Mill Creek Mountain is a continuous
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...
ridge
A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for an extended distance. The sides of the ridge slope away from the narrow top on either side. The line ...
that runs northeast through
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
and
Hardy counties in the
Eastern Panhandle
The Eastern Panhandle is the eastern of the two panhandles in the U.S. state of West Virginia; the other is the Northern Panhandle. It is a small stretch of territory in the northeast of the state, bordering Maryland and Virginia. Some sources a ...
region of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
. Rising to its greatest elevation of at
High Knob
High Knob is the peak of Stone Mountain, that forms part of the border between Scott County and Wise County, Virginia, near the city of Norton that rises to above mean sea level.
Location
High Knob is found on the western front range of the ...
, Mill Creek is a folded mountain ridge, belonging to the
Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending ...
. Mill Creek Mountain forms the western edge of the
South Branch Potomac River
The South Branch Potomac River has its headwaters in northwestern Highland County, Virginia near Hightown along the eastern edge of the Allegheny Front. After a river distance of ,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolu ...
Valley and is named for
Mill Creek that carves through it at
Mechanicsburg Gap
Mechanicsburg Gap (also known as Mill Creek Gap) is a water gap through Mill Creek Mountain in Hampshire County, West Virginia, Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia.
Mechanicsburg Gap allows for the passage of the Northwestern Turn ...
allowing the
Northwestern Turnpike
The Northwestern Turnpike is a historic road in West Virginia (Virginia at the time the road was created), important for being historically one of the major roads crossing the Appalachians, financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works in the 183 ...
(
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlanti ...
) to pass through as well. Along with Sawmill Ridge (1,716 feet/523 m), Mill Creek Mountain forms
the Trough
The Trough is a 6-mile long wooded gorge carved by the South Branch Potomac River (SBPR) and situated in the Allegheny Mountains of Hampshire and Hardy Counties, West Virginia, USA. The area was the site of a 1756 skirmish of the French and Ind ...
along the South Branch.
Hanging Rocks
Hanging Rocks are perpendicular cliffs rising nearly above the South Branch Potomac River in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Hanging Rocks are located four miles (6 km) north of Romney at Wappocomo on West Virginia ...
at
Wappocomo, south of
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
, are located on the northern edge of the gap in Mill Creek Mountain formed by the South Branch.
Summits and Knobs
Although Mill Creek Mountain is a continuous mountain ridge, it is made up of a number of summits and knobs with individual names. These are listed from south to north.
* River Ridge, 1,906 feet (581 m)
*
High Knob
High Knob is the peak of Stone Mountain, that forms part of the border between Scott County and Wise County, Virginia, near the city of Norton that rises to above mean sea level.
Location
High Knob is found on the western front range of the ...
, 2,648 feet (807 m)
* Unnamed Knob, 2,066 feet (629 m)
* Unnamed Knob, 1,993 feet (607 m)
* Unnamed Knob, 1,968 feet (599 m)
* Thrasher Knob, 2,142 feet (653 m)
* Merrit Knob, 1,952 feet (595 m)
* Long Knob, 1,725 feet (525 m)
* Green Knob, 1,620 feet (500 m)
* Island Ridge, 1,500 feet (457 m)
* Fairview Mountain, 2,351 feet (716 m)
*
Fort Mill Ridge, 1,100 feet (335 m)
* Mill Creek Ridge at Romney, 1,771 feet (539 m)
Image gallery
File:Indian Mound Cemetery Romney WV 2010 04 25 13.JPG, View of Mill Creek Mountain from Indian Mound Cemetery
Indian Mound Cemetery is a cemetery located along the Northwestern Turnpike ( U.S. Route 50) on a promontory of the "Yellow Banks" overlooking the South Branch Potomac River and Mill Creek Mountain in Romney, West Virginia, United States. The ce ...
File:Hanging Rocks Wappocomo WV 2005 09 21 03.JPG, Hanging Rocks
Hanging Rocks are perpendicular cliffs rising nearly above the South Branch Potomac River in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Hanging Rocks are located four miles (6 km) north of Romney at Wappocomo on West Virginia ...
at Wappocomo
File:Hanging Rocks Wappocomo WV 2005 09 21 02.JPG, Close-up of Hanging Rocks
Hanging Rocks are perpendicular cliffs rising nearly above the South Branch Potomac River in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Hanging Rocks are located four miles (6 km) north of Romney at Wappocomo on West Virginia ...
strata
In geology and related fields, a stratum ( : strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as ei ...
References
External links
*
{{Mountains of West Virginia
Ridges of Hampshire County, West Virginia
Ridges of Hardy County, West Virginia
Ridges of West Virginia