Angelina River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angelina River |
|
|---|---|
| Native name | Río Angelina |
| Other name(s) | Shawnee Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Berryhill Creek 32°01′25″N 94°49′35″W / 32.0234986°N 94.8263255°W |
| River mouth | Neches River Pace Hill, Texas, United States 30°53′41″N 94°11′52″W / 30.8946441°N 94.1976929°W |
| Length | 120 mi (190 km) |
The Angelina River is a river located in Texas, United States. It stretches for about 120 miles (193 km). This river begins when two smaller streams, Barnhardt and Shawnee creeks, meet up. This happens about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Laneville in Rusk County, Texas.
The Angelina River flows mostly to the southeast. It forms natural borders between several counties in Texas. These include Cherokee and Nacogdoches counties. It also separates Angelina from Nacogdoches, and Angelina from San Augustine counties. The river eventually flows into the Neches River about 12 miles (19 km) north of Jasper.
A large lake called the Sam Rayburn Reservoir is built on the southern part of the Angelina River.
Contents
History of the Angelina River
How the River Got Its Name
The Angelina River was named after a young Hasinai girl. Spanish missionaries gave her the name Angelina. This river was well known to early Spanish and French explorers. Missionaries in East Texas also knew about it.
Early Settlements and Battles
Spanish land grants, which were like official permissions to own land, were given along the river starting in the late 1700s. Many people settled in the area during the time when Mexico controlled Texas.
In 1832, a fight known as the Battle of Nacogdoches happened nearby. During this battle, a famous Texan named James Bowie surprised the Mexican army as they were trying to escape across the Angelina River.
River Traffic and Changes
For a long time, boats traveled on the Angelina River. However, this river traffic started to slow down in the 1880s. This was because railroads began to be built, offering a faster way to transport goods and people.
By 1900, boats could no longer travel on the river. This happened because farming and the growing lumber industry caused a lot of soil to wash into the river. This made the river shallower and created many sandbars.
Angelina River in Music
The Angelina River has even been mentioned in songs! Texan musician Hayes Carll talks about it in his song "Rivertown" from his 2005 album Little Rock. Another artist, Mason Williams, describes the river in "The Rivers of Texas" as "glossy and gliding."
