Macatawa River

Macatawa River
Origin

Zeeland Township, Ottawa County, Michigan

[1]
Mouth Lake Macatawa, Michigan
Length 16.8 mi (27.0 km)
Basin area 174 sq mi (450 km2)

The Macatawa River, also known as the Black River, is located in the lower part of Ottawa County, Michigan, which drains into Lake Macatawa and eventually into Lake Michigan. The main stream is 16.8 miles (27.0 km) long.[2]

The name Macatawa is a mis-phoneticization of the Native American "Muck-i-ta-wog-go-me", which means "black water"[3]. The region was inhabited by Ottawas, Chippewas and Potawatomie tribes.

This small river is the site of the annual tug-of-war by Hope College students called The Pull.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Macatawa River". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:631275. 
  2. ^ A Hydrologic Study of the Macatawa River Watershed Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  3. ^ The Indians of the Grand River Valley phoenix-printing.com, Monday 18 June, 2007
  4. ^ Hope College |The Pull