Avon River (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
The Avon River is a river
in Perth County
, Ontario
, Canada
. The river was named after the River Avon
in England when the town of Stratford
was founded on its banks in 1832. The Avon River rises northeast of Stratford and flows southwest, entering the North Thames River
near St. Marys
. It was originally known as the Little Thames River.
in Perth East
. It flows west to the north of the community, south of Brocksden, and into Lake Victoria, a seasonal reservoir created by the Thomas Orr Dam, in Stratford. The Avon River continues west through the community of Avonton in Perth South
, and heads south through the community of Avonbank
. It then empties into the North Thames River, as a left tributary, between the community of Motherwell to the north and the town of St. Marys to the south.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Perth County
Perth County, Ontario
Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The river was named after the River Avon
River Avon, Warwickshire
The River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
in England when the town of Stratford
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
was founded on its banks in 1832. The Avon River rises northeast of Stratford and flows southwest, entering the North Thames River
Thames River (Ontario)
The Thames River is located in southwestern Ontario, Canada.The Thames flows west through southwestern Ontario, through the cities of Woodstock, London and Chatham to Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair...
near St. Marys
St. Marys, Ontario
St. Marys is a town in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Thames River southwest of Stratford in Perth County, and surrounded by the Township of Perth South. The town is also known by its nickname, "The Stone Town", due to the abundance of limestone in the surrounding area, giving...
. It was originally known as the Little Thames River.
Course
The river begins in a field northeast of the community of ShakespeareShakespeare, Ontario
Shakespeare is a village and designated place within the municipality of Perth East in Perth County, Ontario, Canada with a population of 750 in 2006. Shakespeare is located on the Highway 7/8, just east of Stratford and west of Kitchener.-History:Shakespeare was founded in 1832 by David Bell, and...
in Perth East
Perth East, Ontario
The Township of Perth East is municipality located in Perth County, Ontario, Canada and situated north of Stratford.Milverton is the major community of the township, where the municipal administration is based...
. It flows west to the north of the community, south of Brocksden, and into Lake Victoria, a seasonal reservoir created by the Thomas Orr Dam, in Stratford. The Avon River continues west through the community of Avonton in Perth South
Perth South, Ontario
Perth South is a township in southwestern Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the River Thames and the Avon River in the County of Perth.-Communities:...
, and heads south through the community of Avonbank
Avonbank, Ontario
Avonbank is a community on the Avon River in the township of Perth South, Perth County in Southwestern Ontario Ontario, Canada. It lies on 16th Line west of Perth Road 130, about southwest of Stratford and north of St. Marys....
. It then empties into the North Thames River, as a left tributary, between the community of Motherwell to the north and the town of St. Marys to the south.
Tributaries
- Dunseith Drain
- Douglas Drain
- Hislop Drain
- Court Drain
- Kuhne Drain
- Central School Drain
- Sheerer Drain