Congdon River facts for kids

The Congdon River is a small but interesting river in Rhode Island, a state in the U.S.. It flows through the Big River State Management Area and nearby lands. This river is about 3 kilometers (or 2 miles) long, which isn't very far! Along its path, you'll find three dams at different ponds: Rathbon Pond, Money Swamp Pond, and Millbrook Pond. A special spot on the river is where it crosses Congdon Mill Road. This place used to be a grist mill in 1778, where grain was ground into flour. Later, in 1806, it became a sawmill. The river and the mill road are named after Joseph Congdon, who owned the mill a long time ago.

Where Does the Congdon River Flow?

The Congdon River begins in a town called Exeter. It's formed when two smaller streams meet. One of these streams comes from Millbrook Pond, and the other flows from Money Swamp Pond. After these two streams join, the Congdon River flows into Rathbon Pond. From there, it continues its journey into West Greenwich. Finally, the Congdon River meets up with the Nooseneck River. When these two rivers combine, they form a bigger river known as the Big River.

Crossing the Congdon River

Because the Congdon River is quite short, there's only one main place where you can cross it. This crossing is at Congdon Mill Road, located in West Greenwich. It's an important spot because of its history with the old mills.

What Are the Congdon River's Tributaries?

A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Congdon River doesn't have any named tributaries that people usually talk about. However, it does have many unnamed streams that feed into it, helping to keep the river flowing. These smaller streams are just as important for the river's health!