Tilhance Creek
Encyclopedia
Tilhance Creek is a 10.4 miles (16.7 km) tributary
stream
of Back Creek
in Berkeley County
of West Virginia
's Eastern Panhandle.
on the eastern flank of Third Hill Mountain
(2172 feet/662 m) in western Berkeley County, West Virginia. From its headwaters, the stream trickles eastward down the mountain's forested slope where it is dammed to create a small farm lake. From the impoundment, Tilhance Creek meanders to the north and is joined by a series of other spring-fed streams flowing off Third Hill Mountain. Tilhance Creek then turns again to the east near the community of Baxter
. The stream meanders northward flowing along the western flank of Ferrell Ridge (715 feet/218 m). It is at this location that Tilhance Creek is joined by Whites Run and a small unnamed stream whose source lies near Hedgesville Church. Shortly before the stream reaches West Virginia Route 9, it is joined by Higgins Run and splits to form a small island. After passing under WV 9, Tilhance Creek flows by the community of Johnsontown
(also known as Soho). From Johnsontown, Tilhance Creek meanders through a series of rolling hills until its confluence
with Back Creek near Allensville
.
once in February and once every two weeks from March through May by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
from near Johnsontown at the WV 9 bridge.
, Tilhance Creek has been known by a number of names throughout its history. The Board on Geographic Names officially decided upon Tilhance Creek as the stream's name in 1901.
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...
stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
of Back Creek
Back Creek (Potomac River)
Back Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River that flows north from Frederick County, Virginia, to Berkeley County in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Back Creek originates along Frederick County's border with Hampshire County, West Virginia, at Farmer's Gap in the Great North Mountain. Its...
in Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
of 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...
's Eastern Panhandle.
Headwaters and course
Tilhance Creek's source is a springSpring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
on the eastern flank of Third Hill Mountain
Third Hill Mountain
Third Hill Mountain is located in Berkeley County, West Virginia in the Eastern Panhandle. Third Hill Mountain reaches its highest elevation of 2,172 feet above sea-level southeast of the "Locks-of-the-Mountain" where it "locks" with Sleepy Creek Mountain.-Adjacent area:Together with Sleepy Creek...
(2172 feet/662 m) in western Berkeley County, West Virginia. From its headwaters, the stream trickles eastward down the mountain's forested slope where it is dammed to create a small farm lake. From the impoundment, Tilhance Creek meanders to the north and is joined by a series of other spring-fed streams flowing off Third Hill Mountain. Tilhance Creek then turns again to the east near the community of Baxter
Baxter, Berkeley County, West Virginia
Baxter is an unincorporated community in Berkeley County, West Virginia, USA. The community lies near Tilhance Creek....
. The stream meanders northward flowing along the western flank of Ferrell Ridge (715 feet/218 m). It is at this location that Tilhance Creek is joined by Whites Run and a small unnamed stream whose source lies near Hedgesville Church. Shortly before the stream reaches West Virginia Route 9, it is joined by Higgins Run and splits to form a small island. After passing under WV 9, Tilhance Creek flows by the community of Johnsontown
Johnsontown, Berkeley County, West Virginia
Johnsontown is an unincorporated town at the junction of West Virginia Route 9 and Camp Frame Road along Tilhance Creek in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The town was originally named Soho by settlers after Soho in London's West End. Its name was later changed to Johnstontown and finally...
(also known as Soho). From Johnsontown, Tilhance Creek meanders through a series of rolling hills until its confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with Back Creek near Allensville
Allensville, West Virginia
Allensville is an unincorporated hamlet in Berkeley County in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. It is located on Allensville Road to the east of Back Creek shortly before its confluence with the Potomac River. The claypits in North Mountain along the old Baltimore and Ohio...
.
Fishing
Tilhance Creek is stocked with troutTrout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
once in February and once every two weeks from March through May by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
from near Johnsontown at the WV 9 bridge.
Variant names
According to 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...
, Tilhance Creek has been known by a number of names throughout its history. The Board on Geographic Names officially decided upon Tilhance Creek as the stream's name in 1901.
- Tilahanchee Creek
- Tilchances Branch
- Tilchancos Creek
- Tilehance Creek
- Tilhance Branch
- Tillehances Creek