Grand River (Ohio)
Encyclopedia
The Grand River is a tributary
of Lake Erie
, 102.7 miles (165.3 km) long, in northeastern Ohio
in the United States
. Via Lake Erie, the Niagara River
and Lake Ontario
, it is part of the watershed
of the St. Lawrence River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean
. It drains an area of 712 mi² (1844 km²).
The Grand River rises in southeastern Geauga County
and initially flows eastwardly into Trumbull County
. Downstream of West Farmington
it turns northward into Ashtabula
County, where it passes the village of Rock Creek
and then turns westward into Lake County
, where it passes the communities of Painesville
and Grand River
before flowing into Lake Erie at Fairport Harbor
.
in Lake County and Ashtabula County due to flood
ing. The river reached 11 feet above flood level, a 500-year flood, due to a 1,000-year 48-hour rain. The flooding was so powerful that it caused a tributary (Paine Creek) to change course in at least one location. The area was subsequently declared a Federal Disaster area.
, the Grand River has also been known historically as:
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 Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
, 102.7 miles (165.3 km) long, in northeastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via Lake Erie, the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
and Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the St. Lawrence River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It drains an area of 712 mi² (1844 km²).
The Grand River rises in southeastern Geauga County
Geauga County, Ohio
Geauga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 93,389. It is named for a Native American word meaning "raccoon". The county seat is Chardon...
and initially flows eastwardly into Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
. Downstream of West Farmington
West Farmington, Ohio
West Farmington is a village in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States, along the Grand River. The population was 519 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
it turns northward into Ashtabula
Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County is the northeasternmost county in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 101,497, its county seat is Jefferson. The county is named for a Native American word meaning "river of many fish"....
County, where it passes the village of Rock Creek
Rock Creek, Ohio
Rock Creek is a village in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. The population was 584 at the 2000 census.The principal village festival is the Ox Roast...
and then turns westward into Lake County
Lake County, Ohio
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 230,041. The county seat is Painesville, and the county name comes from its location on the southern shore of Lake Erie....
, where it passes the communities of Painesville
Painesville, Ohio
As of the 2010 Census, there were 19,563 people. As of the census of 2000, there were 17,503 people, 6,525 households, and 4,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,928.6 people per square mile . There were 6,933 housing units at an average density of 1,160.0 per square mile...
and Grand River
Grand River, Ohio
Grand River is a village in Lake County, Ohio, United States, along the Grand River. The population was 345 at the 2000 census.Grand River is the hometown of Don Shula, a former professional football coach for the National Football League, who coached the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories,...
before flowing into Lake Erie at Fairport Harbor
Fairport Harbor, Ohio
Fairport Harbor is a village in Lake County, Ohio, United States, along Lake Erie at the mouth of the Grand River. The population was 3,180 at the 2000 census....
.
2006 flood
On July 28, 2006, the Grand River overflowed its banks and caused a state of emergencyState of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
in Lake County and Ashtabula County due to flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
ing. The river reached 11 feet above flood level, a 500-year flood, due to a 1,000-year 48-hour rain. The flooding was so powerful that it caused a tributary (Paine Creek) to change course in at least one location. The area was subsequently declared a Federal Disaster area.
Variant names
According to the Geographic Names Information SystemGeographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
, the Grand River has also been known historically as:
- Grande Riviere
- Chereage River
- Chocago River
- Chogage River
- Geauga River
- Geaugah River
- Riviere Charage
- Sheauga River
See also
- List of Ohio rivers
- Grand River Valley AVAGrand River Valley AVAThe Grand River Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in portions of the Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties of northeastern Ohio. The wine appellation includes all the land that is contained within the larger, multi-state Lake Erie AVA that is also within of the Grand River or of...
- Interstate 90 Grand River bridgesInterstate 90 Grand River bridgesThe Interstate 90 Grand River bridges are two steel girder bridges in Lake County, Ohio, on the Leroy Township/Perry Township boundary southwest of Madison, carrying Interstate 90 over the Grand River.-Former bridges:...