The Scantic River is a river

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...

 that flows through the states of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 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...

 and is tributary to 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...

.

The Scantic River's tributaries rise in the towns of Hampden

Hampden, Massachusetts

-Transportation:Hampden is one of sixteen towns in Massachusetts that has no numbered highways or state routes. Of these, half are on the islands, and one is the North Shore town of Nahant. Of the rest, Hampden is the easternmost town to have this distinction. In fact, the town does not even have...

, Wilbraham

Wilbraham, Massachusetts

Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...

, East Longmeadow

East Longmeadow, Massachusetts

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,187 people, 5,248 households, and 3,988 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,087.1 people per square mile . There were 5,363 housing units at an average density of 413.5 per square mile...

 and Monson

Monson, Massachusetts

Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.The village of Monson Center lies at the center of the town....

 in Massachusetts, and in Stafford

Stafford, Connecticut

Stafford is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States, settled in 1719. The population was 11,307 at the 2000 census.-History:The Colonial Town of Stafford began as a rural agricultural community...

 and Somers, Connecticut

Somers, Connecticut

Somers is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, USA. The population was 10,417 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...

, forming the river in the town of Hampden, Massachusetts

Hampden, Massachusetts

-Transportation:Hampden is one of sixteen towns in Massachusetts that has no numbered highways or state routes. Of these, half are on the islands, and one is the North Shore town of Nahant. Of the rest, Hampden is the easternmost town to have this distinction. In fact, the town does not even have...

 southeast of Springfield

Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...

. The Scantic flows southwest for 40.6 miles (65.3 km) through the towns and communities of Hampden, Massachusetts; Somers, Somersville, Scitico, Hazardville

Hazardville, Connecticut

Hazardville is a section of the town of Enfield, Connecticut, in Hartford County. It is a census-designated place that had a total population of 4,900 as of the 2000 census.-History:...

, Enfield

Enfield, Connecticut

Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...

, East Windsor

East Windsor, Connecticut

East Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,162 at the 2010 census.The town has five villages: Broad Brook, Melrose, Scantic, Warehouse Point and Windsorville.-Area:...

, Broad Brook, Scantic, South Windsor, and East Windsor Hill, Connecticut, until joining 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...

 (41.8678°N 72.6165°W) near the East Windsor Hill community, part of South Windsor

South Windsor, Connecticut

-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...

.

There are two areas named after the river. One is a small community, part of East Windsor. The other is in the southeast section of Hampden, near the corner of Scantic Road and Rock-A-Dundee Road.

The state of Connecticut is working to form a state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 surrounding the Scantic River in the towns of Somers, Enfield, East Windsor, and South Windsor. Two areas that are proposed for public park areas are the Scantic River State Park at Powder Hollow in Enfield and the Scantic River State Park at Trolley Crossing just south of Broad Brook where the planned route of the Connecticut Trolley Museum

Connecticut Trolley Museum

Founded in 1940, the Connecticut Trolley Museum is the oldest incorporated museum dedicated to electric railroading in the United States.The museum is located in East Windsor, Connecticut, and is open to the public most of the year, featuring static displays and self-guided tours of the state's...

's main line crosses the river.

Among things named after the river are several roads, the Scantic River Valley YMCA, the Scantic Pub in Hampden, the Scantic River Artists, the Scantic River Watershed Assn., and many others.