Smithers Creek is a tributary of the Kanawha River, 7 miles (11 km) long,[3] in southern West Virginia in the United States. Via the Kanawha and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 18.1 square miles (47 km2)[4] on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau. The creek flows for its entire length in western Fayette County; its tributaries additionally drain a portion of eastern Kanawha County.

Smithers Creek
Smithers Creek in Smithers
A map of Smithers Creek and its watershed
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyFayette
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMount Olive
 • coordinates38°14′18″N 81°14′09″W / 38.2384388°N 81.2359437°W / 38.2384388; -81.2359437[1]
 • elevation1,477 ft (450 m)[2]
MouthKanawha River
 • location
Smithers
 • coordinates
38°10′51″N 81°18′38″W / 38.1809390°N 81.3106669°W / 38.1809390; -81.3106669[1]
 • elevation
640 ft (200 m)[1]
Length7 mi (11 km)
Basin size18.1 sq mi (47 km2)
Basin features
Hydrologic Unit Code050500060303 (USGS)

Smithers Creek rises in the unincorporated community of Mount Olive and flows generally southwestward through the unincorporated communities of Marting and Cannelton, to the city of Smithers, where it flows into the Kanawha River. The creek is paralleled by a county road for most of its course.[5][6]

The Geographic Names Information System lists "Smothers Creek," "Smuthers Creek," and "Smythers Creek" as historical variant names for the creek.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Smithers Creek (Feature ID #1547008)". Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  2. ^ The National Map elevation for GNIS source coordinates. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  3. ^ United States Environmental Protection Agency. "West Virginia, Upper Kanawha Watershed". Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset, area data for Smithers Creek watershed, 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code 050500060303. The National Map, retrieved 2013-11-22
  5. ^ The National Map, accessed 2013-11-22
  6. ^ West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1997. p. 53. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.