Mill Creek (White Clay Creek)

Mill Creek is a 9.6-mile-long (15.4 km) stream principally located in northern New Castle County, Delaware, a tributary of the White Clay Creek. It takes its name the large number of mills (mostly gristmills and sawmills) located along it during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

It originates a short distance over the state line near Kaolin, Pennsylvania and flows east, then south into Delaware. It passes under the Lancaster Pike at Hockessin, where Swift Memorial Park has been laid out along the stream between Old Lancaster Pike and the Wilmington and Western Railroad tracks. Leaving Hockessin, the stream turns slightly to the west, and then sharply towards the southeast to flow through a deep, wooded gorge between suburban developments. Further down the gorge, Mill Creek passes through Limestone Hills Park, and then forms the western boundary of the DelCastle Recreation Area. Continuing south and passing under Limestone Road, the hills on either side diminish in height, and development increases, although the steep sides have protected the creek from direct encroachment. Passing through the neighborhood known as "Milltown", Lindell Park lies along the creek between Milltown Road and Kirkwood Highway. Below Kirkwood Highway, the valley begins to open, and the creek skirts Delaware Park and passes under the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike just before it empties into the White Clay.

Famous quotes containing the words mill, creek and/or clay:

    The only power deserving the name is that of masses, and of governments while they make themselves the organ of the tendencies and instincts of masses.
    —John Stuart Mill (1806–1873)

    The only law was that enforced by the Creek Lighthorsemen and the U.S. deputy marshals who paid rare and brief visits; or the “two volumes of common law” that every man carried strapped to his thighs.
    State of Oklahoma, U.S. relief program (1935-1943)

    He is in the tailor mending my pantsuit.
    He is in Boston, raised up by the skyscrapers.
    He is in the bird, that shameless flyer.
    He is in the potter who makes clay into a kiss.
    Heaven replies:
    Not so! Not so!
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)