Kiskiminetas River


The Kiskiminetas River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States. The region stretching from the northern side of Harmar Township, Pennsylvania to the Kiskiminetas towns is often referred to by the locals as the Alle-Kiski Valley after the rivers.

Course

The Kiskiminetas River is formed at Saltsburg, on the border between Westmoreland and Indiana counties, by the confluence of the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek. It flows northwest in a meandering course past Avonmore, Apollo, Vandergrift, Hyde Park and Leechburg. It joins the Allegheny River near Freeport at Schenley, approximately northeast of Pittsburgh.
The Kiski-Conemaugh watershed includes much of the historic coal-producing region of Western Pennsylvania. The water quality is considered degraded by numerous abandoned mine drainages in its upper reaches and tributaries, leading to on-going efforts by federal, state, and private agencies to improve the water quality of the river. The Kittanning Path, a major trail in the region used by Native Americans in [the United States|Native Americans] and early European settlers, crossed the river at a ford near present-day Leechburg.

Political subdivisions

The course of the Kiskiminetas River traverses the following political subdivisions, named in order of encounter traveling downstream.

Tributaries

  • Elder Run
  • Penn Run
  • Brady Run
  • Guffy Run
  • Carnahan Run
  • Pine Run
  • Beaver Run
  • Roaring Run
  • *Rattling Run
  • Flat Run
  • Wolford Run
  • Long Run
  • Sulphur Run
  • Blacklegs Creek
  • *Big Run
  • *Marshall Run
  • *Harpers Run
  • *Nesbit Run
  • *Hooper Run
  • *Whisky Run
  • Loyalhanna Creek
  • Conemaugh River
NameNumberBankMouthPolitical subdivisionSourcePolitical subdivision
Kiskiminetas River0Left Allegheny Township, Westmoreland CountySaltsburg
Conemaugh River1Right SaltsburgJohnstown
Loyalhanna Creek2Left Loyalhanna Township, Westmoreland CountyDonegal Township, Westmoreland County
Blacklegs Creek3Right Conemaugh Township, Indiana CountyArmstrong Township, Indiana County
Sulphur Run4Right Conemaugh Township, Indiana CountyKiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County
Long Run5Right Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong CountySouth Bend Township, Armstrong County
Wolford Run6Left Bell Township, Westmoreland CountyLoyalhanna Township, Westmoreland County
Flat Run7Right Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong CountyKiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County
Roaring Run8Right Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong CountyKiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County
Rattling Run8.1Right Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong CountyKiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County
Beaver Run9Left Bell Township, Westmoreland CountyHempfield Township, Westmoreland County
Pine Run10Left Allegheny Township, Westmoreland CountyWashington Township, Westmoreland County
Carnahan Run11Right Parks Township, Armstrong CountyKiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County
Guffy Run12Right Parks Township, Armstrong CountyBethel Township, Armstrong County
Brady Run13Right LeechburgGilpin Township, Armstrong County
Penn Run14Left West LeechburgAllegheny Township, Westmoreland County
Elder Run15Right Gilpin Township, Armstrong CountyGilpin Township, Armstrong County

Etymology

There is no definite interpretation of the origin of the name. It may come from a Native American phrase Kithanne, meaning "Place of the largest stream." According to regional historians in the area, the name has historically had several other possible meanings, including: "river of the big fish" and "plenty of walnuts." Robert Walker Smith in his "History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania" reported that John Heckewelder claimed that the name is "corrupted from Gieschgumanito, signifying, make daylight. In this case, the etymology is: Gisch-gu---day; gisch-que---today; gieschapen---it is daybreak; manitoon---to make. It was probably the word of command, given by a warrior to his comrades at night to break up camp and resume the journey, or war-path." Smith also described another possible meaning from another source: "It is said in McCullough's Narrative, that the Indians called this river Kee-ak-ksheman-nit-toos, signifying 'cut spirit'." Smith noted that he preferred Heckewelder's definition. It is also possible that "Kiskiminetas" means "clear, clean stream of many bends."