Knob Mountain (Pennsylvania)

Knob Mountain (also known as Nob Mountain[1]) is a ridge[2] in the northeastern part of Columbia County, Pennsylvania and parts of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.[3] Its elevation is over 1720 feet above sea level.[4] Knob Mountain can be seen from a considerable distance, and is also visible from Bloomsburg.[1][5] The peak of the mountain is one of the highest points in Columbia County.[6]

Knob Mountain
Knob Mountain from the west
Highest point
Elevation1,720 ft (520 m)
ListingLee Mountain, Huntington Mountain
Coordinates41°5′44″N 76°20′46″W 
Geography
Knob Mountain
Location in Pennsylvania
Parent rangeAppalachians
Climbing
Easiest routeRoad

Geology and geography

Knob Mountain's western terminus is near Orangeville. The mountain runs eastward and slightly northward for ten or twelve miles (16 or 20 kilometers) before descending to the level of the surrounding land, slightly over the Luzerne County line. However, it has a slightly lower subsidiary peak known as Huntington Mountain that extends in approximately the same direction as the main mountain as far as Shickshinny.[1]

Knob Mountain is a fairly steep mountain. It is more steep on its northern side than it is on its southern side. Its base is in the watersheds of Fishing Creek and Huntington Creek.[1] At one point, Fishing Creek makes a sharp curve around the base of Knob Mountain.[5] The outline of the mountain is fairly uniform.[1] However, there is a notch near the eastern terminus of Knob Mountain.[6]

A terminal moraine runs from the nearby Lee Mountain to the southern base of Knob Mountain and then over Knob Mountain to Fishing Creek.[7] The mountain has coarse, hard sandstone near its peak and is situated in the Wyoming coal basin. This coal basin is part of a chain of coal-containing areas that runs between Lackawanna County and Dauphin County.[2] The Wyoming and Lackawanna coal field terminates at Knob Mountain. There is also a red shale basin under the mountain.[8]

Lee Mountain and Huntington Mountain are mountains that are near to Knob Mountain, and they can be considered eastward extensions of Knob Mountain.[5][6]

Climbing

Knob Mountain can be approached from any direction.[1] Two roads cross over the main part of the mountain. The highest point on the whole ridge is over 1720 feet.[4]

History

The area in the vicinity of Fishing Creek and Knob Mountain was first settled in 1780. However, it was not until 1785 that large numbers of people traveled to the area around Knob Mountain. The settlers that arrived in this year primarily traveled from New Jersey to the mouth of Fishing Creek via Berwick and from the mouth of Fishing Creek up the creek's valley to near Knob Mountain. Such settlement was, at the time, the northernmost non-native settlement in the Fishing Creek watershed. A community at the base of the mountain was built in 1822.[5] An Indian path once passed over the mountain near its eastern terminus.[6] The Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike once crossed over Knob Mountain. A township border was once determined to be a heap of stones on the top of Knob Mountain.[1]

Fauna and flora

Knob Mountain has forests at its peak. It is surrounded by agricultural communities.[1] In the early days of civilization in the area around Knob Mountain, the mountain was commonly believed to be home to numerous wolves and bears.[5]

See also

References
  1. Democratic party (Columbia County, Pa.). (1865), Proceedings of the Nob Mountain meeting, held in Columbia County, Pa., on the last three days of August 1865, retrieved June 20, 2013
  2. Charles B. Trego (1843), A Geography of Pennsylvania, retrieved June 20, 2013
  3. Raza, Moonis (1990), Geographical Dictionary Of The World In The Early 20th Century With Pronouncing Gazetteer, ISBN 9788172680114, retrieved June 20, 2013
  4. Google Maps, retrieved January 27, 2014
  5. J.H. Battle (editor) (1887), History of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, retrieved June 20, 2013CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  6. J.H. Beers (1915), Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, retrieved June 20, 2013
  7. Charles Frederick Shaw, J. M. McKee, W. G. Ross, United States. Bureau of Soils, Pennsylvania State College. School of Agriculture (1914), Reconnoissance soil survey of southeastern Pennsylvania, retrieved June 20, 2013CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Samuel Hazard (editor) (1834), Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, retrieved June 20, 2013CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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