Five Mile River facts for kids
Not to be confused with the Five Mile River in Connecticut dividing Darien and Rowayton.
Quick facts for kids Fivemile River |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Windham |
| Cities | Thompson, Putnam, Killingly |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Little Pond 42°00′53″N 71°50′27″W / 42.014592°N 71.840801°W Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut, United States 480 ft (150 m) |
| River mouth | Empties into Quinebaug River 41°48′06″N 71°53′13″W / 41.801568°N 71.887077°W Danielson, Windham County, Connecticut, United States 185 ft (56 m) |
| Length | 23.5 mi (37.8 km) |
The Fivemile River is a river in Connecticut, USA. It is about 23.5 miles (37.8 km) long. This river flows through the towns of Thompson, Putnam, and Killingly. It is an important part of the local environment and history.
Contents
About the Fivemile River
The Fivemile River is located in the "Northeast Corner" of Connecticut. It is a smaller river that eventually joins a larger one. This river is a branch, or "tributary," of the Quinebaug River. The Quinebaug River then flows into the Thames River system.
Where the River Starts and Ends
The Fivemile River begins at a place called Little Pond. This pond is also known as Schoolhouse Pond. It is located very close to the border with Massachusetts. From there, the river flows south. It finally empties into the Quinebaug River in a town called Danielson. This meeting point is near where two main roads, Connecticut Route 12 and U.S. Route 6, cross.
The River's Name History
The original name for this river came from the Nipmuc people. They are a Native American group who lived in the area. They called the river Assawaga. This name meant "place between" or "halfway place." Later, English settlers gave it the name "Five Mile River." They thought the first piece of land measured along the river was about five miles from Woodstock, Connecticut.
Dams and Mills Along the River
The Fivemile River has several dams built along its path. Most of these dams were created a long time ago for factories. These factories, called mills, used the river's flowing water to power their machines. This was a common way to run industries before electricity was widely available.
Historic Mill Villages
The largest water storage area on the river is Quaddick Reservoir. There are also many smaller dams. These dams helped harness the river's power for different industries. You can still see examples of old mill villages in Killingly. Places like Pineville, Ballouville, Attawaugan, and Dayville show where these mills once operated. These villages grew up around the factories that used the river's power.
