Little Neshaminy Creek

Little Neshaminy Creek
Stone bridge that once carried Pennsylvania Route 152 over the Little Neshaminy Creek
Little Neshaminy Creek
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Montgomery, Bucks
Township	Horsham Montgomery Warrington Warminster Warwick Northampton
Physical characteristics
Main source	450 feet (140 m) 40°13′48″N 75°14′49″W / 40.23000°N 75.24694°W / 40.23000; -75.24694
River mouth	125 feet (38 m) 40°15′21″N 75°1′59″W / 40.25583°N 75.03306°W / 40.25583; -75.03306Coordinates: 40°15′21″N 75°1′59″W / 40.25583°N 75.03306°W / 40.25583; -75.03306
Length	15.5 miles (24.9 km)
Basin features
Progression	Little Neshaminy Creek → Neshaminy Creek → Delaware River → Delaware Bay
River system	Delaware River
Basin size	43 square miles (110 km2)
Landmarks	Windlestrae Park Nikesite Park Lower Nike Park Bradford Reservoir Kemper Park Barness Park
Tributaries	Right: Park Creek
Waterbodies	Bradford Reservoir
Slope	20.97 feet per mile (3.972 m/km)

Little Neshaminy Creek is a tributary of the Neshaminy Creek, part of the Delaware River Watershed rising near the intersection of U.S. Route 202 and Pennsylvania Route 309 near Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania and meets its confluence with Neshaminy Creek at the Neshaminy's 24.10 River mile.

History

There were a number of mills erected on the Little Neshaminy including the Old Hartsville Mill and the Upper and Lower Mearns' Mills. In 1942 there were ten bridges across the creek.^[1]

Statistics

The watershed of the Little Neshaminy Creek is 43 square miles (110 km²), passing through surburban residential and commercial areas, as well as four public parks in Montgomery County, and Bucks County. The Geographic Name Information System I.D. is 1179624,^[2] U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey I.D. is 02638.^[3]

Course

Rising in Montgomery Township the Little Neshaminy Creek runs generally east for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) passing through Windlestrae Park on the way where it meets unnamed tributary from the left, and another unnamed tributary from the right to the east of the park, then it runs southeast for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) touching Nike Park, then the Bradford Reservoir Recreation Area and dam where it meets another tributary from the right in the reservoir and meets Park Creek from the right below the reservoir at the Little Neshaminy's 6.32 river mile. Finally, it runs generally east for about 6.25 miles (10.06 km) picking up one tributary from the left and five on the right where it meets its confluence at the Neshaminy Creek's 24.10 River mile.^[4]

Geology

• Appalachian Highlands Division
  • Piedmont Province
    • Gettysburg Newark Lowland Section
      • Lockatong Formation

The Little Neshaminy lies entirely within the Lockatong geologic formation, consisting of argillite, shale, limestone, and calcareous shale.^[5]

Named tributaries

• Park Creek

Municipalities

• Bucks County
  • Northampton Township
  • Warwick Township
  • Warminster Township
  • Warrington Township
• Montgomery County
  • Horsham Township
  • Montgomery Township

Crossings and bridges

See also

• List of rivers of Pennsylvania
• List of rivers of the United States
• List of Delaware River tributaries

References