Margaret Creek Explained

Margaret Creek is a stream and state waterway[1] in Athens and Meigs Counties, Ohio. Along with Monday, Sunday, and Federal Creeks, Margaret Creek is a principal tributary to the Hocking River.[2] [3] The confluence with the Hocking River is on the west side of the city of Athens, Ohio.[4] The stream was named after Margaret Snowden, the first white woman settler in Athens County.[5] [6]

History

During the period of 1–1000 AD, population shifts occurred toward the riverine and flood plain resources at Margaret Creek.[7] The Allen Site on a terrace above Margaret Creek was the location of a Late Prehistoric period (AD 600-1300) sequence of villages including residential areas either side of the creek and a community pottery production locus. Radiocarbon dating of wood charcoal and botanical materials identified the settlement as predominantly associated with the late Late Woodland or emergent Fort Ancient culture. Maize remains indicated a substantially agricultural economy and diet.[8] [9]

A number of emigrants arrived in Athens and in Alexander township in 1798. Among them were Joseph and Margaret Snowden; the creek was named in her honor.[10] Another early pioneer of the Midwest was Isaac Coe (1801–1873) who farmed next to Margaret Creek for a number of years.[11] John and Moses Hewitt were noted for poling "broadhorns" up the Hocking River to Margaret Creek.[12] In 1800, John Hewitt built the first watermill on Margaret's Creek, about a mile above its mouth.[13]

In 1966, the Margaret's Creek Watershed Conservancy District and the Division of Wildlife began acquiring land to build a dam in the mid-1960s. It was constructed between 1967 and 1968.[14] The Margaret Creek Conservancy District Reservoir is located at 39.2508°N -82.1234°W. The Margaret Creek Structure No. 6 was completed in 1967. Owned by Hocking Conservancy District, it is purposed for flood control and recreation.[15] Lake Snowden was created in 1970 after a branch of Margaret Creek was dammed for flood control.[16] In addition to Lake Snowden, the Margaret Creek Conservancy lakes include Meeks Lake, Fox Lake, and two others.[17]

Geography

The early geographic history of the region suggests that the Athens basin drained from the Athens col into the valley at the mouth of Margaret Creek. The erosion of a large portion of the Athens Valley was probably due to river flow attempting to follow a line down to the Margaret Creek Valley. The Albany Valley followed southward up the Margaret Creek Valley. The Albany Valley is now the headwater district for the Margaret Creek drainage that itself flows to the Hocking.[18]

Margaret Creek is approximately in width.[19] It drains the eastern and northeastern sections of Lee Township.[20]

There are few rock outcrops, and the hillsides are characterized by gentle slopes that are covered with a thick soil mantle.[21] The minerals hematite and siderite are found at Margaret Creek.[22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Ohio EPA hits local trailer park owner with complaint. March 2, 2009. The Athens News. 27 February 2011.
  2. Book: Jenkins, Warren. The Ohio gazetteer, and traveler's guide: containing a description of the several towns, townships and counties, with their water courses, roads, improvements, mineral productions.... 27 February 2011. 1837. Isaac N. Whiting. 62.
  3. Book: Geological Survey (U.S.). Water supply paper. 27 February 2011. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.. 63.
  4. Book: Pamphlets, Geological. 27 February 2011. 1854. 6.
  5. Book: Ohio Historical Society. Ohio history. 27 February 2011. 1905. Ohio Historical Society.. 275–.
  6. Book: Bush, Fred W.. The centennial atlas of Athens County, Ohio. 27 February 2011. June 1975. Ohio University Press. 978-0-8214-0203-0.
  7. Book: Seeman. Mark F.. Society for American Archaeology. Meeting. Cultural variability in context: Woodland settlements of the mid-Ohio Valley. 27 February 2011. 1992. Kent State University Press. 978-0-87338-452-0. 20–.
  8. http://www.ohioarchaeology.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=32 The Allen Site (33AT653): a Late Prehistoric village in the Hocking Valley", by Elliot Abrams, Ohio University / Ohio Archaeological Council website
  9. http://www.ohioarchaeology.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=175&Itemid=32 " A Study of a Late Woodland – Late Prehistoric Household: Analyses at Locus 2 of the Allen Site", by Tracy H. Formica, Ohio Archaeological Council website
  10. Book: Howe, Henry. Historical collections of Ohio: in three volumes ; an encyclopedia of the state ... : with notes of a tour over it in 1886 ... contrasting the Ohio of 1846 with 1886-90. 27 February 2011. 1889. Henry Howe & Son. 283–.
  11. Book: Walden, Blanche Lea. Pioneer Families of the Midwest. 28 February 2011. December 1939. Clearfield Co.. 978-0-8063-4791-2. 81–.
  12. Book: Mitchell, Susan Lynne. The Hewitts of Athens County, Ohio. registration. 27 February 2011. 1989. S.L. Mitchell. 978-0-9620263-0-0. 17–18.
  13. Book: Clement Luther Martzolff. A brief history of Athens County, Ohio. 27 February 2011. 1916.
  14. Web site: Fox Lake Wildlife Area. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 27 February 2011.
  15. Web site: Margaret Creek Structure No. 6, central Ohio. findlakes.com. 27 February 2011.
  16. Web site: Hotspots for Columbus-Area Bass. Keefer. Greg. Ohio Game and Fish. 27 February 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101011012145/http://www.ohiogameandfish.com/fishing/oh_aa064003a/. 11 October 2010.
  17. Web site: Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of Athens. Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee. October 2005. 11. 27 February 2011.
  18. Book: Geological Survey (U.S.). Professional paper - United States Geological Survey. 28 February 2011. 1903. The Survey. 61–62.
  19. Book: Smith. William. Dumas. Charles Guillaume Frédéric. Historical account of Bouquet's expedition against the Ohio Indians, in 1764. 27 February 2011. 1868. R. Clarke. 59–.
  20. Book: Geological Survey of Ohio. Report. 28 February 2011. 1873. Nevins & Myers State Printers. 290–.
  21. Book: Condit. Daniel Dale. Mark. Clara Gould . Conemaugh formation in Ohio. 1912 . Columbus . Ohio State Geologist . 120–.
  22. Web site: Margaret Creek, Alexander township, Athens Co., Ohio, USA. mindat.org. 27 February 2011.

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