Paint Creek State Park
Encyclopedia
Paint Creek State Park is a state park
located in the Highland
and Ross
counties of the U.S. state
of Ohio
. The park contains a campground and a lake
, created by the damming of Paint Creek
. Paint Creek State Park was created in 1972.
The Highlands Sanctuary
, a private nature preserve, is contiguous with the park.
The underlying geology of the park is limestone, and significant limestone bluffs may be seen -- and hiked to -- just below the dam. The bluffs feature an outstanding colony of the smooth cliffbrake, Pellaea glabella
.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in the Highland
Highland County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 40,875 people, 15,587 households, and 11,394 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 17,583 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
and Ross
Ross County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families residing in the county. The population density was 106 people per square mile . There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
counties of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. The park contains a campground and a lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
, created by the damming of Paint Creek
Paint Creek
Paint Creek may refer to:*Paint Creek *Paint Creek *Paint Creek *Paint Creek *Paint Creek, Texas...
. Paint Creek State Park was created in 1972.
The Highlands Sanctuary
Highlands Sanctuary
Highlands Sanctuary, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that is seeking to build a major chain of nature preserves in south-central Ohio, on the western fringe of the Allegheny Plateau, known as the Arc of Appalachia in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy...
, a private nature preserve, is contiguous with the park.
The underlying geology of the park is limestone, and significant limestone bluffs may be seen -- and hiked to -- just below the dam. The bluffs feature an outstanding colony of the smooth cliffbrake, Pellaea glabella
Pellaea glabella
Pellaea glabella is the smooth cliffbrake. For much of pteridological history, it was regarded as a reduced form or variety of Pellaea atropurpurea. P. glabella is known to exist in two cryptic species, one diploid and one tetraploid. The diploid reproduces sexually, while the tetraploid is...
.