Mill Creek (Lake Erie)

Mill Creek
Mill Creek south of the tube, looking downstream
Name origin: "mill" built along the creek
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Erie
Source
- location	Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania
- elevation	1,029 ft (314 m)
- coordinates	42°6′29″N 80°0′15″W / 42.10806°N 80.00417°W / 42.10806; -80.00417
Mouth	Presque Isle Bay
- location	Downtown Erie, Pennsylvania
- elevation	577 ft (176 m)
- coordinates	42°8′37″N 80°4′49″W / 42.14361°N 80.08028°W / 42.14361; -80.08028Coordinates: 42°8′37″N 80°4′49″W / 42.14361°N 80.08028°W / 42.14361; -80.08028
Length	18.96 mi (31 km)
Basin	12.20 sq mi (32 km2)
Location of the mouth of Mill Creek in Pennsylvania

The Mill Creek is a 19-mile (31 km) long tributary of Lake Erie in Erie County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It flows from Millcreek Township through the city of Erie, into Presque Isle Bay.

Much of the creek in the city was channeled into the Mill Creek Tube, which was constructed after the Mill Creek's disastrous flood struck the city in 1915.

The Mill Creek begins in extreme eastern Millcreek Township and travels westward until it is joined by a couple of smaller tributary streams. From there, it roughly follows Pennsylvania Route 505 (Glenwood Park Avenue) northward until the creek is diverted underground.

The creek passes through the middle of the Erie Zoo, where several bridges span the creek. One of the bridges is designed to act as a "drift catcher", preventing large debris from entering the tube further downstream. The drift catcher is also used by the zoo's train to cross over the Mill Creek.

At 30th Street, the Mill Creek is diverted underground, for over 2 miles (3 km) through the Mill Creek Tube and passes underneath downtown Erie. The creek reappears above ground on the northern side of the Bayfront Parkway before emptying into Presque Isle Bay, at the eastern end of the bay, near South Pier.

The city of Erie and Millcreek Township were both settled in 1795. Erie County was formed from portions from Allegheny County on March 12, 1800, with the township being incorporated at the same time.

The first mill in Erie County was built at the mouth of the creek, giving the creek its name. By 1835, four gristmills and thirteen sawmills were located along and powered by the Mill Creek.