Little River (Goose Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little River |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| Region | Loudoun County, Fauquier County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Marshall 38°52′53″N 77°48′29″W / 38.8815016°N 77.8080498°W |
| River mouth | Potomac River Aldie 259 ft (79 m) 39°01′15″N 77°36′05″W / 39.0209419°N 77.6013811°W |
| Length | 23.4 mi (37.7 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Goose Creek |
The Little River is a stream in northern Virginia. It flows for about 23.4 miles (37.7 kilometers). This river is a "tributary" of Goose Creek. A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. Goose Creek then flows into the Potomac River. This means the Little River is part of a much bigger river system! It runs through Fauquier and Loudoun counties.
Where the Little River Flows
The Little River begins in Fauquier County. It starts east of a town called Marshall. From there, it flows north.
Journey Through Mountains
As it flows, the Little River follows the western side of the Bull Run Mountains. It continues its journey to a place called Aldie. In Aldie, the river passes between the Bull Run Mountains and another mountain range. This other range is called Catoctin Mountain.
After Aldie, the Little River keeps flowing north. It then runs along the eastern side of Catoctin Mountain. Finally, it joins Goose Creek. This meeting point is east of a place called Oatlands.
How the River Got Its Name
The Little River is well-known for giving its name to a historic road. This road is called the Little River Turnpike. Today, parts of this old road are known as U.S. Route 50 and State Route 236.
The Little River Turnpike used to end at the Little River in Aldie. At that spot, it connected with two other important roads. These were the Ashby's Gap Turnpike and the Snickersville Turnpike. This shows how important the river was for travel and trade in the past.
