Mohawk River (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mohawk River |
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High water on the Mohawk River during January storm
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 Location of the mouth of the Mohawk River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of North and South Forks 44°13′37″N 122°40′11″W / 44.22694°N 122.66972°W |
| River mouth | McKenzie River 449 ft (137 m) 44°5′10″N 122°58′30″W / 44.08611°N 122.97500°W |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 180 sq mi (470 km2) |
The Mohawk River is a river in west-central Oregon, United States. It is the largest river that flows into the McKenzie River. The Mohawk River is about 30 miles (48 km) long. It helps drain the lower hills of the Cascade Range. This area is on the southeast side of the Willamette Valley, northeast of Springfield.
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Where is the Mohawk River Located?
The Mohawk River starts in the northern part of Lane County. This is about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Springfield. The river generally flows southwest. It then joins the McKenzie River from the north, near Springfield. The area around the river is known as the Mohawk Valley.
How Did the River Get Its Name?
The Mohawk River likely got its name from a person named Jacob C. Spores in 1849. Jacob Spores came from the Mohawk River area in New York. The valley in Oregon reminded him of the Mohawk Valley back home.
Because of the river, a group of Kalapuyan Native Americans were called the Mohawk River band. They lived in the river valley in the 1800s. It is important to know that this group was not related to the Mohawk tribe from the eastern United States.
Towns Along the Mohawk River
Several towns and communities are located in the Mohawk Valley. Some of these places are Mabel, Marcola, Mohawk, and Wendling.
What Are the Mohawk River's Tributaries?
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Mohawk River has many tributaries. From where it starts to where it ends, some of the named tributaries include:
- North Fork Mohawk River
- South Fork Mohawk River
- Log Creek
- Bette Creek
- Drury Creek
- Shotgun Creek
- Polly Creek
- Mill Creek
- Cartwright Creek
- Parsons Creek
- McGowan Creek
- Alder Branch
- Spores Creek
- Stafford Creek
- Sister Creek
