Chillisquaque Creek
Encyclopedia
Chillisquaque Creek is a 20.2 miles (32.5 km) tributary
of the West Branch Susquehanna River
in Columbia
, Montour
and Northumberland
counties, Pennsylvania
in the United States
.
A part of the Chesapeake Bay
drainage basin, the Chillisquaque Creek watershed
drains parts of four counties (the three mentioned and Lycoming County
). The creek flows southwest in a valley of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
, through sandstone, shale, and limestone.
As of 2000, the creek and its 112 square miles (290 km²) watershed are rural, with 67.9% of the watershed given to agriculture and 29.5% covered by forest and a population of 6,620.
Chililisuagi, meaning "place of the snow birds". There was a Shawnee
village near the mouth of the creek from about 1728, and it is mentioned in the journals of several early colonial visitors to the area. It is Shallyschohking in the earliest record of the creek and village, a 1732 petition from the Shawnee to the Province of Pennsylvania
government. In 1737 Conrad Weiser
wrote it as Zilly-squachne as he crossed the creek and traveled through the village on his way north to the Iroquois
capital Onondaga
. In 1754 it was Chelisquaqua, and Scull's map of 1759 has Chillisquaquy. By 1770 (when the first white settlers arrived) another Scull map has the current name. All these are variations of "Chalakatha", one of the five Shawnee tribal bands and the name of the village where that band resided, usually rendered in English as "Chillicothe"
.
The name "Chillisquaque Creek" is unique in the USGS
Geographic Names Information System
and on its maps of the United States. Today the creek has given its name to East Chillisquaque
and West Chillisquaque
townships, as well as the unincorporated hamlet of Chillisquaque in the latter township, all in Northumberland County. The creek's major tributaries include the County Line Branch Chillisquaque Creek, as well as the East, Middle, and West Branches.
, Northumberland County is 105 miles (169 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 170 miles (274 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh.
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 West Branch Susquehanna River
West Branch Susquehanna River
The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch...
in Columbia
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile...
, Montour
Montour County, Pennsylvania
Montour County is located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, the county's population was 18,267. Its county seat is Danville. It is named for Andrew Montour, a prominent métis interpreter who served with George Washington during the French and Indian War. The county is part of the...
and Northumberland
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
counties, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
A part of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
drainage basin, the Chillisquaque Creek watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
drains parts of four counties (the three mentioned and Lycoming County
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
). The creek flows southwest in a valley of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
, through sandstone, shale, and limestone.
As of 2000, the creek and its 112 square miles (290 km²) watershed are rural, with 67.9% of the watershed given to agriculture and 29.5% covered by forest and a population of 6,620.
Name
According to Donehoo, "Chillisquaque" is a corruption of the Shawnee nameShawnee language
The Shawnee language is a Central Algonquian language spoken in parts of central and northeastern Oklahoma by only around 200 Shawnee, making it an endangered language. It was originally spoken in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania...
Chililisuagi, meaning "place of the snow birds". There was a Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
village near the mouth of the creek from about 1728, and it is mentioned in the journals of several early colonial visitors to the area. It is Shallyschohking in the earliest record of the creek and village, a 1732 petition from the Shawnee to the Province of Pennsylvania
Province of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
government. In 1737 Conrad Weiser
Conrad Weiser
Weiser's colonial service began in 1731. The Iroquois sent Shikellamy, an Oneida chief, as an emissary to other tribes and the British. Shikellamy lived on the Susquehanna River at Shamokin village, near present-day Sunbury, Pennsylvania. An oral tradition holds that Weiser met Shikellamy while...
wrote it as Zilly-squachne as he crossed the creek and traveled through the village on his way north to the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
capital Onondaga
Onondaga (village)
Onondaga was a village that served as the capital of the Iroquois League and the primary settlement of the Onondaga nation. It was the meeting place of the Iroquois Grand Council....
. In 1754 it was Chelisquaqua, and Scull's map of 1759 has Chillisquaquy. By 1770 (when the first white settlers arrived) another Scull map has the current name. All these are variations of "Chalakatha", one of the five Shawnee tribal bands and the name of the village where that band resided, usually rendered in English as "Chillicothe"
Chalahgawtha
Chalahgawtha was the name of one of the five divisions of the Shawnee, a Native American people, during the 18th century, as well as the name of the principal village of the division. The other four divisions were the Mekoche, Kispoko, Pekowi, and Hathawekela...
.
The name "Chillisquaque Creek" is unique in the USGS
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
and on its maps of the United States. Today the creek has given its name to East Chillisquaque
East Chillisquaque Township, Pennsylvania
East Chillisquaque Township is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 664 in the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land....
and West Chillisquaque
West Chillisquaque Township, Pennsylvania
West Chillisquaque Township is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,846 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
townships, as well as the unincorporated hamlet of Chillisquaque in the latter township, all in Northumberland County. The creek's major tributaries include the County Line Branch Chillisquaque Creek, as well as the East, Middle, and West Branches.
Course
As the crow fliesAs the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
, Northumberland County is 105 miles (169 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 170 miles (274 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh.