Editing Allegheny River

{{short description|River in Pennsylvania and New York, United States}}
{{For|other uses of Allegheny|Allegheny (disambiguation)|Allegany (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox river
 | name                 = Allegheny River
 | native_name          = {{native name|unm|Alikehane}}
 | image                = Freeport bridge.jpg
 | image_caption        = The Allegheny River with [[Freeport, Pennsylvania]] in the background
 | mapframe             = yes
 | mapframe-zoom        = 6
 | source1_location     = [[Allegany Township, Pennsylvania]], near [[Coudersport, Pennsylvania]] at the corner of Ben Green and Cobb Hill Roads
 | source1_coordinates  = {{Coord|41|52|22|N|77|52|30|W|region:US-PA}}<ref name=gnis/>
 | mouth_location       = [[Ohio River]] at [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania
 | mouth_coordinates    = {{Coord|40|26|36|N|80|00|52|W|region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
 | mouth_elevation      = {{cvt|712|ft}}<ref name=gnis/>
 | subdivision_type1    = Country
 | subdivision_name1    = [[United States]]
 | subdivision_type2    = State
 | subdivision_name2    = [[Pennsylvania]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
 |length_mi=325
| source1_elevation    = {{cvt|2,450|ft}}<ref name=Sweden/>
 | discharge1_avg       = {{cvt|19750|cuft/s|m3/s}} at the village of [[Natrona, Pennsylvania|Natrona]], PA (river mile 24.3)<ref>[http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/03049500.2009.pdf USGS Data Report 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214114158/https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2009/pdfs/03049500.2009.pdf |date=February 14, 2021 }} Retrieved June 16, 2018.</ref>
 |basin_size_mi2=11580
| tributaries_right    = [[Conewango Creek]], [[Brokenstraw Creek]], [[Oil Creek (Allegheny River)|Oil Creek]], [[French Creek (Allegheny River)|French Creek]], [[Bull Creek (Allegheny River)|Bull Creek]], [[Deer Creek (Allegheny River)|Deer Creek]], [[Squaw Run (Allegheny River)|Squaw Run]], [[Pine Creek (Allegheny River)|Pine Creek]], [[Girtys Run]], [[Pucketa Creek]]
 | tributaries_left     = [[Tionesta Creek]], [[Clarion River]], [[Redbank Creek (Pennsylvania)|Redbank Creek]], [[Mahoning Creek (Allegheny River)|Mahoning Creek]], [[Crooked Creek (Allegheny River)|Crooked Creek]], [[Kiskiminetas River]], [[Buffalo Creek (Allegheny River)|Buffalo Creek]], [[Chartiers Run (Allegheny River)|Chartiers Run]]
 | progression          = Allegheny River → [[Ohio River]] → [[Mississippi River]] → [[Gulf of Mexico]]
 | custom_data          = {{Designation list
  | embed               = yes
  | designation1        = nwsr
  | designation1_type   = Recreational
  | designation1_date   = April 20, 1992
  | designation1_number =
 }}
 | extra                = 
}}

The '''Allegheny River''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|l|ɪ|ˈ|ɡ|eɪ|n|i}} {{respell|AL|ig|AY|nee}}; {{langx|see|Ohi:yo'}}; {{langx|unm|Alikehane}}) is a {{convert|325|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tributary of the [[Ohio River]] that is located in western [[Pennsylvania]] and [[New York (state)|New York]] in the United States. It runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border, northwesterly into New York, then in a zigzag southwesterly across the border and through [[Western Pennsylvania]] to join the [[Monongahela River]] at the [[Forks of the Ohio]] at [[Point State Park]] in [[Downtown Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania.

The Allegheny River is, by volume, the main [[headstream]] of both the Ohio and [[Mississippi River]]s. Historically, the Allegheny was considered to be the upper Ohio River by both Native Americans and European settlers.

This shallow river has been made navigable upstream from Pittsburgh to [[East Brady, Pennsylvania|East Brady]] by a series of locks and dams that were constructed during the early 20th century. A 24-mile-long portion of the upper river in [[Warren County, Pennsylvania|Warren]] and [[McKean County, Pennsylvania|McKean]] counties of Pennsylvania and [[Cattaraugus County, New York|Cattaraugus County]] in New York forms the [[Allegheny Reservoir]], which was created by the erection of the [[Kinzua Dam]] in 1965 for [[flood control]].

