Codorus Navigation
Encyclopedia
The Codorus Navigation Company, based in York
in south-central Pennsylvania
, was formed in 1829 to make a navigable waterway along Codorus Creek
from York to the Susquehanna River
, a distance of 11 miles (18 km). Plans called for 3 miles (4.8 km) of canal, 8 miles (12.9 km) of slack-water pools, 10 dams, and 13 locks
with an average lift of about 7 feet (2.1 m).
The first 3 miles (4.8 km) miles of the system were finished in 1832, allowing boats named Codorus and Pioneer to run passenger excursions between York and Barnitz's Springs. After the entire system was opened to boats, ark
s, and rafts in 1833, the first ark to reach York carried 40000 feet (12,192 m) of lumber and 100 passengers, and later arrivals brought such cargo as stone, coal, and shingles.
Plans originally included a second canal from the mouth of Codorus Creek along the Susquehanna to calm water above Chestnut Ripples. This would have made entrance into the Codorus system easier for craft coming down the river, but the extension canal, though started, was never finished. Competition from the York and Maryland Railroad, which connected York to Baltimore by 1838, and the Wrightsville, York and Gettysburg Railroad, which began operations in 1840, put the Codorus canal out of business by about 1850.
Codorus Navigation was one of several privately funded canals such as the Union Canal
that operated in Pennsylvania during the same era as the Pennsylvania Canal
. Though the canal fell into disuse in the middle of the 19th century, parts of its graded towpath, once used by the mules that pulled the boats, are becoming part of a rail trail
along Codorus Creek between York and John Rudy County Park. The trail of 5.5 miles (8.9 km), a northern extension of Heritage Rail Trail County Park, will join 42 miles (68 km) of existing trail that begins in Ashland, Maryland, and ends in York. Construction began on the trail extension in 2006.
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
in south-central Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, was formed in 1829 to make a navigable waterway along Codorus Creek
Codorus Creek
Codorus Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in York County, Pennsylvania in the United States.-Course:Codorus Creek rises on Beecher Hill in Manheim Township, just north of the Pennsylvania-Maryland line and the town of Lineboro, Maryland...
from York to the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, a distance of 11 miles (18 km). Plans called for 3 miles (4.8 km) of canal, 8 miles (12.9 km) of slack-water pools, 10 dams, and 13 locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
with an average lift of about 7 feet (2.1 m).
The first 3 miles (4.8 km) miles of the system were finished in 1832, allowing boats named Codorus and Pioneer to run passenger excursions between York and Barnitz's Springs. After the entire system was opened to boats, ark
Ark (river boat)
An ark was a temporary boat used for river transport in eastern North America before canals and railroads made them obsolete.Arks were built primarily to carry cargo downriver on the spring freshet to carry lumber or logs and agricultural produce to a port city downriver.Upon arrival, the cargo was...
s, and rafts in 1833, the first ark to reach York carried 40000 feet (12,192 m) of lumber and 100 passengers, and later arrivals brought such cargo as stone, coal, and shingles.
Plans originally included a second canal from the mouth of Codorus Creek along the Susquehanna to calm water above Chestnut Ripples. This would have made entrance into the Codorus system easier for craft coming down the river, but the extension canal, though started, was never finished. Competition from the York and Maryland Railroad, which connected York to Baltimore by 1838, and the Wrightsville, York and Gettysburg Railroad, which began operations in 1840, put the Codorus canal out of business by about 1850.
Codorus Navigation was one of several privately funded canals such as the Union Canal
Union Canal
Union Canal is a placename:* Union Canal , a canal in Scotland between Edinburgh and Falkirk* Union Canal , a nineteenth century canal in Pennsylvania, United States, closed in 1880...
that operated in Pennsylvania during the same era as the Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal refers generally to a complex system of canals, dams, locks, tow paths, aqueducts, and other infrastructure including, in some cases, railroads in Pennsylvania...
. Though the canal fell into disuse in the middle of the 19th century, parts of its graded towpath, once used by the mules that pulled the boats, are becoming part of a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
along Codorus Creek between York and John Rudy County Park. The trail of 5.5 miles (8.9 km), a northern extension of Heritage Rail Trail County Park, will join 42 miles (68 km) of existing trail that begins in Ashland, Maryland, and ends in York. Construction began on the trail extension in 2006.
Points of interest
| Feature | Coordinates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| York York, Pennsylvania York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862... |
39°57′45"N 76°43′40"W | City at the western terminus |
| Mouth River delta A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river... of Codorus Creek |
40°03′30"N 76°38′39"W | Creek mouth near the eastern terminus |