Central Mountain is amountain inColumbia County,Sullivan County, andLuzerne County, inPennsylvania, United States.[1] Its elevation is 2,247 feet (685 m) abovesea level. The mountain is part of the Allegheny Front. Rock formations on the mountain include the Pocono Formation and the Duncannon Member of the Catskill Formation. It was historically known as North Mountain, but it was renamed Central Mountain (after the village of Central) in the late 1800s. The mountain is one of the most important sites on the Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory and it is inhabited by dozens of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Numerous birds and several amphibians and mammals are also found in the area.
Central Mountain has an official elevation of 2,247 feet (685 m), making it the second-highest mountain in Columbia County, afterRed Rock Mountain.[1] It is the northernmost mountain in Columbia County.[2] The mountain is on theAllegheny Front.[3]
A creek known asEast Branch Fishing Creek flows along the base of Central Mountain.Morainic topography consisting of knobs and kettles occurs on the lowest 200 to 500 feet (61 to 152 m) of the side of the mountain.[4]
Central Mountain's official coordinates are in theUnited States Geological Survey quadrangle of Red Rock.[1] The mountain is located partially in northeasternSugarloaf Township and partially in Sullivan County and Luzerne County.[2][3]
Arock formation known as the Duncannon Member of theCatskill Formation occurs on Central Mountain. It is 500 to 600 feet (150 to 180 m) thick at this location. Additionally, thePocono Formation, a rock formation from theMississippian Period, occurs on the mountain.[4]
Thesoils on Central Mountain are deep-muck soils that are saturated with water.[3]
Central Mountain was historically known as North Mountain due to the fact that it is the northernmost mountain in Columbia County. Between 1860 and 1900, it came to be known as Central Mountain, after the village ofCentral. Central Mountain became the most common name for the mountain by the 1890s, during the period where the lumber industry was prevalent in the area.[2]
Aschool district and geographical district named Central District existed in the 1800s in Sugarloaf Township. It was named after Central Mountain and the village of Central.[2]
In the 21st century, potential threats to the natural habitats on the mountain includelogging andall terrain vehicle trails.[3]
Central Mountain is listed on the Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory. It is one of the most important sites on the inventory, with a priority rank of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the most important.[3] The only other sites in Columbia County with a rank of 1 areSouth Branch Roaring Creek and theSusquehanna River.[3]
The entire northern part of Columbia County, including Central Mountain, is covered in northernhardwoodforests.Ecosystems on the mountain include an Ephemeral/Fluctuating Pool Natural Community and a Hemlock Palustrine Forest Natural Community. The mountain contains forestedwetlands consisting mainly ofhemlock trees. There are opensedge meadows in some places.[3]
Sphagnum mosses, sedges, and otherherbaceous plants grow on Central Mountain. The federally endangerednortheastern bulrush also grows on it.[3] Numerous species use the mountain as a habitat. In addition to hemlock, the main tree species on the mountain includeyellow birch,black birch,black gum,sugar maple,red maple,white oak,chestnut oak,red oak,white pine,sassafras,basswood,tulip poplar,pignut hickory,mockernut hickory,shagbark hickory, andash.[3]
Numerousshrub species inhabit Central Mountain. These includemountain laurel,black huckleberry,highbush blueberry,low sweet blueberry,gooseberry,swamp dewberrywitch-hazel,greenbriar, andstriped maple. Many herbaceous plants also inhabit the mountain. These include various sedges and alsoferns, such asChristmas fern,sweet fern,hay-scented fern, andinterrupted fern. Other herbaceous plant species includeblack bulrush,false hellebore,jewelweed,partridgeberry,smartweeds,soft rush,false Solomon's seal,stinging nettle,swamp milkweed, Sphagnum moss,sweet vernal grass,teaberry,trailing arbutus, violets,whorled loosestrife, andwoolgrass.[3]
Numerousbird species inhabit Central Mountain. These include fourwarbler species, threevireo species, thehermit thrush, thedark-eyed junco, theveery, theblack-capped chickadee, theovenbird, thegray catbird, thecommon yellowthroat, thescarlet tanager, theeastern towhee, and theeastern wood pewee.Amphibians inhabiting the mountain includewood frogs,pickerel frogs,dusky salamanders, andred spotted newts.Mammals inhabiting the mountain includewhite-tailed deer andblack bears.[3]
41°18′00″N76°20′47″W / 41.3000°N 76.3463°W /41.3000; -76.3463