The etymology behind the word “Allegheny” is of unclear pre-Columbian origin and may be derived from one of a number of [[Delaware language|Delaware]]/[[Unami language|Unami]] phrases that are homophones of the English name, with varying translations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.alleganyhistory.org/research/county-history/2094-allegany-the-name | title=Allegany - the Name }}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Gwash map01.jpg|thumb|In this sketch by [[George Washington]], the Allegheny River is named '''Ohio''']]
The name ''Allegheny'' probably comes from [[Lenape language|Lenape]] ''welhik hane''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.talk-lenape.org/detail.php?id=10687 |title=welhik |work=Lenape Talking Dictionary |access-date=December 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004214046/http://www.talk-lenape.org/detail.php?id=10687 |archive-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>"Heckewelder here does not give the strict meaning of ''hanne''. The word in common use among Algonkin [i.e., Algonquian] tribes for river is ''sipu'', and this includes the idea of 'a stream of flowing water'. But in the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia ''sipu'' did not sufficiently convey the idea of a rapid stream, roaring down mountain gorges, and ''hanne'' takes its place to designate not a mere ''sipu'', or flowing river, but a rapid mountain stream." {{cite journal |author=Russell, Erret |year=1885 |title=Indian Geographical Names |journal=[[Magazine of Western History]] |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=53–59 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2oKAQAAMAAJ}}</ref> or ''oolikhanna,'' which means 'best flowing river of the hills' or 'beautiful stream'.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Composition of Indian Geographical Names |author=Trumbull, J. Hammond |author-link=James Hammond Trumbull |year=1870 |publisher=Case, Lockwood & Brainard|location=Hartford, Connecticut |pages=13–14 |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18279/18279-h/18279-h.htm}}</ref> There is a [[Lenape]] legend of a tribe called "Talligewi" who used to live along the river.<ref name="Stewart"/> [[Frederick Webb Hodge]] cited [[Henry Schoolcraft]] to connect the "Talligewi" to the [[Cherokee]].<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hodge |editor1-first=Frederick Webb |date=1907 |title=Handbook of American Indians north of Mexico |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookamindians02hodgrich |location=Washington |publisher=Government Printing Office |pages=[https://archive.org/details/handbookamindians02hodgrich/page/245 245]-249}}</ref>

The following account of the origin of the name ''Allegheny'' was given in 1780 by Moravian missionary [[David Zeisberger]]: "All this land and region, stretching as far as the creeks and waters that flow into the Alleghene the Delawares called Alligewinenk, which means 'a land into which they came from distant parts'. The river itself, however, is called Alligewi Sipo. The whites have made Alleghene out of this, the [[Iroquois Confederacy|Six Nations]] calling the river the Ohio."<ref>{{cite book |title=David Zeisberger's History of the Northern American Indians in 18th Century Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania |author=Zeisberger, David |author-link=David Zeisberger |year=1999 |publisher=Wennawoods Publishing |isbn=1-889037-17-6 |page=33}}</ref>

The [[Delaware Tribe of Indians]] gives the Lenape name as ''Alikehane'', "river where footprints can be seen."<ref>{{cite web|title=Allegheny River (River where footprints can be seen)|url=https://www.talk-lenape.org/detail?id=18498|publisher=Lenape Talking Dictionary|access-date=2023-12-13|date=2023}}</ref>

Native Americans, including the Lenape and [[Iroquois]], considered the Allegheny and Ohio rivers as the same, as is suggested by a New York State road sign on [[Interstate 86 (east)|Interstate 86]] that refers to the Allegheny River also as ''Ohiːyo'''.<ref name="Stewart">{{Cite book |title=Names on the Land |url=https://archive.org/details/namesonlandhisto0000stew |url-access=registration |last=Stewart |first=George R. |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company |year=1967 |isbn=0-938530-02-X |location=Boston, Massachusetts |page=[https://archive.org/details/namesonlandhisto0000stew/page/8 8]}}<!-- |access-date=2009-05-10--></ref> The [[Geographic Names Information System]] lists ''O-hee-yo'' and ''O-hi-o'' as variant names.<ref name="GNIS1"/> The river is called Ohi:'i:o` (river beautiful) in the [[Seneca language]].<ref name="sacredtexts">{{cite web |title=Glossary of Seneca Words |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/iro/parker/cohl167.htm |website=Internet Sacred Text Archive}}</ref> In New York, areas around the river are often named with the alternate spelling ''Allegany'' in reference to the river; for example, the Village of Allegany and [[Allegany State Park]]. [[Port Allegany]], located along the river in Pennsylvania near the border with New York, also follows this pattern.

==Course==
[[File:Allegheny River Bend.jpg|thumb|Much of the Allegheny River's course is through hilly woodlands.]]
The Allegheny River rises in north central Pennsylvania, on Cobb Hill in [[Allegany Township, Pennsylvania|Allegany Township]] in north central [[Potter County, Pennsylvania|Potter County]],<ref name=gnis>{{Cite GNIS|1209386|Allegheny River}}</ref><ref name=Sweden>''Sweden Valley, PA,'' 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1969 (1972 rev.)</ref> {{convert|8|mi|km}} south of the [[New York–Pennsylvania border]] and a few miles northwest of the eastern [[triple divide]]. The stream flows south and passes under [[Pennsylvania Route 49]] 11 miles northeast of [[Coudersport, Pennsylvania|Coudersport]] where a historical marker that declares the start of the river is located. Cobb Hill is about a mile north. The stream flows southwest paralleling Route 49 to Coudersport.<ref name=Sweden/>

The route continues west to [[Port Allegany, Pennsylvania|Port Allegany]], where thereafter the river joins with a number of small streams and widens considerably before turning north and crossing into western New York.<ref>''Bradford, PA,'' 1:100,000 Scale Topographic Map, USGS, 1980</ref> Looping westward across southern [[Cattaraugus County, New York|Cattaraugus County]] for approximately {{convert|30|mi|km}}, past [[Portville, New York|Portville]], [[Olean, New York|Olean]], [[Allegany, New York|Allegany]] and [[Salamanca (city), New York|Salamanca]], the river flows through [[Seneca Nation of New York|Seneca Indian Nation]] lands close to the northern boundary of [[Allegany State Park]] before re-entering [[Northwest Region (Pennsylvania)|northwestern Pennsylvania]] within the [[Allegheny Reservoir]] just east of the [[Warren County, Pennsylvania|Warren]]-[[McKean County, Pennsylvania|McKean county]] line, approx. {{convert|10|mi|km}} northeast of [[Warren, Pennsylvania|Warren]].<ref>''Olean, NY,'' 1:100,000 Scale Topographic Map, USGS, 1986</ref>

It flows in a broad zigzag course generally southwest across [[Western Pennsylvania]]; first flowing southwest past Warren, [[Tidioute]], [[Tionesta, Pennsylvania|Tionesta]], [[Oil City, Pennsylvania|Oil City]], and [[Franklin, Pennsylvania|Franklin]], forming much of the northwestern boundary of [[Allegheny National Forest]]. South of Franklin it turns southeast across [[Clarion County, Pennsylvania|Clarion County]] in a [[meander]]ing course, then turns again southwest across [[Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Armstrong County]], flowing past [[Kittanning, Pennsylvania|Kittanning]], [[Ford City, Pennsylvania|Ford City]], [[Clinton, Pennsylvania|Clinton]], and [[Freeport, Pennsylvania|Freeport]].<ref>''Warren, PA,'' 1:100,000 Scale Topographic Map, USGS, 1983</ref><ref>''Oil City, PA,'' 1:100,000 Scale Topographic Map, USGS, 1983</ref><ref>''Indiana, PA,'' 1:100,000 Scale Topographic Map, USGS, 1983</ref>
[[File:USACE Lock and Dam 2 Allegheny.jpg|thumb|The [[Highland Park Bridge]] crosses the Allegheny River at [[Aspinwall, Pennsylvania|Aspinwall]], [[Pennsylvania]], just above [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 2]].]]

