Whitewater River (Great Miami River tributary) facts for kids

The Whitewater River is a river that flows for about 101 miles (163 km). It is located in southeastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio in the United States. This river is a tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of the Great Miami River.

The Whitewater River is formed when two smaller rivers, called the West Fork and the East Fork, join together. The name "Whitewater" might make you think of foamy, fast-moving water. However, the river doesn't actually have much true white water. It does have many fast-moving sections called rapids. This is because the river drops quite a bit in height as it flows. On average, it falls about 6 feet for every mile.

This steep drop made it impossible for boats to travel upstream. Because of this, a special waterway called the Whitewater Canal was built in the mid-1800s. It ran next to the river from north of Connersville, Indiana, all the way to the Ohio River.

The West Fork of the Whitewater River

The West Fork is considered the main part of the river on official maps. It starts in Randolph County, Indiana. This is about 1 mile northeast of a town called Modoc.

It flows for about 69.5 miles (112 km) towards the south and southeast. Along its path, it passes by towns like Hagerstown and Connersville. Finally, it meets the East Fork of the river in Brookville, Indiana.

The East Fork of the Whitewater River

The East Fork is about 56.7 miles (91 km) long. It begins in Darke County, Ohio. This starting point is about 10 miles northwest of New Paris.

It flows south through Richmond, Indiana. Richmond is the largest town in the river valley. The East Fork then joins the West Fork in Brookville, Indiana.

From this meeting point in Brookville, the combined Whitewater River flows southeast into Ohio. It eventually joins the Great Miami River, which then flows into the Ohio River.

Brookville Lake Dam

The East Fork of the river used to have frequent flooding problems. To help control these floods, and also to help manage flooding in the larger Ohio River, a dam was built. The United States Army Corps of Engineers built the Brookville Lake Dam in 1974.

This dam created Brookville Lake, which stretches for about 17 miles (27 km). The lake goes from just south of Liberty, Indiana, all the way to Brookville.

Towns Along the River

Many cities and towns are located along the Whitewater River. Moving from north to south, these include:

• Hagerstown
• Cambridge City
• Connersville
• Laurel
• Metamora
• Brookville
• Harrison (in Ohio)
• Lawrenceburg

Richmond, Indiana, is located on the East Fork of the Whitewater River. It is the biggest town in the river valley and has most of the people living there. You can drive alongside the West Fork of the river on Indiana State Road 121 from Connersville. This road goes to about 5 miles (8 km) west of Brookville. From there, U.S. Route 52 follows the river to the Ohio River.

The Whitewater Valley

The area around the Whitewater River is known as the Whitewater Valley. This valley was formed a very long time ago, about 21,000 years ago. This happened when a huge sheet of ice, called the Wisconsin ice cap, began to melt.

The Whitewater Valley stretches for about 80 miles (129 km). It goes from Hagerstown in Wayne County to Lawrenceburg in Dearborn County, which is on the Ohio River.

In the early 1800s, the Whitewater River and its valley were very important. They served as the main path for people settling in southeastern and eastern Indiana. These settlers came from cities like Cincinnati and Clarksville (across from Louisville) on the Ohio River. This was before railroads were built.

Later, a railroad line called the Whitewater Valley Railroad was built. It was constructed between 1863 and 1868. This railroad followed the path of the old Whitewater Canal. It ran from Hagerstown to just west of Cincinnati. Once the railroad was built, the river and the canal became less important for trade and business.

Recreation

Today, the Whitewater River is mostly used for fun activities and enjoying nature. People can visit the river for its beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation.