Ash Creek is a tidal
creek and intertidal wetland in
Fairfield County Fairfield County is the name of three counties in the United States:
* Fairfield County, Connecticut
* Fairfield County, Ohio
Fairfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,921. ...
,
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
that serves as a border between the city of
Bridgeport
Bridgeport is the most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the fifth-most populous in New England. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnoc ...
and the town of
Fairfield. It is the last salt water estuary in the area, extending from
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is a marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York to the south. From west to east, the sound stretches from the Eas ...
and up the
Rooster River.
History
The area was known on colonial maps as the Uncoway or Fairfield River. Ash Creek has served as Fairfield's main harbor since the founding of the town in 1639.
The name Ash Creek was given to the body of water after Fairfield Center was burned to the ground by the British during the Revolutionary War. Due to wind direction that day a majority of the ashes were deposited in "Ash Creek."
Memorial plaque
The Arthur Gruhn Memorial Cable Crossing plaque was erected on
Connecticut Route 130
Route 130 is a state highway in southwestern Connecticut, running from Fairfield to Stratford, generally parallel to I-95.
Route description
Route 130 begins at an intersection with US 1 in Fairfield and heads east into Bridgeport. In Bridge ...
at the Bridgeport-Fairfield town line on March 24, 2009. It is in recognition of
ConnDOT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (often referred to as CTDOT and occasionally ConnDOT, or CDOT) is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports and waterways in Connecticut. Chief Engineer Gruhn's work by
Connecticut Light & Power and the
United Illuminating Company for his work allowing for the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line upgrade. Engineer Gruhn's work provided for a practical electric system upgrade while environmentally preserving Ash Creek.
Public use and preservation area
The town of Fairfield began accumulating land in 1931 for
Ash Creek Open Space, which includes a public access (handicap accessible) boat launch at the mouth of the river. Fishing, crabbing, picnicking, walking trails, and other activities are permitted. The preservation area is approximately in size.
Other uses
Ash Creek had a namesake restaurant in Black Rock, called the Ash Creek Saloon.
References
Gallery
File:Ash Creek Route1 CT.jpg, Ash Creek north of Route 130.
File: Arthur Gruhn Memorial Cable Crossing.jpg, Arthur Gruhn Memorial Cable Crossing plaque
External links
Ash Creek Conservation AssociationAsh Creek on the United States Environmental Protection Agency WebsiteAsh Creek on Google Maps
{{coord, 41, 08, 33, N, 73, 13, 56, W, display=title
Geography of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Estuaries of Connecticut
Landforms of Fairfield County, Connecticut
Protected areas of Fairfield County, Connecticut