The river enters both [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]] and [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland]] counties, the [[Greater Pittsburgh Region|Pittsburgh suburbs]], and the [[Pittsburgh|City of Pittsburgh]] from the northeast. It passes the [[North Side (Pittsburgh)|North Side]], [[downtown Pittsburgh]], and [[Point State Park]]. The Allegheny joins with the [[Monongahela River]] at the "Point" in downtown Pittsburgh to form the [[Ohio River]].<ref>''Pittsburg East'' and ''Pittsburg West'' 1:100,000 Scale Topographic Maps, USGS, 1986</ref>

==Hydrography==
{{Further|Geography of Pennsylvania}}
[[File:Headwater Stream (1).jpg|thumb|right|The headwaters of the Allegheny River are in this meadow in [[Potter County, Pennsylvania|Potter County]]]]
[[File:Alleghenyrivermap.png|thumb|right|The Allegheny River [[drainage basin]] covers parts of [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States.]]
The [[river]] is approximately {{cvt|325|mi}} long, running through the [[U.S. state]]s of [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name="GNIS1">{{Cite gnis |id=1209386 |name=Allegheny River |access-date=May 13, 2010}}</ref> It drains a rural [[dissected plateau]] of {{cvt|11580|sqmi|km2}} in the northern [[Allegheny Plateau]], providing the northeasternmost drainage in the watershed of the Mississippi River. Its tributaries reach to within {{cvt|8|mi}} of [[Lake Erie]] in southwestern New York.

Water from the Allegheny River eventually flows into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] via the Ohio and [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] rivers.

The Allegheny Valley has been one of the most productive areas of [[fossil fuel]] extraction in United States history, with its extensive deposits of [[coal]], [[petroleum]], and [[natural gas]].

===Tributaries===
{{Main|Tributaries of the Allegheny River}}
In its upper reaches, the Allegheny River is joined from the south by [[Potato Creek (Pennsylvania)|Potato Creek]] {{cvt|1.7|mi|km}} downstream of [[Coryville, Pennsylvania|Coryville]], Pennsylvania and from the north by [[Olean Creek]] at Olean, New York. [[Tunungwant Creek|Tunungwant "Tuna" Creek]] joins the river from the south in Carrollton, New York (flowing north from Bradford, Pennsylvania); the [[Great Valley Creek]] and [[Little Valley Creek (Allegheny River)|Little Valley Creek]] join the river from the north at Salamanca, New York before becoming the [[Allegheny Reservoir]].

After re-entering Pennsylvania, the river is joined from the east by [[Kinzua Creek]] {{cvt|10|mi|km}} upstream of Warren; from the north by [[Conewango Creek]] at Warren; from the west by [[Brokenstraw Creek]]; from the east by East Hickory Creek at East Hickory; from the east by [[Tionesta Creek]] at Tionesta; from the north by [[Oil Creek (Allegheny River)|Oil Creek]] at Oil City; from the west by [[French Creek (Allegheny River)|French Creek]] at Franklin; from the east by the [[Clarion River]], a principal tributary, at Parker; from the east by [[Crooked Creek (Allegheny River)|Crooked Creek]] southeast of Kittanning; and from the east by the [[Kiskiminetas River]], another principal tributary, at Schenley.

[[Buffalo Creek (Allegheny River)|Buffalo Creek]] enters at Freeport, [[Chartiers Run (Allegheny River)|Chartiers Run]] enters at Lower Burrell, [[Bull Creek (Allegheny River)|Bull Creek]] enters at Tarentum, [[Pucketa Creek]] enters near New Kensington, [[Riddle Run]] enters at Springdale, and [[Girtys Run]] enters at Millvale. And finally, the confluence of the [[Monongahela River]] and Allegheny form the [[Ohio River]] at downtown Pittsburgh. Many additional [[stream]]s enter or join with the Allegheny River along its course.

