Pawcatuck River

The Pawcatuck River is a river in the U.S. states of Rhode Island and Connecticut flowing approximately 48 km (30 mi). There are eight dams along the river's length.

History

The river was specificied as the western boundary of the Rhode Island Colony in its original charter in 1636. The river was formerly called Charles River between its source and the mouth of Wood River near Bradford, Rhode Island.

Course

The Pawcatuck River's source is Worden Pond in South Kingstown. It proceeds generally west and southwest through the villages of Kenyon, Carolina, and Bradford. It then turns briefly northwest and west before resuming a southward course to flow past Potter Hill and between the towns of Westerly, Rhode Island and Pawcatuck, Connecticut until it finally empties into Little Narragansett Bay on Long Island Sound.

Crossings

Below is a list of all crossings over the Pawcatuck River. The list starts at the headwaters and goes downstream.

• Charlestown
• South County Trail (RI 2)
• Sherman Avenue
• Shannock Road
• Old Shannock Road
• Carolina Back Road (RI 112)
• Alton Carolina Road (RI 91)
• Kings Factory Road
• Burdickville Road
• Westerly
• Alton Bradford Road (RI 91/216)
• Ashaway Road (RI 3)
• Potter Hill Road
• Boombridge Road
• Bridge Road
• Stillman Avenue
• Broad Street (U.S. 1)

Tributaries

In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks and rivers feed the Pawcatuck:

• Usquepaug River
• Pusquiset Brook
• Beaver River
• Taney Brook
• White Brook
• Meadow Brook
• Wood River
• Poquiani Brook
• Tomaquag Brook
• McGowan Brook
• Aguntaug Brook
• Ashaway River
• Shunock River
• Mastuxet Brook

See also

• List of rivers in Rhode Island
• List of rivers in Connecticut

References