Beaver River (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
The Beaver River is a tributary
of the Ohio River
in Western Pennsylvania
in the United States
with a length of approximately 21 mi (34 km). It flows through a historically important coal
-producing region north of Pittsburgh. The Beaver River is formed in Lawrence County
by the confluence of the Mahoning
and Shenango
rivers at a point approximately 3 mi (5 km) southwest of New Castle
. It flows generally south, past West Pittsburg
and Homewood
, roughly parallel to the border with the state of Ohio
. It receives Connoquenessing Creek
west of Ellwood City
and flows past Beaver Falls
and New Brighton
. It joins the Ohio at Beaver
and Rochester
(flowing between these two cities) at the downstream end of a sharp bend in the Ohio approximately 20 mi (32 km) northwest of (and downstream from) Pittsburgh. In the lower reaches near the Ohio River, the Beaver cuts through a gorge of underlying sandstone
.
, (1737–1789) a former brigadier general in the Continental Army, died from unknown causes on the Beaver River on November 17, 1789 as he was visiting the Connecticut Western Reserve
lands.
A letter written by Richard Butler, dated November 25, 1789, relates the circumstances of Parsons' death:
His body was recovered the next May, then temporarily buried on the banks of the river. But through a series of mishaps the site of the grave was lost. It has never been found.
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...
in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
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 length of approximately 21 mi (34 km). It flows through a historically important coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
-producing region north of Pittsburgh. The Beaver River is formed in Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle....
by the confluence of the Mahoning
Mahoning River
The Mahoning River is a river located in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It joins the Shenango River to form the Beaver River and is part of the Ohio River watershed.- Physical properties :...
and Shenango
Shenango River
The Shenango River is a principal tributary of the Beaver River, approximately 100 mi long, in western Pennsylvania in the United States. It also briefly flows through small portions of northeastern Ohio...
rivers at a point approximately 3 mi (5 km) southwest of New Castle
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
. It flows generally south, past West Pittsburg
West Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
West Pittsburg is an unincorporated community in southern Taylor Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Beaver River just 5 miles south of New Castle. Its main street is the north-south Pennsylvania Route 168, which crosses the river at the southern end of the community...
and Homewood
Homewood, Pennsylvania
Homewood is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 147 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Homewood is located at ....
, roughly parallel to the border with the state 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...
. It receives Connoquenessing Creek
Connoquenessing Creek
Connoquenessing Creek is a tributary of the Beaver River, approximately 50 mi long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States.-Course:...
west of Ellwood City
Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Ellwood City is a borough in Beaver and Lawrence counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ellwood City is 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles south by southeast of New Castle...
and flows past Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
and New Brighton
New Brighton, Pennsylvania
New Brighton is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Beaver River northwest of Pittsburgh. There are deposits of coal and clay in the vicinity. In the past, articles produced here included pottery, bricks, sewer pipe, glass, flour, twine, lead kegs,...
. It joins the Ohio at Beaver
Beaver, Pennsylvania
Beaver is a borough in and the county seat of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,775, having dropped from 5,641 in 1940....
and Rochester
Rochester, Pennsylvania
Rochester is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located northwest of Pittsburgh, it is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census....
(flowing between these two cities) at the downstream end of a sharp bend in the Ohio approximately 20 mi (32 km) northwest of (and downstream from) Pittsburgh. In the lower reaches near the Ohio River, the Beaver cuts through a gorge of underlying sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
.
The General vs. the river
Samuel Holden ParsonsSamuel Holden Parsons
Samuel Holden Parsons was an American lawyer, jurist, and military leader.Parsons was born in Lyme, Connecticut, the son of Jonathan Parsons and Phoebe Parsons...
, (1737–1789) a former brigadier general in the Continental Army, died from unknown causes on the Beaver River on November 17, 1789 as he was visiting the Connecticut Western Reserve
Connecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.-History:...
lands.
A letter written by Richard Butler, dated November 25, 1789, relates the circumstances of Parsons' death:
- “I am sorry to inform you that I have every reason to fear that our old friend, General Parsons, is no more. He left this place [Pittsburgh] in company with Captain Heart, (who is sent to explore the communication by way of the Beaver to Cuyahoga and the Lake), on the 5th instant, he had sent a man with his horses from the place where he had encamped the night before, and directed him to tell Lieut. McDowell, who commanded the Block House below the falls of Beaver, that he (General Parsons) would be there to dinner. A snow had fallen in the night which had retarded the progress of the man with the horses. At one place on the Beaver shore he saw where a canoe had landed, and a person got out to warm his feet by walking about, as he saw he had kicked against the trees and his tracks to the canoe again. The man did not get down till evening, but about noon the canoe, broken in pieces, came by the Block House, and some articles known to belong to General Parsons were taken up and others seen to pass. Lieut. McDowell has diligent search made for the body of the General, but made no discovery.”
His body was recovered the next May, then temporarily buried on the banks of the river. But through a series of mishaps the site of the grave was lost. It has never been found.
Communities along the river
Cities and towns along its watercourse include:- West Pittsburg, PennsylvaniaWest Pittsburg, PennsylvaniaWest Pittsburg is an unincorporated community in southern Taylor Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Beaver River just 5 miles south of New Castle. Its main street is the north-south Pennsylvania Route 168, which crosses the river at the southern end of the community...
- Wampum, PennsylvaniaWampum, PennsylvaniaWampum is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 678 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wampum is located at ....
- Koppel, PennsylvaniaKoppel, PennsylvaniaKoppel is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 856 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Koppel is located at ....
- Homewood, PennsylvaniaHomewood, PennsylvaniaHomewood is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 147 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Homewood is located at ....
- Beaver Falls, PennsylvaniaBeaver Falls, PennsylvaniaBeaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
- Eastvale, PennsylvaniaEastvale, PennsylvaniaEastvale is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 293 at the 2000 census.-History:Originally known as "Fetterman," Eastvale was incorporated from parts of North Sewickley and Pulaski townships on July 1, 1892. The population was 256 at the 1900 census, the...
- New Brighton, PennsylvaniaNew Brighton, PennsylvaniaNew Brighton is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Beaver River northwest of Pittsburgh. There are deposits of coal and clay in the vicinity. In the past, articles produced here included pottery, bricks, sewer pipe, glass, flour, twine, lead kegs,...
- Fallston, PennsylvaniaFallston, PennsylvaniaFallston is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fallston is located at ....
- Rochester, PennsylvaniaRochester, PennsylvaniaRochester is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located northwest of Pittsburgh, it is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census....
- Bridgewater, PennsylvaniaBridgewater, PennsylvaniaBridgewater is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 739 at the 2000 census. It is best known as the home of the Bruster's Ice Cream chain. A few scenes in the 1986 movie Gung Ho were also shot in Bridgewater...