Little Hocking River
Encyclopedia
The Little Hocking River is a small tributary
of the Ohio River
, 18.4 miles (29.6 km) long, in southeastern Ohio
in the United States
. Via the Ohio River, it is part of the watershed
of the Mississippi River
, draining an area of 102 square miles (264.2 km²) on the unglaciated
portion of the Allegheny Plateau
. The river flows for its entire length in southwestern Washington County
; its tributaries also drain a small area of southeastern Athens County
.
The Little Hocking River rises in Fairfield Township
between the communities of Barlow
and Bartlett
and initially flows southeastward through southwestern Barlow Township
into Dunham Township
, where it is dam
med to form Veto Lake, which is surrounded by the 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) Veto Lake State Wildlife Area. Downstream of Veto Lake, the river flows southwestward into Belpre Township
; near its mouth it turns eastward and flows into the Ohio River at the community of Little Hocking
.
Among the Little Hocking River's tributaries are three with names derived from that of the main stream:
According to the Geographic Names Information System
, the Little Hocking River has also been known historically as "Little Hockhocken River," "Little Hockhockin River," and "Little Hockhocking River."
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Ohio River
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...
, 18.4 miles (29.6 km) long, in southeastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Ohio River, it is part of 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...
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...
, draining an area of 102 square miles (264.2 km²) on the unglaciated
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
portion of the 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...
. The river flows for its entire length in southwestern Washington County
Washington County, Ohio
Washington County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 61,778. Its county seat is Marietta. The county, the oldest in the state, is named for George Washington. Washington County is included in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, West Virginia-Ohio...
; its tributaries also drain a small area of southeastern Athens County
Athens County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,223 people, 22,501 households, and 12,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 24,901 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
.
The Little Hocking River rises in Fairfield Township
Fairfield Township, Washington County, Ohio
Fairfield Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,011 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
between the communities of Barlow
Barlow, Ohio
Barlow is an unincorporated community in western Barlow Township, Washington County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45712. It lies at the intersection of State Routes 339 and 550 near the South Fork of Wolf Creek, which meets the...
and Bartlett
Bartlett, Ohio
Bartlett is an unincorporated community in southwestern Wesley Township, Washington County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45713. It sits at the intersection of State Routes 550 and 555 near Coal Run, a subsidiary of Wolf Creek,...
and initially flows southeastward through southwestern Barlow Township
Barlow Township, Washington County, Ohio
Barlow Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,417 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
into Dunham Township
Dunham Township, Washington County, Ohio
Dunham Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,505 people in the township.-Geography:...
, where it is dam
Dam
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...
med to form Veto Lake, which is surrounded by the 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) Veto Lake State Wildlife Area. Downstream of Veto Lake, the river flows southwestward into Belpre Township
Belpre Township, Washington County, Ohio
Belpre Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,192 people in the township.-Geography:...
; near its mouth it turns eastward and flows into the Ohio River at the community of Little Hocking
Little Hocking, Ohio
Little Hocking is a census-designated place in southern Belpre Township, Washington County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45742....
.
Among the Little Hocking River's tributaries are three with names derived from that of the main stream:
- The East Branch Little Hocking River rises at 39°23′06"N 81°32′45"W in Warren TownshipWarren Township, Washington County, OhioWarren Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,044 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the southern part of the county along the Ohio River, it borders the following townships:...
and flows southwestward to 39°20′05"N 81°38′08"W in Dunham Township. It is 6.8 miles (10.9 km) long and drains an area of 13 square miles (33.7 km²). - The Little West Branch Little Hocking River rises at 39°21′28"N 81°43′06"W in Fairfield Township and flows southward through Decatur TownshipDecatur Township, Washington County, OhioDecatur Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,181 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the southwestern corner of the county, it borders the following townships:...
to 39°17′02"N 81°42′40"W in Belpre Township. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) long and drains an area of 9.46 square miles (24.5 km²). - The West Branch Little Hocking River rises at 39°24′19"N 81°49′28"W in near Bartlett in Wesley TownshipWesley Township, Washington County, OhioWesley Township is one of the twenty-two townships of Washington County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 915 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the far western part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
and flows south-southeastward through Fairfield and Decatur Townships to 39°16′38"N 81°42′41"W in Belpre Township. It is 18 miles (29 km) long and drains an area of 39.4 square miles (102 km²).
According to the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic 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...
, the Little Hocking River has also been known historically as "Little Hockhocken River," "Little Hockhockin River," and "Little Hockhocking River."