Oyster River (Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
The Oyster River is a 4.1 miles (6.6 km) stream located in the state of Connecticut
in New Haven County. It flows south through Orange
and forms the boundary of West Haven
and Orange and further downstream the boundary of West Haven and Milford
. It empties into Long Island Sound
, just south of Route 162
at Oyster River Point. Swan
s, box turtle
s and many other animals call this area home.
In colonial times the area was also known as Clarke’s Point. About 1840, Peter Aims purchased the land from the Clark Family and the area become Aimes Point. The Aimes’ family home, Martinstow, an impressive Gothic structure designed by James Renwick, overlooked the Oyster River and Sound. After the family sold the property in 1949, the name “Aimes Point” slowly went out of common usage and the area became more commonly known as “Oyster River Point”.
The river has dealt with issues of flooding and pollution in recent years. In 2007 a movement was put together by local residents to gain aid from the local government to help with these issues.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in New Haven County. It flows south through Orange
Orange, Connecticut
Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
and forms the boundary of West Haven
West Haven, Connecticut
West Haven is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 52,721.-History:...
and Orange and further downstream the boundary of West Haven and Milford
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
. It empties into 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...
, just south of Route 162
Route 162 (Connecticut)
Route 162 is a state highway in southern Connecticut running for from Milford to the West Haven–Orange town line. Because it is located along the Atlantic coast it serves as a more scenic alternate route to US 1, where it both begins and ends....
at Oyster River Point. Swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
s, box turtle
Box turtle
The box turtle , or box tortoise is a genus of turtle native to North America . The 12 taxa which are distinguished in the genus are distributed over four species. It is largely characterized by having a domed shell, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to...
s and many other animals call this area home.
In colonial times the area was also known as Clarke’s Point. About 1840, Peter Aims purchased the land from the Clark Family and the area become Aimes Point. The Aimes’ family home, Martinstow, an impressive Gothic structure designed by James Renwick, overlooked the Oyster River and Sound. After the family sold the property in 1949, the name “Aimes Point” slowly went out of common usage and the area became more commonly known as “Oyster River Point”.
The river has dealt with issues of flooding and pollution in recent years. In 2007 a movement was put together by local residents to gain aid from the local government to help with these issues.