Mill Creek (White Clay Creek)
Encyclopedia
Mill Creek is a 9.6 miles (15.4 km) stream principally located in northern New Castle County, Delaware
, a tributary of the White Clay Creek
. It takes its name the large number of mills (mostly gristmill
s and sawmill
s) located along it during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
It originates a short distance over the state line near Kaolin, Pennsylvania
and flows east, then south into Delaware. It passes under the Lancaster Pike
at Hockessin
, where Swift Memorial Park has been laid out along the stream between Old Lancaster Pike and the Wilmington and Western Railroad tracks. Leaving Hockessin, the stream turns slightly to the west, and then sharply towards the southeast to flow through a deep, wooded gorge between suburban developments. Further down the gorge, Mill Creek passes through Limestone Hills Park, and then forms the western boundary of the DelCastle Recreation Area. Continuing south and passing under Limestone Road, the hills on either side diminish in height, and development increases, although the steep sides have protected the creek from direct encroachment. Passing through the neighborhood known as "Milltown", Lindell Park lies along the creek between Milltown Road and Kirkwood Highway. Below Kirkwood Highway, the valley begins to open, and the creek skirts Delaware Park
and passes under the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike
just before it empties into the White Clay.
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, a tributary of the White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
. It takes its name the large number of mills (mostly 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 :...
s 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....
s) located along it during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
It originates a short distance over the state line near Kaolin, 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...
and flows east, then south into Delaware. It passes under the Lancaster Pike
Delaware Route 41
Delaware Route 41 is a highway in northwestern New Castle County. Its northern terminus is the Pennsylvania state line just north of Hockessin, and it continues on as Pennsylvania Route 41 to Gap. Its southern terminus is the on-ramp to Delaware Route 141 southbound...
at Hockessin
Hockessin, Delaware
Hockessin is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 12,902 at the 2000 census. The place name may be derived from the Lenape word "hòkèsa" meaning "pieces of bark" or from a misspelling of "occasion," as pronounced by the Quakers who settled...
, where Swift Memorial Park has been laid out along the stream between Old Lancaster Pike and the Wilmington and Western Railroad tracks. Leaving Hockessin, the stream turns slightly to the west, and then sharply towards the southeast to flow through a deep, wooded gorge between suburban developments. Further down the gorge, Mill Creek passes through Limestone Hills Park, and then forms the western boundary of the DelCastle Recreation Area. Continuing south and passing under Limestone Road, the hills on either side diminish in height, and development increases, although the steep sides have protected the creek from direct encroachment. Passing through the neighborhood known as "Milltown", Lindell Park lies along the creek between Milltown Road and Kirkwood Highway. Below Kirkwood Highway, the valley begins to open, and the creek skirts Delaware Park
Delaware Park (race track)
Delaware Park is an American horse racing track, casino, and golf course in Stanton, Delaware. It is located just outside the city of Wilmington, and about thirty miles from Philadelphia.-Thoroughbred racing:...
and passes under the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike
Delaware Route 4
Delaware Route 4 is a state highway in New Castle County, Delaware. The route runs from Delaware Route 2 and Delaware Route 896 in Newark east to Delaware Route 48 in downtown Wilmington. What is now DE 4 was originally a county road that was paved in the 1930s...
just before it empties into the White Clay.
See also
- Mill Creek HundredMill Creek HundredMill Creek Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or...
, which takes its name from the creek - List of rivers of Pennsylvania