===Locks, dams and bridges===
{{further|List of crossings of the Allegheny River}}
[[File:Allegheny Islands State Park, C.W. Bill Young Lock and Dam.jpg|thumb|The eastern part of [[Allegheny Islands State Park]] and the [[C. W. Bill Young Lock and Dam]] (No. 3) on the Allegheny River]]

Several locks were built in the early 20th century to make the Allegheny River navigable for 72 miles upstream from Pittsburgh to [[East Brady, Pennsylvania|East Brady]].

The Allegheny River has eight [[Lock (water navigation)|locks]] and [[fixed-crest dam]]s<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fishandboat.com/Zone1/Documents/fixedCrestDams.pdf |title=Know the Rivers! |website=fishandboat.com |quote=All dams on the Allegheny River are Fixed Crest}}</ref> numbered two through nine: Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 2|2]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 3|3]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 4|4]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 5|5]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 6|6]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7|7]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 8|8]], [[Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 9|9]] which form corresponding reservoirs.

The river is also impounded by the [[Kinzua Dam]] in northwestern Pennsylvania, resulting in the [[Allegheny Reservoir]] also known as Kinzua Lake and Lake Perfidy among the Seneca. The [[Seneca Pumped Storage Generating Station]] is associated with Kinzua Dam.

Numerous bridges and tunnels span the river throughout its course. The [[Allegheny River Tunnel]], utilized by [[Pittsburgh Light Rail]], went into service in 2012.

==History==

In the latter half of the 17th century, control of the river [[valley]] passed back-and-forth between [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking [[Shawnee]] and the [[Iroquois]]. By the time of the arrival of [[French colonial empire|French colonialists]] in the early 18th century, the Shawnee were once again in control and formed an alliance with France against attempts by colonists from [[British North America]] to settler across the [[Allegheny Mountains]]. The conflict over the expansion of Anglo-American settlement into the Allegheny Valley and the surrounding [[Ohio Country]] was a primary cause of the [[French and Indian War]] in the 1750s.<ref name=MacCorkle>{{cite web |last=MacCorkle |first=William Alexander |title=The historical and other relations of Pittsburgh and the Virginias |url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;idno=00aee8941m;node=00aee8941m%3A1.3;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=11;page=root;size=s |work=Historic Pittsburgh General Text Collection |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref> During the war, the village of [[Kittanning (village)|Kittanning]] – the principal Shawnee settlement on the river – was completely destroyed during the [[Kittanning Expedition]], which saw 300 [[Provincial troops in the French and Indian Wars|provincial troops]] from the [[Province of Pennsylvania]] brutally attack the settlement.

After gaining control of the area in the 1763 [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]], the British kept the area closed to Anglo-American colonists, in part to repair and maintain relations with the Native Americans. After the [[American Revolutionary War]], the entire river valley became part of the new [[United States]], and U.S. settlers forcibly displaced the region's indigenous population. During the 19th century, the river became a principal means of navigation in the upper Ohio valley, especially for the transport of coal. Although the building of the railroads lessened the importance of the river somewhat, the lower river (navigable as far as [[East Brady, Pennsylvania|East Brady]], Pennsylvania through locks) has continued to serve as a route of commercial transportation until the present day. In 1859, the first U.S. petroleum was drilled north of the river at [[Titusville, Pennsylvania|Titusville]]. One of the underlying premises of the [[Genesee Valley Canal]] was its connection to the river, opening a trade route from [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], New York to the west. The advent of the railroads obviated any interest Pennsylvania might have had in participating to improve navigation on the river. The canal was closed in 1877 and the right-of-way sold to the [[Genesee Valley Canal Railroad]].
[[File:Cornplanter.jpg|thumb|upright|Seneca Chief [[Cornplanter]]]]

In 1965, the completion of the federally sponsored [[Kinzua Dam]] for [[flood]]-control in northwestern Pennsylvania east of Warren created the long [[Allegheny Reservoir]], known as Lake Perfidy among the Seneca, part of which is included in the [[Allegheny National Recreation Area]]. The dam flooded parts of lands deeded "forever" to the [[Seneca Nation of Indians]] by the 1794 [[Treaty of Canandaigua]], and lands given to [[Cornplanter]] and his descendants. The event was described in the [[Johnny Cash]] song "As Long as the Grass Shall Grow" from the 1964 album ''[[Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian]]'', which focused on the history of and problems facing Native Americans in the United States.

