Native Americans Cherry Springs State Park

map of park , facilities

historical records show earliest known inhabitants of west branch susquehanna river drainage basin, includes cherry springs state park, iroquoian-speaking susquehannocks. matriarchal society lived in large long houses in stockaded villages. decimated disease , warfare 5 nations of iroquois, 1675 they had died out, moved away, or been assimilated other tribes. name tribe susquehanna , , both river , susquehannock state forest surrounds park named them.

after departure of susquehannocks, lands of west branch susquehanna river valley under nominal control of iroquois, lived in long houses, in upstate new york, , had strong confederacy gave them power beyond numbers. seneca, members of iroquois confederacy, hunted in area of cherry springs state park. nearest villages 51 miles (82 km) northeast @ modern painted post, new york, , 43 miles (69 km) southeast @ lock haven, pennsylvania. seneca had temporary hunting camps east in area of pine creek gorge. fill void left demise of susquehannocks, iroquois encouraged displaced tribes east settle in west branch watershed, including lenape (or delaware) , shawnee.

the seneca allowed few travelers pass through area , kept non-native settlement minimum. french , indian war (1754–1763) led migration of many native americans westward ohio river basin, , more departed after american revolutionary war (1775–1783). united states acquired last purchase, including cherry springs state park, iroquois in second treaty of fort stanwix in october 1784. in years followed, native americans entirely left pennsylvania.