Loyalhanna Creek, Wolford Run, Beaver Run, Pine Run, Penn Run
• right
Conemaugh River, Blacklegs Creek, Sulphur Run, Long Run, Flat Run, Roaring Run, Carnahan Run, Guffy Run, Brady Run, Elder Run
The Kiskiminetas River (commonly referred to as the Kiski[2][3] by locals) is a
tributary of the
Allegheny River, approximately 27 miles (43 km) long, in Western
Pennsylvania in the
United States.[1] 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.
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 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.
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" (Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883) reported that
John Heckewelder (a Moravian writer, explorer, and historian who wrote about the Lenape and other tribes in Western Pennsylvania in the 18th century) 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."
Loyalhanna Creek, Wolford Run, Beaver Run, Pine Run, Penn Run
• right
Conemaugh River, Blacklegs Creek, Sulphur Run, Long Run, Flat Run, Roaring Run, Carnahan Run, Guffy Run, Brady Run, Elder Run
The Kiskiminetas River (commonly referred to as the Kiski[2][3] by locals) is a
tributary of the
Allegheny River, approximately 27 miles (43 km) long, in Western
Pennsylvania in the
United States.[1] 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.
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 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.
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" (Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883) reported that
John Heckewelder (a Moravian writer, explorer, and historian who wrote about the Lenape and other tribes in Western Pennsylvania in the 18th century) 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."