Junction Canal

Last updated
Junction Canal
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Map of historic Pennsylvania canals and connecting railroads
Specifications
Locks11
StatusAbandoned except for historic interest
History
Original ownerJunction Canal Company
Construction began1853
Date of first use1854
Date completed1858
Date closed1871
Geography
Start point Elmira, New York
End point Athens, Pennsylvania
Connects to Chemung Canal, Pennsylvania Canal (North Branch Division)

The Junction Canal was a canal in the states of New York and Pennsylvania in the United States. The canal was also called the Arnot Canal, after the name of its principal stockholder, John Arnot of Elmira, New York. The canal was built and operated by a private stock company. The canal was partly open in 1854, but the entire length was not finished until 1858. The completed canal was 18 miles (29 km) long and had 11 locks. Then intent was to lengthen the reach of the Chemung Canal deeper into Pennsylvania in order to connect to the canal systems there. Competition with railroads led to diminished use of the canal. In 1865 the canal was severely damaged by a flood. In 1866, the stock company was authorized to change its name to the "Junction Canal and Railroad Company," and work commenced in constructing a railroad on its right of way. The canal was last used in 1871, and was then abandoned. [1]

Canal man-made channel for water

Canals, or navigations, are human-made channels, or artificial waterways, for water conveyance, or to service water transport vehicles.

New York (state) State of the United States of America

New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With an estimated 19.54 million residents in 2018, it is the fourth most populous state. To distinguish the state from the city with the same name, it is sometimes called New York State.

Pennsylvania State of the United States of America

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Appalachian Mountains run through its middle. The Commonwealth is bordered by Delaware to the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario to the northwest, New York to the north, and New Jersey to the east.

Contents

Points of interest

FeatureCoordinatesDescription
Elmira, New York 42°05′23″N76°48′28″W / 42.08972°N 76.80778°W / 42.08972; -76.80778 (Elmira, New York) Coordinates: 42°05′23″N76°48′28″W / 42.08972°N 76.80778°W / 42.08972; -76.80778 (Elmira, New York) [2] City at the northern terminus
Athens, Pennsylvania 41°57′26″N76°31′05″W / 41.95722°N 76.51806°W / 41.95722; -76.51806 (Athens, Pennsylvania) [3] Borough near the southern terminus

See also

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References

  1. Whitford, Noble E. (1906). Supplement to the Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York: History of the Canal System of the State of New York Together with Brief Histories of the Canals of the United States and Canada, Volume I, Chapter XXI: The Junction Canal. Albany: Brandow Printing Company. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  2. "Elmira". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 2, 1979. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  3. "Athens". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1990. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
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