Potomac River
Approximately a mile upstream of the confluence with the Potomac River

Evitts Creek is a tributary stream of the North Branch Potomac River in the U.S. states of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The confluence of Evitts Creek and the North Branch Potomac River is located two miles east of Cumberland, Maryland.

Evitts Creek is 30 miles long. It flows from Southern Pennsylvania through Northwestern Maryland. The stream rises in central Bedford County, Pennsylvania and flows southwest between Evitts Mountain ridge and Wills Mountain ridge, through the Koon and Gordon Reservoirs and into the North Branch Potomac River southeast of Cumberland, Maryland at 39°55'N 78°36'W.

Evitts Creek and Evitts Mountain are named in honor of an early pioneer in Allegany County who in the 1780s decided to contemplate his bachlorhood from the isolated mountain top of what is today Evitts Mountain, far from the comforts of society. At the top of the 500 foot Evitts Mountain lies what is supposedly his old homestead, from which he would return by the same route every day hiking a steep 3.5 mile trail called Evitts Trail. Evitts Creek runs at the base of the Mountain in what is today Rocky Gap State Park.

The water supply of Cumberland, Maryland is provided by Evitts Creek.

Brook trout are native to Evitts Creek as well as the surrounding area, but current populations are limited to nonexistent. Trout are stocked annually in both Pennsylvania and Maryland. Bass, catfish, and bluegill also inhabit the creek.

Several historical incidents have been recorded along Evitts Creek. For Instance:

  • In colonial day, Frazier's Plantation lay just upstream from Evitts Creek, Jane Frazier was carried west by Indians in 1755, escaping and making her way back a year later.
  • At Evitts Creek, Union forces turned back Confederate cavalry in the battle of Folck's Mill in August 1864, at the conclusion of the raid that burned Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. from here the Confederates retreated to Oldtown and crossed the river after another skirmish.

[edit] See also

Potomac River system
Cities and towns | Bridges | Islands | Tributaries | Variant names
District of Columbia | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Virginia | West Virginia
Streams shown as: Major tributaries • subtributaries • (subsubtributaries) • (subsubsubtributaries)

Coordinates: 39°55′N 78°36′W / 39.917, -78.6