Twelvepole Creek

Twelvepole Creek is a 32.2-mile-long (51.8 km)^[5] river located in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Mississippi River watershed, by way of the Ohio River. It is alternately known as Twelve Pole Creek.^[6]

Twelvepole Creek
Twelvepole Creek near its mouth in Ceredo, flowing beneath Interstate 64
Location
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Wayne
Physical characteristics
Source	East Fork Twelvepole Creek
• location	Dingess Mountain, Mingo County, West Virginia
• coordinates	37°53′02″N 82°07′15″W
• elevation	1,277 ft (389 m)[1]
2nd source	West Fork Twelvepole Creek
• location	Dingess Mountain, Mingo County, West Virginia
• coordinates	37°51′33″N 82°06′48″W
• elevation	1,676 ft (511 m)[2]
Source confluence
• location	Wayne, West Virginia
• coordinates	38°12′41″N 82°26′44″W
• elevation	594 ft (181 m)
Mouth	Ohio River[3]
• location	Ceredo, West Virginia
• coordinates	38°24′04″N 82°31′51″W
• elevation	515 ft (157 m)
Discharge
• location	East Fork near m, [4]
• average	8.3 cu ft/s (0.24 m3/s)[4]
• minimum	0.13 cu ft/s (0.0037 m3/s)(1989)
• maximum	99 cu ft/s (2.8 m3/s)(1980)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	Beech Fork, Plymale Branch

Course

Twelvepole Creek rises in northern Mingo County before flowing north through Wayne County. The headwaters of the East Fork of the Twelvepole are dammed to form East Lynn Lake. The East Fork of the river then flows north through East Lynn, Wayne, and Lavalette. The West Fork of the Twelvepole flows north through Dunlow, West Virginia and joins the East Fork at the town of Wayne. The river then flows north again before draining into the Ohio River just east of Ceredo.

Origin of name

Twelvepole Creek received its name from early explorers. The group supposedly included a young George Washington^{[citation needed]}. Traveling the Ohio River, they measured the mouth of the creek where it joined the Ohio in terms of poles, also known as rods. Being approximately 198 feet (12 poles) wide at its mouth, the creek was named Twelvepole Creek.^[7]

Recreation

East Lynn Lake and Beech Fork Lake (formed from one of Twelvepole Creek's tributaries) provide popular destinations for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping.

See also

• List of West Virginia rivers