Middle Island Creek
Encyclopedia
Middle Island Creek is a river
, 77 miles (124 km) long, in northwestern West Virginia
, USA. It is a tributary
of the Ohio River
, draining an area of 565 square miles (1,463 km²) on the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau
. It is the longest stream in the state bearing the name of "creek" and is named for Middle Island
, located in the Ohio River at its mouth.
in Doddridge County
by the confluence
of Meathouse Fork and Buckeye Creek. It flows generally northwestwardly in a highly meander
ing course through Doddridge and Tyler Counties, past the towns of West Union
and Middlebourne
. From Middlebourne the creek turns to the southwest and flows roughly parallel to the Ohio River (excepting its numerous bends) as it enters Pleasants County
, where it joins the Ohio in St. Marys
. The lowermost 12 miles (19 km) of the creek are inundated by backup from the Willow Island Locks and Dam downstream on the Ohio River.
Middle Island Creek's most extreme meander forms a peninsula
known as "the Jug
," located upstream of Middlebourne. The creek rounds a 7 mile (11 km) bend only to return to within 100 feet (30 m) of itself. Sometime prior to 1800, a settler named George Gregg had a mill race
carved across the narrow point of the peninsula and harnessed the resulting hydropower
for a gristmill
and sawmill
. These were destroyed by a flood in 1852, while later mills were subsequently built and also washed away by floods. In 1947 the West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed a low water bridge
which substantially dammed the cut-through and restored a steady flow to the bend of the creek. The land encircled by the creek's loop is operated as a Wildlife Management Area by the state of West Virginia.
, Middle Island Creek has also been known historically as:
and gas
extraction activities in the late 19th century and 20th century. An oil boom
began in the region in the 1860s. It peaked in Middlebourne in the 1890s, and an oil refinery
operated in St. Marys between 1914 and 1987. Glass- and carbon-manufacturing facilities were built in West Union and Smithburg in the early 20th century, owing to the availability of natural gas.
fishing
; for many years in the 20th Century the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources harvested muskie eggs from the creek for use in its fish-stocking programs in streams elsewhere in the state. Other fish commonly found in the creek include spotted bass
, smallmouth bass
, rock bass
, various species of sunfish
, freshwater drum
, channel catfish
, and flathead catfish
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
, 77 miles (124 km) long, in northwestern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA. It is a tributary
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...
, draining an area of 565 square miles (1,463 km²) on the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
. It is the longest stream in the state bearing the name of "creek" and is named for Middle Island
Middle Island (West Virginia)
Middle Island is a bar island on the Ohio River at St. Marys in Pleasants County, West Virginia, USA.Middle Island lends its name to West Virginia's Middle Island Creek and lies at its confluence with "The Thoroughfare", a channel of the Ohio River that separates the island from the riverbank. A...
, located in the Ohio River at its mouth.
Course
Middle Island Creek is formed at the community of SmithburgSmithburg, West Virginia
Smithburg is an unincorporated community in Doddridge County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located along U.S. Route 50. Middle Island Creek, the longest river to be called a creek, is formed in Smithburg by the confluence of Meathouse Fork and Buckeye Creek. The North Bend Rail Trail...
in Doddridge County
Doddridge County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,403 people, 2,845 households, and 2,102 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 3,661 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
by the confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of Meathouse Fork and Buckeye Creek. It flows generally northwestwardly in a highly meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing course through Doddridge and Tyler Counties, past the towns of West Union
West Union, West Virginia
West Union, incorporated July 20, 1881, is a town in Doddridge County, West Virginia. The population was 806 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Doddridge County. The mayor is Robert Fetty as of 2011. The town is located along Middle Island Creek at the junction of U.S...
and Middlebourne
Middlebourne, West Virginia
Middlebourne is a town in Tyler County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 870 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and was established by an enactment of the Virginia General Assembly in 1813...
