Pawcatuck River
Encyclopedia
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...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
states of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Connecticut
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...
flowing approximately 34 miles (54.7 km). There are eight dams along the river's length. The former USS Pawcatuck (AO-108)
USS Pawcatuck (AO-108)
- External links:...
was named after the river.
History
The river was specified as the western boundary of the Rhode Island Colony in its original charter in 1636. The river was formerly called the Charles River between its source and the mouth of the Wood River near Bradford, Rhode IslandBradford, Rhode Island
Bradford is a census-designated place and historic district in the town of Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 1,497 at the 2000 census...
.
On April 20, 2006 an Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin
The Atlantic White-sided Dolphin is a distinctively coloured dolphin found in the cool to temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.-Taxonomy:...
swam up the river into Westerly, Rhode Island. The mouth of the river is several miles from downtown Westerly, which is where the dolphin ultimately ended up. After several hours spent in downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck, near the bridge connecting Rhode Island and Connecticut, several hundred spectators gathered to see the dolphin that had possibly separated from its pod at sea, according to authorities at the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration. The dolphin died later that night at the aquarium after becoming sick, underweight and bruised during its adventure.
On March 29, 2010, the river flooded causing an immense amount of flooding in both Westerly and Pawcatuck. Several evacuations occurred in both towns. The bridge in downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck was closed for several weeks until the river was calm enough for divers to inspect and reopen the bridge.
Course
The Pawcatuck River's source is Worden Pond in South KingstownSouth Kingstown, Rhode Island
South Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 30,639 at the 2010 census.South Kingstown includes the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Wakefield, Peace Dale, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, East Matunuck, Matunuck, Green Hill, and Perryville. Peace...
(41.4423°N 71.5909°W). It proceeds generally west and southwest through the villages of Kenyon, Carolina
Carolina, Rhode Island
Carolina is a village that straddles the border of the towns of Charlestown and Richmond on the Pawcatuck River in Washington County, Rhode Island. Rhode Island Route 112 passes through the village...
, and Bradford
Bradford, Rhode Island
Bradford is a census-designated place and historic district in the town of Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 1,497 at the 2000 census...
. It then turns briefly northwest and west before resuming a southward course to flow past Potter Hill and between the town of Westerly, Rhode Island and the Pawcatuck section of Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
until it finally empties into Little Narragansett Bay
Little Narragansett Bay
Little Narragansett Bay is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean and an estuary of the Pawcatuck River on the Rhode Island-Connecticut state line. It is sheltered by a curving peninsula, known as Napatree Point. At the base of Napatree Point is the site of the resort village of Watch Hill, Rhode Island....
on 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...
(41.32°N 71.86°W).
Crossings
Below is a list of all crossings over the Pawcatuck River. The list starts at the headwaters and goes downstream.- Charlestown
- Biscuit City Road
- South County Trail (RI 2Route 2 (Rhode Island)Route 2 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Rhode Island.-Route:Route 2 takes the following route through the State:*Charlestown: ; U.S...
) - Sherman Avenue
- Shannock Road
- Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) - Old Shannock Road
- Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) - Carolina Back Road (RI 112Route 112 (Rhode Island)Route 112 is a numbered State Highway running in Rhode Island. It connects U.S. Route 1 in the town center of Charlestown and Route 138 in the town of Richmond.-Route description:...
) - Alton Carolina Road (RI 91Route 91 (Rhode Island)-Route:Route 91 takes the following route through the State:*Westerly: ; Route 3 to Hopkinton town line**Oak Street, Westerly-Bradford Road*Hopkinton: ; Westerly town line to Richmond town line**Alton-Bradford Road...
) - Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) - Kings Factory Road
- Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) - Burdickville Road
- Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
)
- Westerly
- Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) - Alton Bradford Road (RI 91Route 91 (Rhode Island)-Route:Route 91 takes the following route through the State:*Westerly: ; Route 3 to Hopkinton town line**Oak Street, Westerly-Bradford Road*Hopkinton: ; Westerly town line to Richmond town line**Alton-Bradford Road...
/216Route 216 (Rhode Island)-Route:Route 216 takes the following route through the State:*Charlestown: ; U.S. 1 to Westerly city line**Ross Hill Road*Westerly: ; Charlestown town line to Hopkinton town line**Ross Hill Road, Church Street, South Main Street and North Main Street...
) - Ashaway Road (RI 3Route 3 (Rhode Island)Route 3 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Rhode Island.-Route:Route 3 takes the following route through the State:*Westerly: ; U.S...
) - Potter Hill Road
- Boombridge Road
- Bridge Road
- Westerly Bypass (RI 78)
- Stillman Avenue
- Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
(AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) - Broad Street (U.S. 1)
- Northeast Corridor
Tributaries
In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks and rivers feed the Pawcatuck:- Usquepaug RiverUsquepaug RiverThe Usquepaug River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 12 km and is a major tributary of the Pawcatuck River. There are two dams along the river's length.-Course:...
- Pusquiset Brook
- Beaver RiverBeaver River (Rhode Island)The Beaver River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately . There are three dams along the river's length. The river is also famous locally for its trout fishing in the spring.-Course:The river rises from James Pond in Exeter...
- Taney Brook
- White Brook
- Meadow Brook
- Wood River
- Poquiani Brook
- Tomaquag Brook
- McGowan Brook
- Aguntaug Brook
- Ashaway RiverAshaway RiverThe Ashaway River is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 4 km . There are three dams along the river's length.- Course :The river is formed in Hopkinton by the confluence of Parmenter Brook and the Green Fall River...
- Shunock River
- Mastuxet Brook