| Tinicum Creek | |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Pennsylvania |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Tinicum Creek |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Pushpin map showing location of Tinicum Creek |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pennsylvania |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | Bucks |
| Subdivision Type4: | Township |
| Subdivision Name4: | Tinicum |
| Length: | 6.44miles |
| Source1: | Rapp Creek, Beaver Creek |
| Source1 Elevation: | 240feet |
| Mouth Elevation: | 100feet |
| River System: | Delaware River |
| Basin Landmarks: | Van Sant Airport |
| Bridges: | Geigel Hill Road, Sheep Hole Road, Sheep Hole Road, Headquarters Road, Municipal Road, Cafferty Road, Pennsylvania Route 32 (River Road) |
Tinicum Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Tinicum Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It flows for 6.4miles from the confluence of its branches, Beaver Creek and Rapp Creek, before entering the river across from Marshall Island. Tinicum Creek and its two branches are part of the federally-designated Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River.[1]
Historic crossings of Tinicum Creek include the Frankenfield Covered Bridge and an aqueduct of the Delaware Canal.
Tinicum Creek was added to the Geographical Names Information System of the U.S. Geological Survey on September 8, 1979 as identification number 1209346. It is listed in the PA Gazetteer of Streams as identification number 03218. As the largest stream in the northeast corner of Bucks County north of the Tohickon Creek, it boasts a watershed of 24sqmi and meets its confluence at the Delaware River's 161.60 river mile.
Tinicum Creek rises near Cauffman Hill at the merger of Beaver Creek and Rapp Creek, and meanders, but generally flows southeast for about 1.73miles, receiving two unnamed tributaries from the left, and one from the right. It, then, abruptly turns to the northwest at the point it receives another tributary from the southeast. Then the creek meanders generally to the northeast for approximately 4.75miles until it meets its confluence with the Delaware. The stream has a total length of 6.4miles, the headwaters rises at an elevation of 240feet, and its mouth is at an elevation of 100feet, which is a drop of 140feet. This results in an average slope of 21.875 feet per mile (3.93 meters per kilometer).[2]
The Brunswick Formation is a sedimentary layer of rock consisting of mudstone, siltstone, and beds of green, brown, and red-brown shale. Mineralogy consists of argillite and hornfels. About 200 million years ago, magma intruded into the Brunswick and cooled quickly forming a fine grained diabase consisting of primarily labradorite and augite.[3]
| Crossing | NBI Number | Length | Lanes | Spans | Material/Design | Built | Reconstructed | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geigel Hill Road | 47016 | 18m (59feet) | 1 | 1 | Steel girder and floorbeam system | 2011 | - | 40°28'48"N | 75°8'54"W |
| Sheep Hole Road | 7644 | 20m (70feet) | 2 | 1 | Steel truss-thru | 1932 | 1950 | 40°28'35.3"N | 75°8'44.9"W |
| Sheep Hole Road | 7561 | 19m (62feet) | 1 | 1 | Steel truss-thru | 1985 | - | 40°28'26"N | 75°8'35"W |
| Headquarters Road | 7128 | 24m (79feet) | 1 | 3 | Continuous concrete stringer/multi-beam or grider | 1919 | - | 40°28'14.6"N | 75°8'11.96"W |
| Municipal Road | - | - | - | - | No bridge, road passes through creek bed | - | - | - | - |
| Cafferty Road | 7568 | 37m (121feet) | 1 | 2 | Steel stringer/multi-beam or girder | - | 1978 | 40°28'32.3"N | 75°5'58.7"W |
| Pennsylvania Route 32 (River Road) | 6811 | 52m (171feet) | 2 | 4 | Steel stringer/multi-beam or girder | 1932 | 1985 | 40°29'8.2"N | 75°4'9.46"W |