The Meathouse Fork is a tributary of Middle Island Creek, 19.7 miles (31.7 km) long,[5] in north-central West Virginia in the United States. Via Middle Island Creek and the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 64.6 square miles (167 km2)[6] in a rural region on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau.
| Meathouse Fork | |
|---|---|
 Meathouse Fork south of Smithburg, West Virginia | |
 A map of the Meathouse Fork and its watershed | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Doddridge |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Big Isaac Creek |
| • location | southeast of Miletus |
| • coordinates | 39°13′09″N 80°34′34″W / 39.2191667°N 80.5761111°W[1] |
| • length | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
| • elevation | 1,190 ft (360 m)[2] |
| 2nd source | Laurel Run |
| • location | northeast of Big Isaac |
| • coordinates | 39°12′38″N 80°31′58″W / 39.2105556°N 80.5327778°W[3] |
| • length | 1.6 miles (2.6 km) |
| • elevation | 1,154 ft (352 m)[2] |
| Source confluence | |
| • location | west of Big Isaac |
| • coordinates | 39°12′00″N 80°33′20″W / 39.2000893°N 80.5556517°W[4] |
| • elevation | 935 ft (285 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Middle Island Creek |
• location | Smithburg |
• coordinates | 39°17′03″N 80°43′41″W / 39.2842512°N 80.7281587°W[4] |
• elevation | 794 ft (242 m)[4] |
| Length | 19.7 mi (31.7 km) |
| Basin size | 64.6 sq mi (167 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Toms Fork |
| Hydrologic Unit Codes | 050302010401, 050302010403 (USGS) |
Geography
editThe Meathouse Fork's entire course and watershed are in southern and central Doddridge County. It is formed in southeastern Doddridge County by the confluence of Big Isaac Creek,[1] 2 miles (3.2 km) long,[5] which rises approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the community of Miletus and flows southeastward; and Laurel Run,[3] 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long,[5] which rises approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km) northeast of the community of Big Isaac and flows westward, through Big Isaac. From this confluence, approximately 0.9 miles (1.4 km) west of Big Isaac, the Meathouse Fork flows generally northwestward, through the unincorporated communities of Avon, New Milton, Sugar Camp, and Blandville, to Smithburg, where it joins Buckeye Creek to form Middle Island Creek.[7][8]
The Meathouse Fork collects its largest tributary, Toms Fork, at Sugar Camp. In the vicinity of Sugar Camp and Blandville, it is paralleled by West Virginia Route 18.[7][8]
History
editThe origin of the name of this watershed and community, given by the earliest white settlers in the 1820s, was detailed by a local historian a century later:
On this spot of ground hunters from other sections who came to this community to hunt deer and bear built a log cabin in which to store their meat until they could move it to their homes in other and, sometimes, remote sections. From this meat house, the branch of Middle Island Creek which extends from near Smithburg to Big Isaac took the name of Meat House Fork.[9]
Recreation
editFishing
editMultiple West Virginia stage record fish were caught along the Meathouse Fork.[10][11][12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Big Isaac Creek (Feature ID #1535869)". Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- ^ a b c The National Map elevation for GNIS source coordinates. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- ^ a b Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Laurel Run (Feature ID #1541516)". Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Meathouse Fork (Feature ID #1543103)". Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- ^ a b c United States Environmental Protection Agency. "West Virginia, Little Muskingum-Middle Island Watershed". Archived from the original on 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset, area data for Meathouse Fork watershed, 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes 050302010401 and 050302010403. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2013-07-31
- ^ a b The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 2013-07-31
- ^ a b West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1997. pp. 24, 35. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
- ^ Randolph, Roy F. (1926), "History Of New Milton Community"; Doddridge County Agricultural Extension Division.
- ^ "West Virginia Fishing Records". West Virginia DNR. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "West Virginia Fishing Records". Land Big Fish. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Kirk, Sam (January 10, 2024). "West Virginia DNR creates 5 new state fishing record categories". WBOY. Retrieved August 25, 2024.