Oxoboxo River facts for kids

For the census-designated place, see Oxoboxo River, Connecticut.

The Oxoboxo River is a small river in New London County, Connecticut. It is also sometimes called Oxoboxo Brook on maps. This river is a tributary of the Thames River, meaning it flows into the Thames.

The Oxoboxo River starts at Oxoboxo Lake and flows for about 6 miles (10 km). It moves southeast until it joins the Thames River. The area of land that drains into the Oxoboxo River is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 6,768 acres (27.39 km²). Most of this area, about 87%, is located in the town of Montville.

History of the Oxoboxo River

The Oxoboxo River was very important for its water power long ago. This power helped early English settlers and later, industries in the 1800s.

Early Mills and Dams

The first sawmill on the river was built in 1653. This mill used the river's flow to cut wood. By the 1880s, the river was powering many factories. It helped run 15 different mills that made cotton, wool, and paper.

Oxoboxo Lake, where the river begins, is a natural lake. However, its size and height were made bigger by building dams. The first dam at the lake was built in the 1600s. Over time, this dam was rebuilt and made taller many times. It reached its current height in the 1880s.

What's in a Name?

The name "Oxoboxo" comes from Native American words. These words described the river and the lake. Many different spellings and names were used for the river over time.

Old Names and Meanings

Some old names for the river include Abscubogset, Absubogsuck, and Sawmill Brook. Many of these names are from the Mohegan language. This language was spoken by Native American tribes in the area.

A Special Word

The name "Oxoboxo" is special because it reads the same forwards and backwards. Words like this are called palindromes. It's a fun fact about the river's unique name!