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. In the foreground is the west branch of the Susquehanna River . Beyond Williamsport can be seen the higher part of the Dissected Allegheny Plateau ]] The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States . The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York , is sometimes regarded as an extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch being its principal Tributary . The West Branch, which is 160 mi (257 km) long, is entirely within the state of Pennsylvania , draining a large mountainous area within the Allegheny Plateau in the western part of the state. Along most of its course it flows in tight Meander s along mountain ridges and through Water Gap s, forming a large zigzag arc through central Pennsylvania around the north end of the Allegheny Ridge . In colonial times the river provided an important water route to the Ohio River valley. In the 18th century, its lower valley became a significant industrial heartland of Pennsylvania. DESCRIPTION The West Branch rises on the west side of the Alleghenies, in northwestern Cambria County , approximately 20 mi (32 km) east of the city of Indiana . It flows generally north, crossing the eastern corner of Indiana County at Cherry Tree , then into southern Clearfield County . Near Mahaffey it turns generally northeast and flows past Curwensville and then Clearfield . In northern Clinton County it turns to the southeast to Lock Haven . At Lock Haven it turns east, flowing through the West Branch Susquehanna Valley along the foot of Bald Eagle Mountain ridge past Williamsport , the largest city on the river, then turns south at the end of the ridge. From there, it winds around the Muncy Hills, emerging from a Water Gap between Mountour Ridge and Shamokin Mountain and joining the North (Main) branch of the Susquehanna from the northwest approximately 2 mi (3 km) north of Sunbury . .]] TRIBUTARIES From its upper reaches to its lower reaches, it receives:
in Clinton County, Pennsylvania]] HISTORY Up through the early 19th century the river provided the principal Canoe route across the Alleghenies connecting the Susquehanna and Ohio valleys, with a Portage at Cherry Tree to Blacklick Creek , a tributary of the Conemaugh River . In the late 18th century, Cherry Tree marked the frontier between the Pennsylvania Colony and the Shawnee and Lenape lands to the west as specified by treaty. The lands along the West Branch were vital hunting grounds and agricultural lands for Native Americans . During Pennsylvania’s great Lumbering era, the most significant log drive was conveyed on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna’s West Branch Canal Division further shaped the corridor, linking towns and villages and providing vital opportunities for commerce. Finally, Railroads in the corridor fused the links between communities and commerce within the corridor. {Link without Title} Early inhabitants The first recorded inhabitants of the West Branch Susquehanna River valley were the Iroquoian speaking Susquehannock s. Their name meant "people of the muddy river" in Algonquin . Decimate d by diseases and warfare, they had died out, moved away, or been Assimilated into other tribes by the early 18th century. The lands of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley were then chiefly occupied by the Munsee Phratry of the Lenape (or Delaware), and were under the nominal control of the Five (later Six) Nations of the Iroquois . Otstonwakin See Also: Madame Montour Madame Montour 's village of ''Otstonwakin'' or ''Ostuagy'' was a vitally important location during the settlement of what is now Lycoming County. Her village at the mouth of Loyalsock Creek on the West Branch Susquehanna River was an important stopping point for the Moravian Missionaries who were spreading the Gospel throughout the wilderness of Pennsylvania during the 1740s. Count Zinzendorf , a missionary being guided by Conrad Weiser with the permission of Chief Shikellamy came to Ostuagy in 1742. Colonial settlement The British purchased land from the Iroquois in the Treaty Of Fort Stanwix of 1768, opening what is now Lycoming County to settlement. However, the Line Of Property (or Purchase Line ) border defined by "Tiadaghton Creek" dividing colonial and Native American lands was disputed. The colonists claimed this was Pine Creek , the Iroquois and other tribes Lycoming Creek . The area between Pine and Lycoming Creeks was disputed territory. The illegal settlers there were part of the " Fair Play Men " system of self-government, with their own Declaration of Independence from Britain on July 4 , 1776 . Fair Play Men See Also: Fair Play Men The Fair Play Men were illegal Settler s ( Squatter s) who established their own system of self-rule from 1773 to 1785 in the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley of Pennsylvania in what is now the United States . Because they settled in territory claimed by Native Americans , they had no recourse to the Pennsylvania colonial government. Accordingly they established what was known as the Fair Play System, with three elected commissioners who ruled on land claims and other issues for the group. In a remarkable coincidence, the Fair Play Men made their own Declaration Of Independence from Britain on July 4 , 1776 beneath the "Tiadaghton Elm" on the banks of Pine Creek . Fort Antes See Also: Fort Antes Fort Antes was a Stockade surrounding the home of Colonel John Henry Antes, built ''circa'' 1778 in Revolutionary Pennsylvania in the United States . The fort was built under the direction of Colonel Antes, who was a member of the Pennsylvania Militia . It was on the east side of Antes Creek , overlooking and on the Left Bank of the West Branch Susquehanna River on a Plateau in Nippenose Township south of modern day Jersey Shore in western Lycoming County . The local militia held the Fort for a short period of time until it was ordered to abandon Fort Antes during The Big Runaway by Colonel Samuel Hunter.2 Despite being abandoned and attempts by the attacking British forces to burn it down, Fort Antes was one of only two structures in the valley to survive the Big Runaway. Susquehanna Boom See Also: Susquehanna Boom The Susquehanna Boom was a system of cribs in the West Branch Susquehanna River designed to hold Timber in the river until it could be processed at one of the nearly 60 Sawmill s along the West Branch Susquehanna River between Lycoming and Loyalsock Creek s in Lycoming County , Pennsylvania in the United States . The boom was constructed in 1846 under the supervision of James H. Perkins. 3 TRIVIA
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