The construction of the dam and the filling of the Allegheny Reservoir also necessitated the elimination of the small village of [[Corydon, Pennsylvania|Corydon]], which was located at the confluence of Willow Creek with the Allegheny River; and the small village of [[Kinzua, Pennsylvania|Kinzua]], which was located at the confluence of Kinzua Creek with the Allegheny River. All residents of both villages were forced to move.
[[File:USACE Kinzua Dam upriver.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Kinzua Dam]] and [[Allegheny Reservoir]]]]

Many prominent individuals opposed the construction of the dam at that time because of the damage it would do to Seneca lands, including Pennsylvania Congressman [[John P. Saylor]] of [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania|Johnstown]], and [[Howard Zahniser]], executive director of [[The Wilderness Society (United States)|The Wilderness Society]] and native of Tionesta—a small settlement located along the Allegheny River several miles downstream from Warren. During the campaign for the [[1960 United States presidential election]], [[John F. Kennedy]] assured the Seneca Nation that he would oppose the dam if elected. However, he failed to follow through on his pledge upon becoming president.

In 1992, {{cvt|86.6|mi}} of the Allegheny River was designated [[National Wild and Scenic River|Wild and Scenic]]. This designation comprises three segments of the river located in [[Warren County, Pennsylvania|Warren]], [[Forest County, Pennsylvania|Forest]], and [[Venango County, Pennsylvania|Venango]] counties.<ref>[https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/allegheny/recarea/?recid=81938 Allegheny Wild and Scenic River] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616232748/https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/allegheny/recarea/?recid=81938 |date=June 16, 2018 }} – Allegheny National Forest. Retrieved June 16, 2018.</ref>

==In popular culture==
Depression-era folk singer Buster Red recorded "Allegheny River", wherein the river is a destructive force throughout life, but not necessarily a malignant one.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/run-all-dry-blues/Allegheny+River.wav | title=Buster Red 78's }}</ref>

Folksinger Pete Seeger's song "Where the Old Allegheny and Monongahela Flow", depicts a character living in a city pining for a return to the Allegheny River.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Num7ngEACAAJ | title=Written on Water: Writings about the Allegheny River | isbn=978-1-936419-30-2 | last1=Ruggieri | first1=Helen | last2=Underhill | first2=Linda | date=2013 | publisher=Mayapple Press }}</ref>

[[Old Crow Medicine Show]] released a song entitled "Allegheny Lullaby" that detailed life along the Allegheny in late 20th century [[Rust Belt]] towns, the river serving as a metaphor for escape.

In 2008, [[Katie Spotz]] became the first person to swim the entire {{cvt|325|mi}} of the Allegheny River; she was accompanied by safety kayaker, James Hendershott.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://triblive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_583539.html |title=Ohio woman swimming length of Allegheny River |author=Shuster, Patrick |author2=Garrone, Francine |date=August 18, 2008 |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |publisher=Tribune-Review Publishing Company |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> The team began at the river's source in Warren, Pennsylvania on July 22 and finished at the "Point" in Downtown Pittsburgh on August 21.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://triblive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_584224.html |title=Ohio swimmer completes 325-mile swim of Allegheny |author=Nephin, Dan |date=August 22, 2008 |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |publisher=Tribune-Review Publishing Company |access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017 the documentary ''Lake of Betrayal'' was released detailing the struggle of the Seneca Nation over the [[Kinzua Dam]] project on the Allegheny in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3888834/ | title=Lake of Betrayal: The Story of Kinzua Dam | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

==Settlements==

===New York===
{{div col|colwidth=17em}}
*[[Allegany (village), New York|Allegany]]
*[[Carrollton, New York|Carrollton]]
*[[Jimerson Town, New York|Jimerson Town]]
*[[Olean (city), New York|Olean]]
*[[Portville (village), New York|Portville]]
*[[St. Bonaventure, New York|St. Bonaventure]]
*[[Salamanca (city), New York|Salamanca]]
*[[Weston Mills, New York|Weston Mills]]
{{div col end}}

