Woonasquatucket River
| Woonasquatucket River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | North Smithfield, Rhode Island |
| Mouth | |
• location | Providence River |
• coordinates | 41°49′36″N 71°24′36″W / 41.8267°N 71.4100°W |
| Length | 15.8 mi (25.4 km) |
| Basin size | 130 km2 (50 sq mi) |
The Woonasquatucket River (pronounced /wuːnˈɑːskwəˌtʌkɪt/ woo-NAHS-kwə-TUCK-it, Algonquian for "where the salt water ends") is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 15.8 miles (25.4 km)[1] and drains a watershed of 130 km2 (50 sq mi).[2]
Together with the
Course
The river begins in the swamps west of Primrose Pond in
250 years ago, the river flowed into what was called "The Great Salt Cove," just a little below where Rising Sun Dam now stands. The Great Salt Cove was about 1+1⁄2 miles long and up to half a mile wide, covering several hundred acres.[4][5] Much of the present, flat land in this area was once either the cove itself or salt marshes along the edges of the cove. The flat land is fill added over the years to make more land to build on, beginning as early as 1780. The western end of the Great Salt Cove was near where Atwells Avenue now crosses Route 6.
From near the Atwells Avenue bridge over the Woonasquatucket to
Crossings
Below is a list of all 29 crossings over the Woonasquatucket River. The list starts at the headwaters and goes downstream.
- North Smithfield
- Greenville Road (104)
- Douglas Pike (RI 7)
- Greenville Road (
- Smithfield
- Farnum Pike (RI 5/104)
- Old Forge Road
- Farnum Pike(RI 5/104)
- George Washington Highway (RI 116)
- Capron Road
- Whipple Avenue
- Farnum Pike (RI 104)
- Esmond Street
- Esmond Mill Drive
- North Providence
- Angell Avenue
- Putnam Pike (U.S. 44)
- Allendale Avenue
- Johnston
- Greenville Avenue (Greenville Avenue becomes Manton Avenue as it crosses the river)
- Providence
- Glenbridge Avenue
- U.S. 6(Twice)
- Manton Avenue
- Delaine Street
- Valley Street
- Atwells Avenue
- Eagle Street
- Acorn Street
- Dean Street
- Bath Street
- Interstate 95
- Francis Street
- Exchange Street
- Steeple Street (U.S. 44 Eastbound)
History
The river was an important transportation route for native peoples, especially for connecting various tribes of the
Tributaries
In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks and rivers feed the Woonasquatucket:
- Latham Brook
- Stillwater River
- Harris Brook
- Hawkins Brook
- Assapumpset Brook
- Reaper Brook
- Mattetee Swamp Brook
- Hanton Brook
- Gould Brook
- Whipple Brook
- Pleasant Valley Stream
Notes
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 1, 2011
- ^ Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
- ^ Governor’s Task Force on Dam Safety and Maintenance – Final Report, January 2001
- ^ "Rhode Island History, Vol. 48, Num. 3, August 1990" (PDF). The Rhode Island Historical Society. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ 1765 Map of Providence (Map). Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Norman B. Leventhal Map Center Collection at the Boston Public Library.
- ^ Native Languages of the Americas: Narragansett (Nipmuc)
See also
- List of rivers in Rhode Island
- Moshassuck River
- Providence River
- Stillwater River
References
- Maps from the United States Geological Survey
External links
- Blackstone and Woonasquatucket Rivers at American Heritage Rivers