. From Middlebourne the creek turns to the southwest and flows roughly parallel to the Ohio River (excepting its numerous bends) as it enters Pleasants County
Pleasants County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,514 people, 2,887 households, and 2,136 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 3,214 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, where it joins the Ohio in St. Marys
St. Marys, West Virginia
St. Marys is a city in Pleasants County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 2,017 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pleasants County. St. Marys was established in 1849 by Alexander Creel, who is said to have had a vision of Mary while passing the townsite by boat...
. The lowermost 12 miles (19 km) of the creek are inundated by backup from the Willow Island Locks and Dam downstream on the Ohio River.
The Jug
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
known as "the Jug
The Jug
The Jug — formerly known as the Jug Handle — is a jug-shaped island formed by a horseshoe bend on Middle Island Creek near Middlebourne in Tyler County, West Virginia...
," located upstream of Middlebourne. The creek rounds a 7 mile (11 km) bend only to return to within 100 feet (30 m) of itself. Sometime prior to 1800, a settler named George Gregg had a mill race
Mill race
A mill race, raceway or mill lade is the current or channel of a stream, especially one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy...
carved across the narrow point of the peninsula and harnessed the resulting hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
for a gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
and sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
. These were destroyed by a flood in 1852, while later mills were subsequently built and also washed away by floods. In 1947 the West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed a low water bridge
Low water crossing
A low water crossing provides a bridge when water flow is low. Under high flow conditions, water runs over the roadway and precludes vehicular traffic...
which substantially dammed the cut-through and restored a steady flow to the bend of the creek. The land encircled by the creek's loop is operated as a Wildlife Management Area by the state of West Virginia.
Variant names
According to sources gathered by the Geographic Names Information SystemGeographic 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...
, Middle Island Creek has also been known historically as:
- Be-Van-Soss Creek of the Indians
- Be-van-Soss Creek of the Indians
- Be-van-soss
- Be-yan-soss
- Bulls Creek
- By-En-Soss Creek
- By-en-Soss Creek
- By-en-soss
- Louisa River
Economy
The creek's environs were the site of substantial oilPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
extraction activities in the late 19th century and 20th century. An oil boom
Boom and bust
A credit boom-bust cycle is an episode characterized by a sustained increase in several economics indicators followed by a sharp and rapid contraction. Commonly the boom is driven by a rapid expansion of credit to the private sector accompanied with rising prices of commodities and stock market index...
began in the region in the 1860s. It peaked in Middlebourne in the 1890s, and an oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
operated in St. Marys between 1914 and 1987. Glass- and carbon-manufacturing facilities were built in West Union and Smithburg in the early 20th century, owing to the availability of natural gas.
Fish life
Throughout its course Middle Island Creek is a slow-moving, low-gradient stream. It is considered one of the best streams in the state for muskellungeMuskellunge
A muskellunge , also known as a muskelunge, muscallonge, milliganong, or maskinonge , is a large, relatively uncommon freshwater fish of North America. Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae...
fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
; for many years in the 20th Century the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources harvested muskie eggs from the creek for use in its fish-stocking programs in streams elsewhere in the state. Other fish commonly found in the creek include spotted bass
Spotted bass
The Spotted Bass , also called "Spotty", "Leeman", or "Spots" in various fishing communities, is a species of freshwater fish sunfish family of order Perciformes. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across theGulf States, from central Texas through the Florida...
, smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, rock bass
Rock bass
The rock bass , also known as the rock perch, goggle-eye, or red eye is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. They are similar in appearance to smallmouth bass but are usually quite a bit smaller...
, various species of sunfish
Centrarchidae
The sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
, freshwater drum
Freshwater Drum
-Introduction:The freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens, is a fish endemic to North and Central America. It is the only species in the genus Aplodinotus. The Freshwater drum is a member of the family Sciaenidae, and is the only member of the species that inhabits freshwater for its entire life...
, channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
, and flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
The flathead catfish , also called the yellow cat, opelousas, and shovelhead cat, are large North American freshwater catfish. This is the only species of the genus Pylodictis...
.