Guide Note

The Susquehanna River is located on the northern east coast of America. It flows through three states, New York State, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The Susquehanna River has its origin in Otsego Lake in New York and empties into Chesapeake Bay. It is an ancient river, considered to be the oldest or at least the second oldest river system in the world. There is geological evidence that it is over 300 million years old, predating the break up of Pangea which formed the Atlantic Ocean.

The Susquehanna River was home to an Iroquoian tribe called Susquehannaock which gave rise to the rivers name. It is an Algonquian word which means "muddy current". The Lenape, during the 17th century, were the majority inhabitants and occupied a territory that they called Lenapehoking. During the 18th century William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania Colony, entered into an agreement with the Lenape to allow a white settlement between the Susquehanna River and the Delaware River. With the discovery of coal in the mountains, the Susquehanna River soon became and efficient transportation corridor. This led to it becoming a center of industrial growth in the 19th century.

The Church of the Latter Day Saints finds religious importance in the Susquehanna River, where many important events in their religion occurred. It is said that somewhere on the river that Joseph Smith Jr. their founder and Oliver Cowdery were given priesthood by heavenly beings.

Fast Facts

1. Source: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, New York
2. Mouth: Chesapeake Bay
3. Length: 444 miles long
4. States: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland
5. Major Cities: Binghamton, New York; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Scranton, Pennsylvania
6. Major Tributaries: Juniata River, West Branch
7. 16th longest in U.S.
8. longest on American east coast
9. approximately 21 dams

1. Prehistory: oldest river system in the world
2. 17th Century: Home of Susquehannaock Tribe
3. 18th Century: William Penn makes arrangements with Lenpae for white settlement
4. 1829: May 15th founder of LDS, says he was visited by resurrected John the Baptist
5. 1863: Union Army resolved Confederates wouldn't cross river, Confederates recalled
6. 1979: Three Mile Island nuclear power accident, southeast of Harrisburg, PA
7. 1997: Designated an American Heritage River
8. 2005: Named "America's Most Endangered River"
9. 2010: PA subject to sanctions by EPA if pollution in the watershed not reduced