fbpx
Wikipedia

Crowley's Ridge

February 15, 2024

For the former department store, see Crowley's.

Crowley's Ridge (also Crowleys Ridge) is a geological formation that rises 250 to 550 feet (170 m) above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment in a 150-mile (240 km) line from southeastern Missouri to the Mississippi River near Helena, Arkansas. It is the most prominent feature in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain between Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Crowley's Ridge runs through the Mississippi embayment in this shaded-relief map.

This narrow rolling hill region rising above the flat plain is the sixth, and smallest, natural division of the state of Arkansas. The southern part is protected within Ozark–St. Francis National Forest.

Most of the major cities of the Arkansas Delta region lie along Crowley's Ridge. It was named after Benjamin Crowley, known as the first American settler to reach the area, sometime around 1820. The Civil War Battle of Chalk Bluff was fought on Crowley's Ridge on May 1–2, 1863.

Composition and origin edit

The ridge is primarily composed of the windblown glacially derived sediment known as loess. It contrasts greatly with the flat table land around it and with the black soil that makes up the delta. The ridge varies from half a mile to 12 miles (19 km) wide and reaches an elevation of 550 feet (170 m) near its northern extremity. The highest point on the ridge in Arkansas is "Legacy Mountain" at the Craighead County solid waste site south of Jonesboro.

Prevailing winds blow dust into the river fogs. The fog wetted dust tends to fall and make loess deposits on the downwind sides of rivers, such as the east and north sides of the Mississippi River, as well as the east side of the Black River.[1] These loess deposits are a classic example of periglacial loess.[2][3] Crowley's Ridge is a natural loess accumulation point. A comparable example of this type of deposit is the Loess Hills in northwestern Missouri and western Iowa.

At one time, the ridge was thought to have been an island between the Mississippi River and Ohio River that was isolated as a long low hilly ridge after the rivers changed course millions of years ago.[4] Recent seismic evidence, however, questions the fluvial origin by focusing on uplift along ridge bounding faults.[5]

There is evidence that the area's elevation has increased over the years, suggesting that uplift is still taking place. This alternative explanation posits a link between the ridge and the nearby New Madrid Seismic Zone.[5]

Soils and vegetation edit

The flora and fauna of the ridge seem more closely related to the Tennessee hills to the east than to the Ozark Mountains to the west. This unique habitat has been protected by the establishment of several state and city parks, the St. Francis National Forest, recreational lakes, and in 1997 a national scenic byway, the Crowley's Ridge Parkway.[6][7]

The soils in this area are moderately fertile and sometimes rich. The land is moderately rugged, discouraging row-crop agriculture. These soils are easily eroded. There is some commercial agriculture in the loessal plains area of the ridge. The ridge is surrounded by the fertile lands of the delta region. The vegetation is predominantly oak and hickory forests, similar to vegetation found in the Appalachian Mountains. Examples are the tulip tree (or yellow poplar) and the American beech. Ferns and flowers abound here, including the American bellflower, fire pink, butterfly weed, cardinal flower, blue lobelia, phlox, verbena, wild hydrangea, hibiscus, aster, and yellow jasmine. The low-lying areas around the ridge were once much swampier, and the ridge provided a natural and more healthful place for settlers to establish homes. The ridge became a natural north-south communications link for the region, since travel along the ridge was much easier than through the swampy lowlands.[8]

Fossils edit

The region adjacent to the ridge is covered with thick deltaic soils, and few fossils are found except in gravel pits. These pits sometimes reveal the teeth of large mastodons, mammoths and horses, which roamed the continent as recently as 10,000 years ago. Crowley's Ridge contains important exposures of fossiliferous Tertiary sediments and contains the only documented Miocene exposures in the state. A silicified conifer stump weighing several tons was unearthed near Wittsburg, and many more were found around Piggott. Mastodon bones were found within the city limits of Helena at the southern end of the ridge. Near Forrest City, in the bed of Crow Creek, a deposit of oyster shells estimated to be nearly 7,000,000 cubic yards in size was discovered.[8]

Namesake edit

 
Grave of Benjamin Crowley in Shiloh Cemetery at Crowley's Ridge State Park west of Paragould, Arkansas. The inscription reads "Benjamin Crowley - 1758-1842 - The man for whom Crowley's Ridge is named"

Crowley's Ridge is named after Benjamin Crowley (1758–1842), the first American settler of the Ridge near Paragould, Arkansas. Crowley is buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in Greene County, Arkansas, and a monument marks the spot. The cemetery is part of Crowley's Ridge State Park. Next to Crowley's grave, other early settlers of the ridge are buried in unmarked graves.

