Great Miami River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Miami River |
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The Great Miami River near Vandalia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio, Indiana |
| Counties | Logan, Shelby, Miami, Montgomery, Warren, Butler, Hamilton in Ohio; Dearborn in Indiana |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Indian Lake, Russells Point, Logan County, Ohio 998 ft (304 m) 40°28′04″N 83°52′33″W / 40.46778°N 83.87583°W |
| River mouth | Ohio River, Miami Township, Hamilton County, Ohio 449 feet (137 m) 39°06′31″N 84°48′52″W / 39.10861°N 84.81444°W |
| Length | 170 miles (270 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 5,373 sq mi (13,920 km2) |
The Great Miami River is a long river in the United States. It flows for about 160 miles (257 km) through southwestern Ohio and a small part of Indiana. This river is a major branch of the Ohio River.
The river gets its name from the Miami people. They were a group of Native American people. They spoke an Algonquian language and lived in this area long ago. They had to move west as more European settlers arrived.
The area around the Great Miami River is called the Miami Valley. This name is often used for the economic and cultural region around Dayton. People living closer to Cincinnati and the Ohio River Valley might not use this term as much.
Contents
The River's Journey
The Great Miami River starts in Logan County, Ohio. It flows out of Indian Lake, which is a man-made lake. This lake collects water from the North and South forks of the river.
Flowing Through Cities
The river flows south and southwest. It passes by cities like Sidney, Piqua, and Troy. In northern Miami County, it is joined by Loramie Creek.
It then flows through the Taylorsville Dam area. This is near Tipp City and Vandalia.
Major City Connections
The river continues through Dayton. Here, it meets several other rivers and creeks. These include the Stillwater River, the Mad River, and Wolf Creek.
From Dayton, the river flows southwest. It passes through Miamisburg, Franklin, Middletown, and Hamilton. These cities are all in the southwestern part of Ohio.
Reaching the Ohio River
In southwestern Hamilton County, the Whitewater River joins the Great Miami. This is about 5 miles (8 km) before the Great Miami River flows into the Ohio River. This meeting point is just east of the Ohio-Indiana state line. It is also about 16 miles (26 km) west of Cincinnati.
The river crosses the state line near Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This happens in its last two miles (3 km) before it reaches the Ohio River. The border between Ohio and Indiana was set based on where these two rivers met in the year 1800.
History of the Great Miami River
The Great Miami River has a rich history. It has been important to people for hundreds of years.
Early Days: River of Rocks
In the 1700s, French explorers called this river Riviere à la Roche. This means "River of the Rocks." This name described the rocky areas of the river.
The Miami and Erie Canal
The Miami and Erie Canal was a very important waterway. It connected the Ohio River with Lake Erie. A large part of this canal was built through the Great Miami River area.
The first section of the canal opened in 1828. It went from Cincinnati to Middletown. By 1830, it reached Dayton. Water from the Great Miami River helped fill this canal. Later, a part called the Sidney Feeder also used water from the upper Great Miami.
The canal was the main way to transport goods and people. It ran from Toledo to Cincinnati across western Ohio. However, by the 1850s, railroads became more popular. They eventually replaced the canal.
Protecting the River from Floods
In March 1913, a huge flood happened. It caused a lot of damage along the river. Because of this, the Miami Conservancy District was created in 1914.
This group was formed to control flooding. They built dams, levees (walls to hold back water), and special storage areas. They also worked to dredge (clean out) and straighten parts of the river. All these efforts help protect the communities along the river from future floods.
Tributaries
Many smaller rivers and creeks flow into the Great Miami River. These are called tributaries. They add water to the main river.
- Clear Creek
- Loramie Creek
- Mad River (Ohio)
- Stillwater River (Ohio)
- Twin Creek
- Whitewater River
- Wolf Creek
- Indian Creek (Ohio)
- Taylor Creek (Ohio)
- Four Mile Creek (Ohio)
- Holes Creek
Images for kids
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Flannery Island, located where the Miami River meets the Ohio River.
