 The first recorded inhabitants of the Susquehanna River valley were the Iroquoian speaking Susquehannocks . Their name meant " people of the muddy river " in Algonquian . Decimated by diseases and warfare , they had died out , moved away , or been assimilated into other tribes by the early 18th century . The lands of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley were then chiefly occupied by the Munsee phratry of the Lenape ( or Delaware ) , and were under the nominal control of the Five ( later Six ) Nations of the Iroquois . 
 The first recorded inhabitants of the Susquehanna River valley <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> the Iroquoian speaking Susquehannocks . Their name meant " people of the muddy river " in Algonquian . Decimated by diseases and warfare , they <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> died out , moved away , or been assimilated into other tribes by the early 18th century . The lands of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> then chiefly occupied by the Munsee phratry of the Lenape ( or Delaware ) , and <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> under the nominal control of the Five ( later Six ) Nations of the Iroquois . 
Da first recorded inhabitants of the Susquehanna River valley was the Iroquoian speakin Susquehannocks . Their name meant " people of the muddy river " in Algonquian . Decimated by diseases and warfare , they done died out , moved away , or been assimilated into other tribes by the early 18th century . Tdalands of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley was then chiefly occupied by the Munsee phratry of the Lenape ( or Delaware ) , and was under thdaominal control of the Five ( later Six ) Nations of thedaoquois .