Cold River (Connecticut River)
Encyclopedia
The Cold River is a 22.6 mile long (36.5 km) river
located in western New Hampshire
in the United States
. It is a tributary
of the Connecticut River
, which flows to Long Island Sound
.
The Cold River begins at the outlet of Crescent Lake in the northeastern corner of the town of Acworth
. The river flows east into the town of Lempster
, then turns south and reenters Acworth. When Dodge Brook joins the river, it turns west and makes its way to the Connecticut River, passing the villages of South Acworth, Alstead
, and Drewsville
. The river reaches the Connecticut just south of the communities of Bellows Falls, Vermont
, and North Walpole, New Hampshire
.
In October 2005, flooding
on the Cold River and its tributaries caused severe damage in the towns of Alstead, Acworth, and Walpole
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
located in western New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, which flows to Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
.
The Cold River begins at the outlet of Crescent Lake in the northeastern corner of the town of Acworth
Acworth, New Hampshire
Acworth is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 891.-History:Originally chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1752, it was called Burnet after William Burnet, a former governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay...
. The river flows east into the town of Lempster
Lempster, New Hampshire
Lempster is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,154 at the 2010 census. Settlements include the town center and the village of East Lempster.- History :...
, then turns south and reenters Acworth. When Dodge Brook joins the river, it turns west and makes its way to the Connecticut River, passing the villages of South Acworth, Alstead
Alstead, New Hampshire
Alstead is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,937 at the 2010 census. Alstead is home to Feuer State Forest.-History:...
, and Drewsville
Drewsville, New Hampshire
Drewsville is an unincorporated village in the town of Walpole in Cheshire County, New Hampshire.The village is located in the northeastern corner of Walpole, just south of the valley of the Cold River...
. The river reaches the Connecticut just south of the communities of Bellows Falls, Vermont
Bellows Falls, Vermont
Bellows Falls is an incorporated village located in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,165 at the 2000 census...
, and North Walpole, New Hampshire
North Walpole, New Hampshire
North Walpole is a census-designated place in the town of Walpole in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. It had a population of 828 at the 2010 census....
.
In October 2005, flooding
Northeast U.S. flooding of October 2005
In October 2005, remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy and Subtropical Depression Twenty-Two merged with incoming continental cold fronts to produce torrential rains over interior New England, as well as over parts of New Jersey and New York. Particularly hard hit was the state of New Hampshire, which...
on the Cold River and its tributaries caused severe damage in the towns of Alstead, Acworth, and Walpole
Walpole, New Hampshire
Walpole is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,734 at the 2010 census.The town's central settlement, where 605 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Walpole census-designated place , and is east of New Hampshire Route 12...
.
Tributaries
(from upstream to downstream)- Dodge Brook (from east, near East Acworth)
- Bowers Brook (from north, in South Acworth village)
- Great Brook (from south, below South Acworth)
- Warren Brook (in Alstead)
- Great BrookGreat Brook (Cold River)Great Brook is a 10.0 mile long tributary of the Cold River in western New Hampshire in the United States.Part of the Connecticut River watershed, Great Brook begins in the highlands in the town of Acworth, New Hampshire and flows southwest through the center of the town of Langdon, joining the...
(from north, in LangdonLangdon, New HampshireLangdon is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 688 at the 2010 census.-History:First settled in 1773 by Seth Walker, Langdon was incorporated on January 11, 1787, when it was named after Governor John Langdon. The town is home to the Prentiss Bridge, the...
)