Crowley's Ridge Nature Center edit

The Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas features self-guided exhibits about area's topography and natural history and wildlife of Crowley’s Ridge.[9] Operated by the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission (AGFC) and opened in 2004, the Center includes an exhibit area, discovery room, observation tower, meeting rooms, auditorium, and gift shop.[10] Outside there are trails through wetlands, forest and prairie, and a 1/4 mile universally accessible trail and boardwalk around a pond. The Center offers many activities and nature education programs. It is named after Forrest L. Wood, a former commissioner and supporter of the AGFC.

References edit

  1. ^ Miller, B.J.; Lewis, G.C.; Alford, J.J.; Day, W.J. (1985). Loesses in Louisiana and at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Guidebook, Friends of the Pleistocene Field Trip, April 12, 13, and 14, 1985. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Agricultural Experimental Station, Louisiana State University.
  2. ^ Bettis, E. Arthur; Muhs, Daniel R.; Roberts, Helen M.; Wintle, Ann G. (2003). "Last Glacial loess in the conterminous USA". Quaternary Science Reviews. 22 (18–19): 1907–1946. doi:10.1016/s0277-3791(03)00169-0.
  3. ^ Muhs, Daniel R.; Bettis, E. Arthur (2003). (PDF). Geological Society of America Special Paper. 370: 53–74. doi:10.1130/0-8137-2370-1.53. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 10, 2012.
  4. ^ . Archived from the original on September 12, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Van Arsdale, Roy B.; Williams, Robert A.; Schweig, Eugene S.; Shedlock, Kaye M.; Odum, Jack K.; King, Kenneth W. (August 1995). "The origin of Crowley's Ridge, northeastern Arkansas: Erosional remnant or tectonic uplift?". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 85 (4): 963–985. Abstract
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on March 13, 2004.
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  8. ^ a b . Archived from the original on March 12, 2003.
  9. ^ "Crowley's Ridge Natue Center". Arkansas Fish and Game Commission. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  10. ^ "Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved November 6, 2017.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crowley's Ridge.
  • USGS GNIS webpage—U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Crowleys Ridge
  • Encyclopedia of Arkansas history and culture.net: Crowley's Ridge State Park
  • — at southernmost end of ridge, adjacent to Mississippi River.
  • Crowley's Ridge Nature Center