===Pennsylvania===
[[File:Foxburg pa.JPG|thumb|240px|The Allegheny River at [[Foxburg, Pennsylvania|Foxburg]], Pennsylvania]]
[[File:Allegheny Monongahela Ohio.jpg|thumb|right|The Allegheny (left) and [[Monongahela River|Monongahela]] (right) join to form the [[Ohio River]] at [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania.]]
{{div col|colwidth=17em}}
*[[Applewold, Pennsylvania|Applewold]]
*[[Arnold, Pennsylvania|Arnold]]
*[[Aspinwall, Pennsylvania|Aspinwall]]
*[[Blawnox, Pennsylvania|Blawnox]]
*[[Brackenridge, Pennsylvania|Brackenridge]]
*[[Cheswick, Pennsylvania|Cheswick]]
*[[Coudersport, Pennsylvania|Coudersport]]
*[[Creighton, Pennsylvania|Creighton]]
*[[East Brady, Pennsylvania|East Brady]]
*[[East Hickory, Pennsylvania|East Hickory]]
*[[Eldred, Pennsylvania|Eldred]]
*[[Emlenton, Pennsylvania|Emlenton]]
*[[Etna, Pennsylvania|Etna]]
*[[Ford City, Pennsylvania|Ford City]]
*[[Foxburg, Pennsylvania|Foxburg]]
*[[Franklin, Pennsylvania|Franklin]]
*[[Freeport, Pennsylvania|Freeport]]
*[[Harmarville, Pennsylvania|Harmarville]]
*[[Kennerdell, Pennsylvania|Kennerdell]]
*[[Kittanning, Pennsylvania|Kittanning]]
*[[Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania|Lower Burrell]]
*[[Manorville, Pennsylvania|Manorville]]
*[[Millvale, Pennsylvania|Millvale]]
*[[Natrona, Pennsylvania|Natrona]]
*[[New Kensington, Pennsylvania|New Kensington]]
*[[Oakmont, Pennsylvania|Oakmont]]
*[[Oil City, Pennsylvania|Oil City]]
*[[Parker, Pennsylvania|Parker]]
*[[Penn Hills, Pennsylvania|Penn Hills]]
*[[Pittsburgh]]
*[[Plum, Pennsylvania|Plum]]
*[[Port Allegany, Pennsylvania|Port Allegany]]
*[[Roulette, Pennsylvania|Roulette]]
*[[Schenley, Pennsylvania|Schenley]]
*[[Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania|Sharpsburg]]
*[[Springdale, Pennsylvania|Springdale]]
*[[Starbrick, Pennsylvania|Starbrick]]
*[[Tarentum, Pennsylvania|Tarentum]]
*[[Templeton, Pennsylvania|Templeton]]
*[[Tidioute, Pennsylvania|Tidioute]]
*[[Tionesta, Pennsylvania|Tionesta]]
*[[Verona, Pennsylvania|Verona]]
*[[Warren, Pennsylvania|Warren]]
*[[West Hickory, Pennsylvania|West Hickory]]
*[[West Kittanning, Pennsylvania|West Kittanning]]
*[[Woodland Heights, Pennsylvania|Woodland Heights]]
*[[Youngsville, Pennsylvania|Youngsville]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Allegheny Islands State Park]]
*[[Allegheny Riverfront Park]]
*[[List of rivers of New York]]
*[[List of rivers of Pennsylvania]]
*[[Pittsburgh Flood of 1936]]
*[[Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Schafer |first=Jim |author2=Mike Sajna |title=The Allegheny River: Watershed of the Nation |publisher=[[Penn State University Press|The Pennsylvania State University Press]] |location=University Park, Pennsylvania, US |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-271-00836-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Allegheny River}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160210070243/http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/current?type=flow U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gauging stations]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Allegheny River|Allegheny River]]
[[Category:Rivers of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Rivers of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States]]
[[Category:Geography of Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Rivers of Cattaraugus County, New York]]
[[Category:Rivers of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Clarion County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Venango County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Butler County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Forest County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Warren County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of McKean County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Potter County, Pennsylvania]]