Buttahatchee River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buttahatchee River |
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A bridge crossing of the Buttahatchee River in Monroe County, Mississippi
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama, Mississippi |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Winston County, Alabama 34°11′13″N 87°37′19″W / 34.18694°N 87.62194°W |
| River mouth | Tombigbee River Border between Monroe County and Lowndes County, Mississippi 33°39′2″N 88°30′49″W / 33.65056°N 88.51361°W |
| Length | 75 mi (121 km) |
The Buttahatchee River is a cool river, about 75 miles (121 km) long, that flows through parts of Alabama and Mississippi in the United States. It's like a smaller stream that feeds into a bigger one, called the Tombigbee River. Eventually, its water travels all the way to the Mobile River and then into the Gulf of Mexico.
Where Does the Buttahatchee River Flow?
The Buttahatchee River starts in northwestern Winston County, Alabama. This is near a town called Delmar. From there, it generally flows towards the west.
As it moves along, the river goes through Marion County, Alabama. Here, it picks up water from a smaller stream called the West Branch Buttahatchee River. When it reaches Hamilton, the river changes direction and starts flowing southwest.
The river continues its journey through Lamar County, Alabama and then into Monroe County, Mississippi. For a part of its lower section, the river actually forms a natural border between Monroe County and Lowndes County. Finally, the Buttahatchee River joins the larger Tombigbee River. This meeting point is close to Columbus Air Force Base, which is about 12 miles (19 km) north of Columbus.
What Does 'Buttahatchee' Mean?
The name "Buttahatchee" comes from the Choctaw language. The Choctaw people are a Native American tribe. In their language, bati means "sumac" and hahcha means "river." So, "Buttahatchee River" means "sumac river." Sumac is a type of plant that grows in the area.
The official name and spelling, "Buttahatchee River," was decided in 1947 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Before that, the river was known by many different spellings and names. Some of these old names included:
- Bartahatchie River
- Buddahatchie River
- Butahatchie River
- Buttahachie River
- Buttahatchy River
