Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area | |
---|---|
Ner Alexander Middleswarth | |
Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Website | Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area |
Designated | 1967 |
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area is a 500 acre (202 ha)
Name
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area is named for two Pennsylvania politicians from Snyder County:
Snyder (1759 – 1819) was a three-time Speaker of the
The United States Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists the name as "Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area".[9] As of 2023, the hyphen is used by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as the National Park Service in its entry for the National Natural Landmark.[10]
Location
Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area is in Spring Township in western Snyder County, about 5 miles (8 km) west of
History
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, almost all of Pennsylvania's forests were clear cut, with only a few isolated tracts of virgin forest surviving. The land that became Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area was purchased by the state in 1902, as part of a larger 14,000 acre (56.66 km) parcel.
Snyder-Middleswarth was still a "State Forest Park" on the official 1965
Despite being Snyder County's only state park and a National Natural Landmark, Snyder-Middleswarth lost its status as a state park sometime between 1992 and 1996, becoming just a Natural Area within the state forest system.[15] Sources differ as to the size of the former Snyder-Middleswarth State Park. As of December 2007, at least ten years after the park ceased to exist, the DCNR webpage "State Parks near the Bald Eagle State Forest" still lists Snyder-Middleswarth State Park, and gives its size as 425 acres (172 ha).[5] However, Thwaites (1992) wrote that the park was only the 8 acre (3.2 ha) picnic area, but distinguished it from the "much larger Snyder Middleswarth National Natural Landmark" (without giving its exact size).[15]
According to the DCNR, as of 2007 Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area is 500 acres (202 ha), of which 250 acres (101 ha) is virgin forest. The tallest trees at Snyder-Middleswarth are more than 150 feet (46 m) tall and measure more than 40 inches (102 cm)
References
- ^ a b c "Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area, Tall Timbers Natural Area". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on March 2, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. October 1, 1989. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ ISBN 0-89271-056-X.
- ^ "Bald Eagle State Forest Wild and Natural Areas". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
- ^ a b c "State Parks near the Bald Eagle State Forest: Snyder Middleswarth State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on March 2, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "The Pennsylvania Manual: Pennsylvania Local Government" (PDF). The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. pp. 6–40. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Governors Past to Present: Governor Simon Snyder". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ "MIDDLESWARTH, Ner, (1783 - 1865)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ "Snyder-Middleswarth State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 2, 1979. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ National Park Service. "Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area". National Natural Landmarks. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. "2007 General Highway Map Snyder County and Union County Pennsylvania" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ^ United States Geological Survey. "Weikert Pennsylvania Topographic Map". TopoQuest.com. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Bald Eagle State Forest" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ^ ISBN 0-942440-24-2.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Highways (1965). "General Highway Map Snyder County Pennsylvania" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ^ "National Natural Landmark: Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area". National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (1981). "General Highway Map Snyder County and Union County Pennsylvania" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-13. Note: This map does not show the state park, but also omits Sand Bridge State Park in Union County.
- ^ "Natural and Wild Areas of the Bald Eagle State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on February 25, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-14.