Mohawk River (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The Mohawk River is the largest tributary of the McKenzie River
, approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) long, in west central Oregon
in the United States
. It drains part of the foothills of the Cascade Range
on the southeast end of the Willamette Valley
northeast of Springfield
.
It rises in northern Lane County
, approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) northeast of Springfield. It flows generally southwest and enters the McKenzie from the north on the north side of Springfield. The river's valley is known as the Mohawk Valley.
The Mohawk River was probably given its name by Jacob C. Spores in 1849. Spores was a native of the Mohawk River
region of New York
, and the Oregon river's valley reminded him of the Mohawk Valley
in his home state. In turn, the Oregon river gave its name to the Mohawk River band
of Kalapuyan Native Americans
who inhabited the river valley in the 19th century. They are not related to the Mohawk
tribe in the eastern United States.
Current and former settlements in the Mohawk Valley include Donna, Mabel
, Marcola
, Mohawk
, and Wendling
.
McKenzie River
The McKenzie River is a tributary of the Willamette River in western Oregon in the United States. It drains part of the Cascade Range east of Eugene and flows into the southernmost end of the Willamette Valley. It is named for Donald MacKenzie, a Scottish Canadian fur trader...
, approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) long, in west central Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It drains part of the foothills of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
on the southeast end of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
northeast of Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
.
It rises in northern Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) northeast of Springfield. It flows generally southwest and enters the McKenzie from the north on the north side of Springfield. The river's valley is known as the Mohawk Valley.
The Mohawk River was probably given its name by Jacob C. Spores in 1849. Spores was a native of the Mohawk River
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
region of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and the Oregon river's valley reminded him of the Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
in his home state. In turn, the Oregon river gave its name to the Mohawk River band
Mohawk people (Oregon)
The Mohawk or Mohawk River people were a tribe or band of the Kalapuya Native Americans who originally lived in the Mohawk River area of Oregon in the United States. They spoke a dialect of the Central Kalapuya language....
of Kalapuyan Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who inhabited the river valley in the 19th century. They are not related to the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
tribe in the eastern United States.
Current and former settlements in the Mohawk Valley include Donna, Mabel
Mabel, Oregon
Mabel is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Maud Mabel Drury. Its post office was established around 1878 with Alfred Drury postmaster, and closed in 1957....
, Marcola
Marcola, Oregon
Marcola is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States, northeast of Springfield on the Mohawk River.-History:The post office at this location was established in 1876 and originally called "Isabel" for early settler Isabel Applegate. About 1900, a railroad was built through...
, Mohawk
Mohawk, Oregon
Mohawk is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States, on the Mohawk River, about seven miles upstream from Springfield.-History:...
, and Wendling
Wendling, Oregon
Wendling is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States, located northeast of Marcola. Wendling's post office operated from 1899 to 1952. It was named for X. Wendling, a local lumberman....
.
External links
- A History of the Mohawk Valley from Historic Eugene.com