List of rivers of Ohio facts for kids

Ohio is a state in the middle of the United States, near the Great Lakes. It gets its name from the Ohio River, whose name comes from a Native American word meaning "good river" or "great river." The Ohio River forms the southern border of the state, though most of the river itself belongs to Kentucky and West Virginia.

Rivers in northern Ohio flow into Lake Erie and then into the St. Lawrence River, which eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers in southern Ohio flow into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the worst weather events in Ohio's history happened along the Great Miami River in 1913. This event, called the Great Dayton Flood, caused the entire Miami River area to flood, including downtown Dayton. Because of this, the Miami Conservancy District was created. It was the first big project in Ohio and the United States designed to control floods.

Ohio's Rivers: A Watery Journey

Ohio has many important rivers that play a big role in its geography and history. Here are some of the most well-known:

• The Cuyahoga River is famous for its history and for flowing into Lake Erie.
• The Great Miami River is a major river in southwestern Ohio.
• The Maumee River is the largest river that flows entirely within Ohio. It empties into Lake Erie.
• The Muskingum River is a large river in southeastern Ohio.
• The Scioto River flows through the capital city of Columbus.

These rivers and their smaller branches are vital for drinking water, transportation, and wildlife.

Rivers Flowing to Lake Erie

Many rivers in northern Ohio are part of the Lake Erie watershed. This means their waters eventually reach Lake Erie.

• The Maumee River is a very important river for Lake Erie. Some of its main branches include:
  • Auglaize River
  • Blanchard River
  • Tiffin River
  • St. Joseph River
  • St. Marys River
• The Sandusky River is another major river flowing into Lake Erie. It has many smaller streams, like Green Creek and Broken Sword Creek.
• The Huron River also flows into Lake Erie.
• The Vermilion River is known for its scenic beauty.
• The Black River is another important waterway in northern Ohio.
• The Rocky River flows through a popular park area near Cleveland.
• The Cuyahoga River is a key river that flows through Akron and Cleveland before reaching Lake Erie. Some of its notable branches are Big Creek and Mill Creek.
• Tinkers Creek and Brandywine Creek (Cuyahoga River tributary) are also part of the Cuyahoga system.
• Euclid Creek flows into Lake Erie near Cleveland.
• The Chagrin River is known for its beautiful valley.
• The Grand River is a significant river in northeastern Ohio.
• The Ashtabula River and Conneaut Creek are also important rivers in the far northeast, flowing into Lake Erie.

Rivers Flowing to the Ohio River

The southern part of Ohio is dominated by rivers that eventually join the Ohio River.

• The Wabash River starts in Ohio and flows west, eventually joining the Ohio River.
• The Great Miami River is a large river in southwestern Ohio. It has several important branches, including the Whitewater River and the Mad River. The Stillwater River and Loramie Creek also join the Great Miami.
• Mill Creek is a smaller river that flows into the Ohio River.
• The Little Miami River is a State and National Scenic River. It has branches like Turtle Creek and Caesar Creek.
• Whiteoak Creek and Eagle Creek are other streams that flow directly into the Ohio River.
• Ohio Brush Creek is a large tributary of the Ohio River in southern Ohio.
• The Scioto River is one of Ohio's longest rivers. Its major branches include Paint Creek, Big Darby Creek, and the Olentangy River.
• The Little Scioto River is another direct tributary of the Ohio River.
• Pine Creek and Symmes Creek are also part of the Ohio River system.
• Raccoon Creek and Leading Creek are important waterways in southeastern Ohio.
• The Hocking River flows through Athens, Ohio. Its branches include Federal Creek and Clear Creek.
• The Little Hocking River is a smaller river flowing into the Ohio.
• The Muskingum River is a very large river formed by the joining of the Walhonding and Tuscarawas rivers. Its major tributaries include:
  • Licking River
  • Wakatomika Creek
  • Wills Creek
  • Tuscarawas River (with branches like Sugar Creek and Sandy Creek)
  • Walhonding River (with branches like Killbuck Creek and Kokosing River)
  • Mohican River (with branches like Lake Fork Mohican River and Clear Fork Mohican River)
• Duck Creek and Little Muskingum River are other rivers in southeastern Ohio.
• Captina Creek and McMahon Creek are smaller streams that flow into the Ohio River.
• Wheeling Creek and Short Creek are in eastern Ohio.
• Cross Creek and Yellow Creek are also part of the Ohio River watershed.
• Little Beaver Creek is a scenic river in eastern Ohio.
• The Mahoning River is an important river in northeastern Ohio, with branches like Meander Creek and Mosquito Creek.
• The Shenango River also flows through parts of Ohio before joining the Mahoning River.

See also

• List of rivers in the United States