Jersey Devil

This is my favorite urban legend, probably since he's said to hang out right around where I grew up, and of course its the origin of the NJ hockey team's name.

It is said to have started when a woman (who lived in the Jersey Pine Barrans) prayed for the child she was about to have to be a devil, however, when it was born, it looked like a normal child so gave it up for adoption. It really was a devil, but since he was turned out of an evil house at such a young age, he never developed much of his wickedness. Recent sightings have been said to have been in Northern New Jersey wooded areas and Harriman State Park in Rockland Country, New York. Campers and hikers tell stories of the small flying kid with wings, horns and a pointed tail, who simply asks for directions to the Pine Barrons (in Southern Jersey). They describe him as genial and polite.

Most of the documentation on the internet differs from the story i was told, but heres a link to one legnthy description: http://urbanlegendsonline.com/jerseydevil.html