Tuscarawas River
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tuscarawas River | |
|---|---|
 The Tuscarawas River in Dover in 2006
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| Length | 129.9 mi (209 km) [1] |
| Watershed | 2,590 mi² (6,708 km²) [1] |
| Source | |
| - location | near Hartville |
| - coordinates | [2] |
| Mouth | Muskingum River |
| - location | Coshocton |
| - coordinates | [2] |
| - elevation | 735 ft (224 m) [2] |
The Tuscarawas River is a principal tributary of the Muskingum River, 129.9 miles (209 km) long, in northeastern Ohio in the United States. Via the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,590 square miles (6,708 km²) on glaciated and unglaciated portions of the Allegheny Plateau.
It rises southwest of Hartville in northern Stark County, and initially flows westwardly, through Uniontown into southern Summit County, where it passes through the Portage Lakes area south of Akron, and the city of Barberton. From Barberton the Tuscarawas flows generally southwardly through Stark and Tuscarawas Counties, through the communities of Clinton, Canal Fulton, Massillon, Navarre, Bolivar, Zoar, Dover, and New Philadelphia. South of New Philadelphia the river turns to the southwest and west, flowing past Tuscarawas, Gnadenhutten, Port Washington, and Newcomerstown into Coshocton County, where it joins the Walhonding River at the city of Coshocton to form the Muskingum River.[3] From Barberton downstream, the Ohio and Erie Canal was constructed in parallel to the river in 1828-1830; usage began declining in the 1850s, and the canal was damaged beyond repair by flooding in 1913.[4] Portions of the canal's towpath route are maintained as a hiking and bicycling trail.[5]
According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Tuscarawas River has also been known historically by the names Little Muskingum River, Mashongam River, Tuscarawa River, and Tuskarawas Creek.[2]
As of 2006, the state of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has recommended limits on the consumption of fish taken from the river, due to contamination by mercury and PCBs.[6]
[edit] Tributaries
The Tuscarawas River collects Chippewa Creek in Summit County near Clinton; Sandy Creek in Stark County near Bolivar; and, in Tuscarawas County, Conotton Creek southeast of Zoar; Sugar Creek at Dover; and Stillwater Creek north of Tuscarawas. Nimishillen Creek, a tributary of Sandy Creek, drains the city of Canton.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ohio Department of Natural Resources (2000). Major Ohio Watersheds. A Guide to Ohio Streams p. 11. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
- ^ a b c d Geographic Names Information System. GNIS entry for Tuscarawas River (Feature ID #1067076). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
- ^ a b DeLorme (1991). Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. pp. 41, 51-52, 60-61. ISBN 0-89933-233-1.
- ^ Ohio & Erie Canalway Association. Ohio & Erie Canalway: The West's First Canal. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
- ^ Ohio & Erie Canalway Association. Ohio & Erie Canalway. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
- ^ Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Surface Water (2006-01-03). 2006 Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Advisory. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
