Clarion County's topography is diverse: precipitous on streams, rolling and hilly, good soil, good grazing, and highly cultivated.

From An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania -- Civil, Political, and Military -- from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Historical Descriptions of Each County in the State, Their Towns, and Industrial Resources, by William H. Egle, M.D.; published in 1876 by DeWitt C. Goodrich & Co., Harrisburg; pages 547-556:

• Schull's Run in the description of boundaries when Clarion County was established is now Ritchie's Run.
• Clarion County's average width is 24 miles, length 25 miles, with a total area of 600 square miles.

From Caldwell's Illustrated Historical Combination Atlas of Clarion Co., Pennsylvania, published by J. A. Caldwell, 1877.

This county is watered by many streams; hence the county presents a rolling character; and, although not belonging to the class called mountainous, yet may be termed hilly.  The undulating surface of the county presents scenery unsurpassed and picturesque.

Streams

The Allegheny River, which flows along the western border of Clarion County, rises in Potter County, Allegheny Township; after making a circuit in New York state it returns again to this state, and uniting with the Monongahela, at Pittsburgh, forms the Ohio.  It flows through a hilly country in which fine timber and stone coal are abundant, and it is navigable for small steamboats two hundred miles from Pittsburgh.  Its principal tributaries are on the east side:  Kiskiminitas River falls into the Allegheny at the West Penn. junction, Cowanshannock falls into the Allegheny at Monticello Mills.

Redbank Creek, which is formed by the junction of North Fork and Sandy Creek, at Brookville, Jefferson County, forms the boundary between Clarion and Armstrong counties, and falls into the Allegheny at Redbank Furnace.

Clarion River is formed by Cooper's Creek, which takes its source in the southern part of McKean County, and Little Toby Creek, which rises in the north-east part of Jefferson County; they unite in Spring Creek Township, and it flows in a south-western course through a portion of the northern part of Jefferson County, then forms the boundary between Jefferson and Forest counties; and it enters Clarion County at Cooksburg, forming the boundary between Farmington, Highland, Paint, Beaver (passing through Licking), and Richland townships on the north side, and townships of Mill Creek, Clarion, Monroe, Piney and Perry on the south side.

The tributaries of the Allegheny River on the west side are:  Oil Creek, which falls at Oil City; French Creek at Franklin, and Buffalo Creek at Freeport.

Toby Creek, tributary to the Clarion, rises in the north part of Farmington Township, flows across the corner of Highland, Knox, and through the eastern part of Paint Township, empties into the Clarion at Corbett's Mills; Paint Creek rises in the north-east part of Farmington Township, flows across Washington, Knox, and Paint into Elk, and unites with Deer Creek at Black's Furnace.

Deer Creek takes its source in the north part of Elk Township, and flows in a southerly direction, flowing into the Clarion at Piney (or Hahn's Ferry).

Canoe Creek rises in the south-east part of Ashland Township, and it passes by Tippecanoe Furnace and Eagle Furnace, on its way to the Clarion.

Beaver takes its rise in the south-west part of Ashland, and passes along the east border of Salem, then across the west part of Beaver Township to the Clarion; and Turkey Run heads in the south-west part of Salem Township and flows in a southerly direction, passing by Turkey City and Richland Furnace to the Clarion River.

Big Piney Creek, tributary to the Clarion, on the south side, takes its rise in Limestone Township, flows in a westerly direction by Greenville, Reidsburg in Monroe, and Madison Furnace in Piney Township, flowing into the Clarion at Piney, or Hahn's Ferry.

Brush Run rises in Clarion Township, flows west, passing by Williamsburg in Monroe Township, and empties into Big Piney near Madison Furnace.

Big Licking Creek heads in the south part of Monroe near Churchville, passes by Curllsville and Sligo, and the Clarion receives it at Callensburg.  Cherry Run rises in the south part of Toby Township, near Rimersburg, and flows in a north-west course into Big Piney Creek at Callensburg.

The following streams are tributary to Redbank Creek:  Leatherwood Run and Leasure's Run in Porter Township, and Town Run in Redbank Township.

From History of Clarion County, unknown compiler, published circa 1976.

Clarion County was within the oil producing region of the State and shared in the development of this natural resource.  The county was, at one time, a leading oil producer. In addition to an oil belt, the county has extensive gas fields; for glass making, good fire clay; and bituminous coal reserves.

Cook Forest State Park, a tract of 6,000 acres with a front of eight miles on the Clarion River, lies mostly in Clarion County and contains the largest stand of virgin white pine east of the Mississippi River.  The Clarion River provides an attractive scenic and recreational area.

Other Topographical Information

• I. D. Rupp's description of Clarion County's topography in 1847 is available on this Web site.  Use the Search feature to locate it.