Leading Creek (Ohio)

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Leading Creek

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| image = Leading Creek Ohio.jpg

| image_caption = Leading Creek in Rutland Township in 2007

| map = Leading Creek Ohio map.png

| map_size = 300

| map_caption = Map of Leading Creek and its watershed

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| pushpin_map_size = 300

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| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = United States

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = Ohio

| subdivision_type3 = Counties

| subdivision_name3 = Athens, Meigs

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| length = {{convert|29.5|mi|km|abbr=on}}

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| source1 =

| source1_location = Lee Township, Athens County

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|39.2359064|-82.2190367|display=inline}}{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|1066794}} |title=Geographic Names Information System entry for Leading Creek (Feature ID #1066794) |author=Geographic Names Information System |authorlink=Geographic Names Information System |accessdate=2011-10-12}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|820|ft|abbr=on}}Google Earth elevation for GNIS source coordinates. Retrieved on 2011-03-07.

| mouth = Ohio River

| mouth_location = Middleport

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|38.9845230|-82.0715312|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|538|ft|abbr=on}}

| progression =

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| basin_size = {{convert|150|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| tributaries_left = Little Leading Creek

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Leading Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River, {{convert|29.5|mi|km}} long,{{cite web |url= http://soilandwater.ohiodnr.gov/portals/soilwater/pdf/stream/GAZETTEER_OF_OHIO_STREAMS.pdf |title=Gazetteer of Ohio Streams |author= Ohio Department of Natural Resources |authorlink= Ohio Department of Natural Resources |date=August 2001 |pages= 63–64 |accessdate=2011-10-12}} in southeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of {{convert|150|sqmi|km2}} on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau. The creek's headwaters are in southern Athens County and it flows for most of its length in western Meigs County; its tributaries also drain a small area of northeastern Gallia County.{{cite book| title= Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer |year=1991 |publisher= DeLorme |location=Yarmouth, Me. |isbn= 0-89933-233-1 |pages= 79–80, 87}}

Leading Creek rises northwest of Albany in Lee Township in Athens County and initially flows southward into Meigs County, through Columbia Township, past the community of Carpenter; then southeastward through Salem, Rutland, and Salisbury townships, through the community of Langsville. It flows into the Ohio River at the south end of the village of Middleport.