Guyandotte River
Encyclopedia
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, approximately 166 mi (267 km) long, in southwestern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. It drains an area of the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
south of the Ohio between the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
s of the Kanawha River
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
to the northeast and Twelvepole Creek
Twelvepole Creek
Twelvepole Creek is a river located in Wayne County, West Virginia. It is part of the Mississippi River watershed, by way of the Ohio River.-Course:...
and the Big Sandy River to the southwest. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
Course
Raleigh County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile . There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile...
by the confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of three streams, Winding Gulf, Stonecoal Creek, and the Devils Fork. and flows initially west-northwestwardly into Wyoming
Wyoming County, West Virginia
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,796. Its county seat is Pineville. Wyoming County was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plains."-Geography:According to the U.S...
and Mingo
Mingo County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,253 people, 11,303 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,898 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile...
counties. It turns briefly northward in Mingo County and enters Logan County
Logan County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,710 people, 14,880 households, and 10,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile . There were 16,807 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
, where it turns north-northwestwardly for the remainder of its highly meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing course through Logan, Lincoln
Lincoln County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,108 people, 8,664 households, and 6,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 9,846 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
and Cabell
Cabell County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 96,784 people, 41,180 households, and 25,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 344 people per square mile . There were 45,615 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile...
counties. It enters the Ohio River from the south at Huntington
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
, about 5 mi (8 km) east of the city's downtown.
Dams
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers damDam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
in Mingo County causes the river to widen as R.D. Bailey Lake in Mingo and western Wyoming Counties.
Tributaries
The Mud RiverMud River (West Virginia)
The Mud River is a tributary of the Guyandotte River in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. Via the Guyandotte and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed...
joins the Guyandotte at Barboursville
Barboursville, West Virginia
Barboursville is a village in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. It is located near the second largest city in the state, Huntington. The population was 3,183 at the 2000 census....
in Cabell County. The Slab Fork
Slab Fork
The Slab Fork is a tributary of the Guyandotte River, long, in southern West Virginia in the United States. Via the Guyandotte and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of in a mainly rural area on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau.The...
joins the Guyandotte in downtown Mullens
Mullens, West Virginia
Mullens is a city in Wyoming County, West Virginia. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,769.Located in a valley along the Guyandotte River within a mountainous region of southern West Virginia, the town was nearly destroyed by flash flooding in July 2001...
in Wyoming County. Big Ugly Creek joins the Guyandotte in Lincoln County
Lincoln County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,108 people, 8,664 households, and 6,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 9,846 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
.
Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association
In MullensMullens, West Virginia
Mullens is a city in Wyoming County, West Virginia. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,769.Located in a valley along the Guyandotte River within a mountainous region of southern West Virginia, the town was nearly destroyed by flash flooding in July 2001...
, an active watershed organization is working to reduce pollution in the headwaters of the Guyandotte River. The Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association
Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association
The Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association is a 501 non-profit corporation located in Mullens, West Virginia. UGWA was founded in December, 2002 in response to the water quality problems that have negatively affected communities...
(UGWA) is a grassroots, community-based organization working to reduce sources of pollution in order to clean up streams and make the watershed a better place to live. UGWA has garnered much public support and produced results in partnering with numerous local, state, and federal agencies.
Cities and towns along the Guyandotte River
- BarboursvilleBarboursville, West VirginiaBarboursville is a village in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. It is located near the second largest city in the state, Huntington. The population was 3,183 at the 2000 census....
- ChapmanvilleChapmanville, West VirginiaChapmanville is a town in Logan County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 1,211 at the 2000 census. Chapmanville was founded in 1800 and named for an early settler named Ned Chapman, who owned a store and ran the post office...
- GilbertGilbert, West VirginiaGilbert is a town in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 417 at the 2000 census. Gilbert was incorporated in 1918 and named for Gilbert Creek, which derives its name from the name of an early traveler in the area who was killed by Native...
- HartsHarts, West VirginiaHarts is a census-designated place at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River...
- HuntingtonHuntington, West VirginiaHuntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
- LoganLogan, West VirginiaLogan is a city in Logan County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 1,779 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Logan County.-History:...
- ManMan, West VirginiaMan is a town in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 770 at the 2000 census. The town is located along the Guyandotte River at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, which was the site of the 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood following a dam collapse...
- MullensMullens, West VirginiaMullens is a city in Wyoming County, West Virginia. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,769.Located in a valley along the Guyandotte River within a mountainous region of southern West Virginia, the town was nearly destroyed by flash flooding in July 2001...
- PinevillePineville, West VirginiaPineville is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 715 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wyoming County.-History:Pineville was settled by William Short in 1853....
- West HamlinWest Hamlin, West VirginiaWest Hamlin is a town in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 696 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Hamlin is located at ....
- West LoganWest Logan, West VirginiaWest Logan is a town in Logan County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 418 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Logan is located at ....
Variant names
According to the Geographic Names Information SystemGeographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
(GNIS), the Guyandotte River has also been known as:
- Arbuckles River
- Big Laurel Fork
- Guiandotte River
- Guyan Dot River
- Guyan Dott River
- Guyan River
- Guyandates Creek
- Guyandot Creek
- Guyandot River
- Guyandott River
- La-ke-we-ke-ton
- Little Guiandot
- Se-co-ne
- Se-co-nee
- Secone
- Seconec
External links
- R.D. Bailey Lake website, US Army Corps of Engineers
- "Guyandotte" City of Huntington website
- Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association
- Rural Appalachian Improvement League
- Don Mills, "Guyandotte Disaster", Feb 2005, based on "Guyandotte Disaster", January 1, 1913", Cabell Record Archives, reprinted in Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society Magazine, May 1994, Sections 3 and 4 have contemporary photos from Cabell Record