The name Rancocas derives from the Native American word Rankokous, which was used in the name of the Powhatan Lenape Nation Indian Reservation located in Westampton Township.

 

The Reservation was a popular tourist destination for visitors from the Philadelphia area, New York, and local residents, before the Reservation became Rancocas State Park.

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The Rancocas Creek and surrounding land from Mount Holly to the Delaware River is rich in early American history, custom, and folklore.

 

In the late 1700's and early 1800's, the Rancocas Creek was heavily used as a transportation route from Mount Holly to the Delaware River and Philadelphia.

 

Although a considerable amount of information exists on the history and the past practices of the areas surrounding the Rancocas Creek, information pertaining specifically to the natural area is limited.