Jefferson+Lake+State+Park

Also, see Jefferson County Birding Drive
 * =Birding in Ohio=

Jefferson County
=Jefferson Lake State Park= 501 Township Road 261A Richmond, Ohio 43944 Jefferson Lake State Park website Jefferson Lake State Park map Jefferson Lake State Park trail map

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Jefferson Lake SP
Coordinates: 40.464417, -80.806553 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Jefferson Lake State Park
The sandstone hills of Jefferson County are part of the Appalachian Highlands which envelope the southeastern part of Ohio. In the sandstone bedrock can be found layers of coal which were formed by decaying swamp vegetation millions of years ago during the Pennsylvanian geologic period.

Covering the hills and valleys of the area is a second growth oak and hickory forest. Growing side-by-side with towering white oaks and shagbark hickories are stately beeches and maples, tulip trees, walnuts, elms, and ashes.

The forest is composed of much more than trees, although they constitute its most conspicuous feature. The observant visitor may find a wealth of wildflowers such as wild geranium, hepatica, and bloodroot. The leafy canopy rings with a harmonious chorus of bird songs. Wild turkey and ruffed grouse are dispersed in these hills and forests as well. These are just a few of the natural wonders found at Jefferson Lake.

The Jefferson Lake region was once the home of Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief whose family was massacred near here on the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow Creek. This incident spurred Lord Dunmore's War in 1774.

In more recent times, the area has been home to the steel industry in Ohio. The underlying coal fields and Ohio River access have made it a focal point of this industry.

Jefferson Lake State Park was developed on 962 acres in the valley of the Town Fork of Yellow Creek. Land acquisition began in 1928. The lake and other facilities were constructed by the National Park Service in cooperation with the old Ohio Division of Conservation as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The dam was constructed in 1934 and the 17-acre lake was filled in 1946. In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation. From Jefferson Lake State Park website



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media type="custom" key="25735386" || L1918348 US US-OH US-OH-081 40.464417 -80.806553 Jefferson Lake SP