Neshannock Creek, meaning “place of two streams” in the Delaware language, flows through Mercer and Lawrence Counties in Pennsylvania. The creek is known for its excellent trout fishing and is designated as a Keystone Select Stocked Trout Water, especially in areas like Volant. It stretches for 25.65 miles (41.28 km) as a tributary to the Shenango River, beginning at the confluence of Cool Spring and Otter Creek in Mercer County and flowing south into Lawrence County. The creek is particularly popular for fly fishing around Volant, Pennsylvania. This creek sees a very nice variety and quality of hatches. The Granham hatches unmatched for any western Pennsylvania stream and the brown drakes that come off towards the afternoon and evening are almost never fished. Keep in mind this dream by the middle of June if temperatures have hit the 80s consistently will not be a great place to spend an entire day. Although it’s known for its keystone select waters the Pennsylvania fish and boat commission supplies many more access points and stocking locations throughout the course of its run down into the Shenango river. This stream holds rainbows, brown trout, and golden rainbows.

Early Exploration and Native American Inhabitants
The area surrounding Neshannock Creek has a rich history dating back nearly 100 years before any formal settlement occurred. During the early 1700s, the Beaver Valley served as a natural route for explorers, traders, missionaries, and soldiers traveling between the Ohio River and northern regions such as Lake Erie and northern Ohio. Native American groups, particularly the Delawares, inhabited the region, and it was they who gave Neshannock its name, meaning “Place of Two Rivers.”

State Land Claim and Native American Discontent
After the Native Americans received a small compensation from the state, Pennsylvania claimed the land. In 1785, the state designated the area, including Neshannock, to be subdivided and given to Pennsylvania veterans of the Revolutionary War. However, the Native Americans were not satisfied with this arrangement and resisted relocation. This conflict delayed settlement in the region until approximately 1798.

First Settlers and Development

Thomas Fisher is likely considered Neshannock’s first settler. In 1799, he cleared a farm along Camp Run and later established a gristmill and sawmill on Fisher’s Run. Early settlers in the area were predominantly farmers, and New Castle emerged as the region’s commercial and manufacturing hub.

**Industrial Growth**
Rich clay deposits in Neshannock attracted potter Johnston Watson, who established a pottery business along the New Castle-Mercer Road. By 1845, coal mining began in the area, and the New Castle Railroad and Mining Company was founded in 1866. This company played a significant role in the mining industry and set up a narrow-gauge railroad between New Castle and the mines. Over time, a small mining town called Coal Centre, or Coaltown, developed in the area.

Source: https://www.neshannock.org/history