Black River (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black River |
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| Country | United States of America |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Elyria, Ohio, where its East and West Branches meet, or northern Ashland County, Ohio for the West Branch |
| River mouth | Lake Erie in Lorain, Ohio |
| Length | 12 miles (19 km), or about 42 miles (68 km) including West Branch |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 470 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
The Black River is a tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of Lake Erie. It is about 12 miles (19 km) long. This river is located in northern Ohio in the United States.
Through Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario, the Black River is part of the larger watershed of the St. Lawrence River. This big river eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Black River drains an area of 470 square miles (1217 km²).
Long ago, the Black River was known by other names. These included "Canesadooharie River" and "Riviere en Grys."
Contents
Where Does the Black River Flow?
The Black River starts in the city of Elyria. Here, two main parts, called branches, come together:
East Branch Black River
The East Branch starts in northwestern Medina County. It is formed by two smaller streams: the East Fork Black River and the West Fork East Branch Black River.
- The East Fork flows south past Lodi. Then it turns northwest.
- The West Fork begins in northeastern Ashland County. It flows generally east into Medina County.
These two streams meet about 1 mile (2 km) northwest of Lodi. The East Branch then flows north into Lorain County, passing Grafton. This branch drains an area of 222 square miles (575 km²).
West Branch Black River
The West Branch Black River is about 30 miles (48 km) long. It starts in northern Ashland County. It flows northeast into Lorain County, passing Rochester. This branch drains an area of 174 square miles (451 km²).
Main River Flow
After the East and West Branches join in Elyria, the main Black River flows north. It passes Sheffield and then enters the city of Lorain. In Lorain, it flows into Lake Erie. The place where the river meets Lake Erie is part of the harbor of Lorain.
River's Past Names and Stories
In the 1700s, the Black River had different names. It was called the "Reneshoua River." Early French and British explorers also called it "la Riviere de la Cuiliere." The name "Cuilliere" might have come from a French fur trader from around 1760.
This river was important to early explorers. It was a safe place to stop their boats. This was because the southern shore of Lake Erie had tall, steep cliffs for many miles. These cliffs made it hard to land boats or climb ashore. The Black River offered one of the few safe spots.
In 1787, a missionary named David Zeisberger led a group of Christian Native Americans. They tried to settle near the Black River. This was about 5 or 6 miles upstream from Lake Erie. However, they only stayed for twelve days. A local Native American tribe warned them about dangers from future "white" settlers. So, the group moved to the Huron River instead.
The Black River has two large waterfalls in Elyria, Ohio. These falls led historians to believe this was the "Canesadooharie" river. A man named James Smith wrote about staying with Native Americans near a river with falls in 1755 and 1756. Some historians thought he was talking about the Black River. However, there is some debate about which river Smith actually meant.
Images for kids
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Reneshoua River in 1778
