McElroy Creek
McElroy Creek in Shirley
A map of McElroy Creek and its watershed
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountiesDoddridge, Tyler
Physical characteristics
SourceRobinson Fork
 • locationDoddridge County, northwest of Salem
 • coordinates39°18′23″N 80°35′16″W / 39.3064755°N 80.5878753°W / 39.3064755; -80.5878753[1]
 • length10 miles (16 km)
 • elevation1,153 ft (351 m)[2]
2nd sourcePike Fork
 • locationDoddridge County, northeast of Sedalia
 • coordinates39°23′05″N 80°32′35″W / 39.3848083°N 80.5431503°W / 39.3848083; -80.5431503[3]
 • length5.8 miles (9.3 km)
 • elevation1,089 ft (332 m)[2]
Source confluence 
 • locationCenter Point, Doddridge County
 • coordinates39°23′21″N 80°38′13″W / 39.389251°N 80.6370432°W / 39.389251; -80.6370432[4]
 • elevation781 ft (238 m)[2]
MouthMiddle Island Creek
 • location
southwest of Tyler, Tyler County
 • coordinates
39°25′48″N 80°49′54″W / 39.4300801°N 80.8317721°W / 39.4300801; -80.8317721[4]
 • elevation
686 ft (209 m)[4]
Length22.1 mi (35.6 km)
Basin size106.2 sq mi (275 km2)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftFlint Run
 • rightTalkington Fork
Hydrologic Unit Code0503020103 (USGS)

McElroy Creek is a tributary of Middle Island Creek, 22.1 miles (35.6 km) long,[5] in northern West Virginia in the United States. Via Middle Island Creek and the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 106.2 square miles (275 km2)[6] in a rural region on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau.

Geography

McElroy Creek is formed near the unincorporated community of Center Point in northern Doddridge County by the confluence of two streams:

  • the Robinson Fork,[1] 10 miles (16 km) long,[5] which rises in Doddridge County approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km) northwest of the city of Salem and flows northward and northwestward, through Sedalia
  • the Pike Fork,[3] 5.8 miles (9.3 km) long,[5] which rises in Doddridge County approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) northeast of Sedalia and flows westward.

A short distance downstream of this confluence, it collects a third significant headwaters tributary, the Talkington Fork.

From Center Point, McElroy Creek flows generally westward into eastern Tyler County, through the unincorporated community of Ashley in Doddridge County and the unincorporated communities of Little Pittsburg and Shirley in Tyler County, collecting Flint Run, its largest tributary, on the boundary of Doddridge and Tyler Counties. It flows into Middle Island Creek from the east, a short distance southwest of the community of Tyler. The creek is paralleled by West Virginia Route 23 for most of its course.[7][8]

According to the Geographic Names Information System, the creek has also been known historically by the spelling "McElroys Creek."[4]

History

The earliest white settler on McElroy Creek — and its namesake — was John McElroy who was killed by Indians near where it discharges into Middle Island Creek. This was likely in the early 1790s, as the natives had effectively been expelled by 1795. The "Three Forks of McElroy Creek" (near present Center Point) were first settled in 1812 by brothers Joshua Allen (1787-1867) and Israel Allen (1792-1853).[9] This was then in District 19 of Harrison (later Doddridge) County. The district was renamed McClellan District after the American Civil War.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Robinson Fork (Feature ID #1545868)". Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  2. 1 2 3 The National Map elevation for GNIS source coordinates. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  3. 1 2 Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Pike Fork (Feature ID #1544848)". Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for McElroy Creek (Feature ID #1542995)". Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  5. 1 2 3 United States Environmental Protection Agency. "West Virginia, Little Muskingum-Middle Island Watershed". Archived from the original on 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  6. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset. Area data for McElroy Creek watershed, 10-digit Hydrologic Unit Code 0503020103. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2013-07-17
  7. ↑ The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 2013-07-17
  8. ↑ West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1997. p. 24. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
  9. ↑ Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 2; Chicago, Illinois: H. H. Hardesty, 1883. (Reprinted, Richwood: Comstock, Hardesty West Virginia Counties, 8 vols., 1973.)
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