Knapp Creek (West Virginia)

Knapp Creek
Map
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyPocahontas
Physical characteristics
SourceAllegheny Mountain
 • locationPocahontas County, WV
 • coordinates38°16′52″N 79°47′30″W / 38.28111°N 79.79167°W / 38.28111; -79.79167
 • elevation3,618 ft (1,103 m)[1]
MouthGreenbrier River[2]
 • location
Marlinton, WV
 • coordinates
38°13′01″N 80°06′01″W / 38.21694°N 80.10028°W / 38.21694; -80.10028
 • elevation
2,113 ft (644 m)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftLaurel Creek, Cummings Creek

Knapp Creek is a tributary stream of the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Its source is east of the community of Frost on Allegheny Mountain. From its headwaters, Knapp Creek slowly flows down through farmland until its confluence with Laurel Creek at Minnehaha Springs. Downstream from the confluence of the two streams, Knapp Creek flows through Huntersville. Six miles from Huntersville, Knapp Creek empties into the Greenbrier River outside Marlinton.

Knapp Creek is home to the Candy Darter, Etheostoma osburni (Finescale saddled darter) a brilliantly colored, small member of the perch family sensitive to sediment.[3]

The creek was named after Knapp Gregory, an early settler.[4]

The forest ecology of Knapp Creek at the turn of the century is described in W. E. Blackhurst's book, Riders of the Flood, and in the theatrical version of the book for the town of Ronceverte's Outdoor Amphitheatre in September.Riders of the Flood In the book and the play, Mrs. Knapp, of the family who gave the creek its name, offers shelter to the young protagonist passing through the region.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Knapp Creek Source". Elevation Query. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  2. ^ "Knapp Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1980-06-27. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2009-04-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 354.