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Millstone River
Millstone River Rocky Hill.jpg
Millstone River at Rocky Hill
Millstone River North.JPG
Map of northern section of Millstone River; see below for map of southern section
Country United States
Physical characteristics
Main source 40°11′58″N 74°24′48″W / 40.19944°N 74.41333°W / 40.19944; -74.41333
River mouth 20 ft (6.1 m)
40°32′33″N 74°34′0″W / 40.54250°N 74.56667°W / 40.54250; -74.56667
Length 38.6 mi (62.1 km)
Basin features
Progression Raritan River, Atlantic Ocean
River system Raritan River system
Tributaries

The Millstone River is a 38.6-mile-long (62.1 km) river in central New Jersey, United States. It flows into the Raritan River. Think of it as a smaller river that feeds into a bigger one!

This river starts in western Monmouth County. It then flows north through southern Somerset County. Finally, it joins the Raritan River near Manville. For most of its journey, the Millstone River flows right next to the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Both the river and the canal are important. They provide drinking water for many homes and businesses in central New Jersey. They are also great places for outdoor fun!

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Where the Millstone River Flows

Millstone River (compressed, by a little)
The Millstone River flowing in Millstone Township, where it begins its journey.

The Millstone River begins in western Monmouth County. It starts near a road called CR-524 (Stage Coach Road). From there, it flows northeast, then turns north. It picks up smaller streams along the way.

The river crosses several roads like Sweetmans Lane and Baird Road. It also flows past the area that collects water for the Cranbury Brook. The Millstone River then turns west, crossing more roads like Perrineville Road. It receives many small streams that add to its water.

Millstone River in Plainsboro
The Millstone River flowing through Plainsboro.

It flows under the New Jersey Turnpike and through the East Windsor Open Space. After crossing Route 130, it picks up another stream. It then flows into an area called Fischer Acres Associates. The river turns southwest after receiving Rocky Brook. Then, it makes a turn to the northwest.

Next, it flows west, crossing Old Trenton Road and John White Road. It also flows next to the West Windsor Planning Incentive area. The river receives water from Cranbury Brook and Bear Brook. It also gets water from Devils Brook. After crossing US-1, it flows into Carnegie Lake. Here, it crosses the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which it follows closely for the rest of its journey.

River in Rocky Hill
The Millstone River flowing in Rocky Hill.

The river turns northeast, receiving Stony Brook. Then it turns north again. It receives Harrys Brook and leaves Carnegie Lake. It enters the D&R Canal State Park and crosses NJ27.

It receives Beden Brook and Simonson Brook. By this point, a road called CR-533 (River Road) runs alongside it. The river then receives Ten Mile Run and Six Mile Run. It flows past the Somerset Christian College. Finally, the Millstone River joins the Raritan River near Manville.

Understanding Flooding Along the River

The Millstone River in Griggstown
The Millstone River's northern course near Griggstown.

The area around the Millstone River has experienced serious floods over the last 200 years. For example, Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 caused a very bad flood. This was especially true in the Lost Valley part of Manville. This area is on a flat flood plain between the Millstone River and the Raritan River. Another big flood happened after Hurricane Irene in 2011.

Carnegie Lake filtered
Carnegie Lake, with Princeton University's Cleveland Tower in the background.

In 2016, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection studied the Millstone River Basin. They wanted to see if they could control or reduce flooding. The study focused on Manville because it was at the highest risk. However, they found that none of the ideas to reduce flooding were affordable. So, no federal action was recommended to lower the flood risk.

Drinking Water for Many Homes

The Millstone River is a very important source of drinking water. It provides water to thousands of homes and businesses in Central New Jersey. There's a special pumping station where the Millstone River meets the Raritan River. This station takes water from the river. The water is then cleaned and sent out by a company called New Jersey American Water.

The River's Role in History and Trade

In the early days of the American colonies, people used land routes more and more for trade. Goods were carried by stage coaches between important cities like New York City and Philadelphia. These coaches traveled a direct path from South Amboy to Bordentown. Later, this route became a railroad.

The Mill at Griggstown
The Mill at Griggstown was one of many mills located along the D&R Canal, which runs next to the Millstone River.

Many towns grew up along this stagecoach route. These towns included South Amboy, Sayreville, South River, Spotswood, Helmetta, Jamesburg, Cranbury, Hightstown, Windsor, Robbinsville, and Bordentown. The stagecoach route was usually a straight line between the Raritan Bay and the Delaware River.

Example of a Millstone
This is an example of what a Millstone looked like.

As the country grew, large barges on canals became better for shipping heavy goods. Canals had to follow flat land, often riverbeds. This is why the Millstone River became so important. It provided a north-south waterway through New Jersey. This waterway connected the big cities of Philadelphia and New York.

The Millstone River is a key tributary of the Raritan River. The Raritan River flows into the Raritan Bay, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. Raritan Bay is next to New York Harbor. It separates Staten Island (part of New York City) from Central New Jersey.

As the Raritan River flows east towards Raritan Bay, it meets the Millstone River near Bound Brook, New Jersey. The Millstone River flows through several New Jersey counties. It starts in Monmouth County. Then it flows west through Mercer County. After that, it goes northwest through Somerset County, and finally north towards Bound Brook.

The Delaware and Raritan Canal Connection

The Delaware and Raritan Canal runs along the east side of the Millstone River for most of its length. This canal starts near Lake Carnegie. It continues to where the Millstone River joins the main part of the Raritan River in Franklin Township.

A panorama of the D&R Canal and the Millstone River
The Millstone River as it enters into the D&R Canal in West Windsor Township

The canal then continues along the right (south) bank of the Raritan River. The land between the canal and the river is a flood plain. This area usually has swamps, wooded areas, and some farms. There are also several spillways. These allow water to flow from the canal into the Millstone River when there's a lot of water.

In Lawrenceville, New Jersey, near U.S. Route 1, the canal connects to Trenton, the state capital. From Trenton, it flows into the Delaware River.

Because of the Millstone and Raritan Rivers, a major shipping route was created between New York and Philadelphia in the early 1800s. From New York, goods could be shipped north along the Hudson River and the Erie Canal. This allowed trade to reach upstate New York and even states near the Great Lakes.

Tributaries of the Millstone River

Many smaller streams and brooks flow into the Millstone River. These are called tributaries. They add water to the main river.

Millstone River South
Map of southern section of the Millstone River; see above for northern section

Roads Crossing the Millstone River

Many roads and highways cross over the Millstone River. These crossings help people travel across New Jersey.

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