36°08′31″N 90°34′30″W / 36.142°N 90.575°W / 36.142; -90.575

February 15, 2024
crowley, ridge, former, department, store, crowley, also, crowleys, ridge, geological, formation, that, rises, feet, above, alluvial, plain, mississippi, embayment, mile, line, from, southeastern, missouri, mississippi, river, near, helena, arkansas, most, pro. For the former department store see Crowley s Crowley s Ridge also Crowleys Ridge is a geological formation that rises 250 to 550 feet 170 m above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment in a 150 mile 240 km line from southeastern Missouri to the Mississippi River near Helena Arkansas It is the most prominent feature in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain between Cape Girardeau Missouri and the Gulf of Mexico Crowley s Ridge runs through the Mississippi embayment in this shaded relief map This narrow rolling hill region rising above the flat plain is the sixth and smallest natural division of the state of Arkansas The southern part is protected within Ozark St Francis National Forest Most of the major cities of the Arkansas Delta region lie along Crowley s Ridge It was named after Benjamin Crowley known as the first American settler to reach the area sometime around 1820 The Civil War Battle of Chalk Bluff was fought on Crowley s Ridge on May 1 2 1863 Contents 1 Composition and origin 2 Soils and vegetation 3 Fossils 4 Namesake 5 Crowley s Ridge Nature Center 6 References 7 External linksComposition and origin editThe ridge is primarily composed of the windblown glacially derived sediment known as loess It contrasts greatly with the flat table land around it and with the black soil that makes up the delta The ridge varies from half a mile to 12 miles 19 km wide and reaches an elevation of 550 feet 170 m near its northern extremity The highest point on the ridge in Arkansas is Legacy Mountain at the Craighead County solid waste site south of Jonesboro Prevailing winds blow dust into the river fogs The fog wetted dust tends to fall and make loess deposits on the downwind sides of rivers such as the east and north sides of the Mississippi River as well as the east side of the Black River 1 These loess deposits are a classic example of periglacial loess 2 3 Crowley s Ridge is a natural loess accumulation point A comparable example of this type of deposit is the Loess Hills in northwestern Missouri and western Iowa At one time the ridge was thought to have been an island between the Mississippi River and Ohio River that was isolated as a long low hilly ridge after the rivers changed course millions of years ago 4 Recent seismic evidence however questions the fluvial origin by focusing on uplift along ridge bounding faults 5 There is evidence that the area s elevation has increased over the years suggesting that uplift is still taking place This alternative explanation posits a link between the ridge and the nearby New Madrid Seismic Zone 5 Soils and vegetation editThe flora and fauna of the ridge seem more closely related to the Tennessee hills to the east than to the Ozark Mountains to the west This unique habitat has been protected by the establishment of several state and city parks the St Francis National Forest recreational lakes and in 1997 a national scenic byway the Crowley s Ridge Parkway 6 7 The soils in this area are moderately fertile and sometimes rich The land is moderately rugged discouraging row crop agriculture These soils are easily eroded There is some commercial agriculture in the loessal plains area of the ridge The ridge is surrounded by the fertile lands of the delta region The vegetation is predominantly oak and hickory forests similar to vegetation found in the Appalachian Mountains Examples are the tulip tree or yellow poplar and the American beech Ferns and flowers abound here including the American bellflower fire pink butterfly weed cardinal flower blue lobelia phlox verbena wild hydrangea hibiscus aster and yellow jasmine The low lying areas around the ridge were once much swampier and the ridge provided a natural and more healthful place for settlers to establish homes The ridge became a natural north south communications link for the region since travel along the ridge was much easier than through the swampy lowlands 8 Fossils editThe region adjacent to the ridge is covered with thick deltaic soils and few fossils are found except in gravel pits These pits sometimes reveal the teeth of large mastodons mammoths and horses which roamed the continent as recently as 10 000 years ago Crowley s Ridge contains important exposures of fossiliferous Tertiary sediments and contains the only documented Miocene exposures in the state A silicified conifer stump weighing several tons was unearthed near Wittsburg and many more were found around Piggott Mastodon bones were found within the city limits of Helena at the southern end of the ridge Near Forrest City in the bed of Crow Creek a deposit of oyster shells estimated to be nearly 7 000 000 cubic yards in size was discovered 8 Namesake edit nbsp Grave of Benjamin Crowley in Shiloh Cemetery at Crowley s Ridge State Park west of Paragould Arkansas The inscription reads Benjamin Crowley 1758 1842 The man for whom Crowley s Ridge is named Crowley s Ridge is named after Benjamin Crowley 1758 1842 the first American settler of the Ridge near Paragould Arkansas Crowley is buried in the Shiloh Cemetery in Greene County Arkansas and a monument marks the spot The cemetery is part of Crowley s Ridge State Park Next to Crowley s grave other early settlers of the ridge are buried in unmarked graves Crowley s Ridge Nature Center editThe Forrest L Wood Crowley s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro Arkansas features self guided exhibits about area s topography and natural history and wildlife of Crowley s Ridge 9 Operated by the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission AGFC and opened in 2004 the Center includes an exhibit area discovery room observation tower meeting rooms auditorium and gift shop 10 Outside there are trails through wetlands forest and prairie and a 1 4 mile universally accessible trail and boardwalk around a pond The Center offers many activities and nature education programs It is named after Forrest L Wood a former commissioner and supporter of the AGFC References edit Miller B J Lewis G C Alford J J Day W J 1985 Loesses in Louisiana and at Vicksburg Mississippi Guidebook Friends of the Pleistocene Field Trip April 12 13 and 14 1985 Baton Rouge Louisiana Agricultural Experimental Station Louisiana State University Bettis E Arthur Muhs Daniel R Roberts Helen M Wintle Ann G 2003 Last Glacial loess in the conterminous USA Quaternary Science Reviews 22 18 19 1907 1946 doi 10 1016 s0277 3791 03 00169 0 Muhs Daniel R Bettis E Arthur 2003 Quaternary loess Paleosol sequences as examples of climate driven sedimentary extremes PDF Geological Society of America Special Paper 370 53 74 doi 10 1130 0 8137 2370 1 53 Archived from the original PDF on February 10 2012 National Scenic Byways Scenic Byways and Highways Arkansas Scenic Routes Archived from the original on September 12 2013 Retrieved June 19 2013 a b Van Arsdale Roy B Williams Robert A Schweig Eugene S Shedlock Kaye M Odum Jack K King Kenneth W August 1995 The origin of Crowley s Ridge northeastern Arkansas Erosional remnant or tectonic uplift Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 85 4 963 985 Abstract Crowley s Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway Archived from the original on March 13 2004 Crowley s Ridge Parkway Archived from the original on June 8 2007 Retrieved July 31 2007 a b Crowley s Ridge Archived from the original on March 12 2003 Crowley s Ridge Natue Center Arkansas Fish and Game Commission Retrieved November 6 2017 Forrest L Wood Crowley s Ridge Nature Center Encyclopedia of Arkansas Retrieved November 6 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crowley s Ridge Semo edu Crowley s Ridge USGS GNIS webpage U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Crowleys Ridge Arkansas State Parks official Crowley s Ridge State Park website Encyclopedia of Arkansas history and culture net Crowley s Ridge State Park St Francis National Forest at Crowley s Ridge at southernmost end of ridge adjacent to Mississippi River Crowley s Ridge Nature Center Portals nbsp Arkansas nbsp Geography 36 08 31 N 90 34 30 W 36 142 N 90 575 W 36 142 90 575 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crowley 27s Ridge amp oldid 1184066032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.