Moshannon Valley
Moshannon Valley, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
Six Mile Run Houtzdale Borough Black Moshannon lake at sunset | |
Map of Moshannon Valley, Clearfield County Map of Moshannon Valley, Centre County | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Centre, Clearfield |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 814 |
Moshannon Valley is a river valley in the Allegheny Plateau split between Centre County and Clearfield County.
History
The Lenape word for Moshannon, Mos'hanna'unk, means "elk river place".[1][2]
Philipsburg was laid out in 1797 and is now the largest municipality in Moshannon Valley.[3] Many of the valleys early White settlers arrived under the false pretenses that the Moshannon Creek was navigable.[4]
In April 2006, Pennsylvania's first private prison was opened in Decatur Township.[5] After the prison closed in 2021 it reopened as an immigration detention center, becoming the largest ICE facility in the Northeastern US.[6]
Geography
The Moshannon Valley is in the Allegheny Plateau.[7]
The Moshannon Creek is a tributary of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The creek marks the border between Clearfield and Centre County.[8]
Parks and Recreation
Black Moshannon State Park is Pennsylvania State Park in Rush Township. The park is centered around a bog habitat. The word "black" refers to the dark stained waters, which come from the presence of peat moss.[9]
Other parks include the Cold Stream Dam & Recreation Park in Philipsburg.[10]
Municipalities
Boroughs
Townships
Census-designated places
Unincorporated villages
Education
The Moshannon Valley is served by the Moshannon Valley School District, Philipsburg-Osceola School District, Bald Eagle Area School District, and the West Branch Area School District.
Infrastructure
Roads
- Interstate 80
- U.S. Route 322
- Pennsylvania Route 53
- Pennsylvania Route 153
- Pennsylvania Route 253
- Pennsylvania Route 350
- Pennsylvania Route 504
Air
Mid-State Airport was built on land taken from Black Moshannon State Park and Moshannon State Forest just before the Second World War,[11] and was operational by 1942, hosting a Civil Air Patrol training exercise for nearly 300 planes on May 30, 1942.[12]
Prisons
References
- ^ Brinton, Daniel G.; Denke, C.F.; Anthony, Albert (2009). A Lenâpé – English Dictionary. Biblio Bazaar. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-103-14922-3.
- ^ Donehoo, Dr. George P. (1999) [1928]. A History of the Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania (Second Reprint ed.). Lewisburg, Pennsylvania: Wennawoods Publishing. p. 290. ISBN 1-889037-11-7.
Note: this website quotes and cites Donnehoo's book Stephen A. Runkle (September 2003). "Native American Waterbody and Place Names within the Susquehanna River Basin and Surrounding Subbasins, Publication 229" (PDF). The Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2020.. - ^ "Philipsburg". StateCollege.com.
- ^ Mull, Teresa (September 30, 2023). "Philipsburg's rich history is highlighted at the Moshannon Valley Heritage Center". The Adventure Bureau Dispatch.
- ^ Bucsko, Mike (April 30, 2006). "Texas firm to operate Pa.'s 1st private prison in Clearfield". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Nathan, Debbie (August 7, 2025). "Chinese ICE Detainee Dies by Suicide at Pennsylvania Detention Center". The Intercept. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
- ^ "About The Moshannon Valley". Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership.
- ^ "Watershed Information". Moshannon Creek Watershed Association.
- ^ Nale, MArk (August 3, 2022). "The Bog Trail – Black Moshannon State Park". Happy Valley Adventure Bureau.
- ^ Risley, Ford (March 18, 2023). "Cold Stream Dam". Centre County Historical Society.
- ^ "The ABC's of Centre County History". Centre County Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "290 Fliers in Rendezvous; Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol Stages Training Operation". The New York Times. June 1, 1942. p. 28.