Marys River
Encyclopedia
Marys River is a 40 miles (64.4 km) tributary of the Willamette River
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. From its source at the confluence of its east and west forks near Summit
, it flows generally southeast from the Central Oregon Coast Range
to Corvallis
.
had earlier named the stream St. Marys River. Rather, they summarize two stories about the origin. One is that Adam E. Wimple, an early settler, named the stream for his sister. Wimple was hanged at Dallas, Oregon
, in 1852 for murdering his wife, also named Mary. The other story is that Wayman St. Clair, who represented Benton County
in the territorial legislature in the early 1850s, named the river for Mary Lloyd. She was said to have been the first white
woman to cross the river.
In 1847, Joseph C. Avery began laying out a town at the confluence of Marys River with the Willamette River, and the place was called Marysville. In 1853, the legislature changed the name of the town to Corvallis, a compounding of Latin words meaning heart of the valley. Prior to settlement by European American
s, fur traders referred to the Mary's River as Mouse River or Mice River. It is probable that nearby Marys Peak
was named for the river.
at 659 feet (200.9 m) above sea level
and falls 452 feet (137.8 m) between source and mouth to an elevation of 207 feet (63.1 m). The main stem, formed by the confluence of the East Fork Marys River and the West Fork Marys River, begins at about river mile
40 (RM 40) or river kilometer 64 (RK 64) north of Marys Peak
in the Central Oregon Coast Range. The West Fork Marys River, which is 6 miles (9.7 km) long, rises at 44.7333333°N 123.5708333°W and flows south to join the East Fork. The East Fork, which is 5 miles (8 km) long, rises at 44.7°N 123.5152778°W and flows southwest to join the West Fork. Marys Peak rises to 4022 feet (1,225.9 m) above sea level at 44.5042870°N 123.5512165°W.
From its source, the river flows south along the east side of Marys River Road past the unincorporated
community of Summit
and under Oregon Route 180
at about 38 miles (61.2 km) from the mouth. Turning southeast, the river flows just south of Route 180, receiving Devitt Creek from the left before reaching the unincorporated community of Blodgett
. Here, about 32 miles (51.5 km) from the mouth, it crosses under U.S. Route 20
and in quick succession receives Norton Creek from the left and the Tumtum River
from the right. Turning south and then east, it passes the unincorporated community of Harris
at about RM 26.5 (RK 42.6) before reaching the unincorporated community of Wren
. Near Wren, it turns north, crosses under Route 20 again, turns east, receives Gellatly Creek and La Bare Creek, both from the left, and passes under Oregon Route 223 at about 22 miles (35.4 km) from the mouth.
Just east of Route 223, the river receives Read Creek from the left, then Blakesley Creek from the left at about RM 20 (RK 32) and soon turns sharply south. About 14.5 miles (23.3 km) from the mouth, it flows under Route 20 for the third time, immediately receives Woods Creek from the right and turns southeast. It soon passes under Oregon Route 34 at the unincorporated community of Flynn
, where it receives Greasy Creek from the right. Marys River then flows southeast by Philomath
, which lies to its left (north), receives Newton Creek from the left, and passes a United States Geological Survey
(USGS) stream gauge
at 9.4 miles (15.1 km) from the mouth. At about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from the mouth, the river receives Muddy Creek from the right and turns northeast toward Corvallis. In Corvallis, it passes Marysville Golf Course and Mill Race on the right, receives Squaw Creek and Oak Creek from the left, and passes Avery Park on the right right about 1 miles (1.6 km) from the mouth. Shortly thereafter, it flows under Oregon Route 99W and enters the Willamette River near the larger river's RM 132 (RK 212).
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. From its source at the confluence of its east and west forks near Summit
Summit, Oregon
Summit is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. Summit lies on Oregon Route 180 northwest of Blodgett....
, it flows generally southeast from the Central Oregon Coast Range
Central Oregon Coast Range
The Central Oregon Coast Range is the middle section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, and located in the west-central portion of the state of Oregon, United States roughly between the Salmon River and the Umpqua River and the Willamette Valley and the...
to Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
.
Name
The origin of the name is uncertain, although it was used as early as 1846. Lewis A. and Lewis L. McArthur, in the seventh edition of Oregon Geographic Names find no support for the suggestion that employees of the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
had earlier named the stream St. Marys River. Rather, they summarize two stories about the origin. One is that Adam E. Wimple, an early settler, named the stream for his sister. Wimple was hanged at Dallas, Oregon
Dallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
, in 1852 for murdering his wife, also named Mary. The other story is that Wayman St. Clair, who represented Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
in the territorial legislature in the early 1850s, named the river for Mary Lloyd. She was said to have been the first white
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
woman to cross the river.
In 1847, Joseph C. Avery began laying out a town at the confluence of Marys River with the Willamette River, and the place was called Marysville. In 1853, the legislature changed the name of the town to Corvallis, a compounding of Latin words meaning heart of the valley. Prior to settlement by European American
European American
A European American is a citizen or resident of the United States who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
s, fur traders referred to the Mary's River as Mouse River or Mice River. It is probable that nearby Marys Peak
Marys Peak
Marys Peak is a mountain in Benton County, Oregon, United States, just southwest of Philomath. It is the highest peak in the Oregon Coast Range...
was named for the river.
Course
Marys River arises in western Benton CountyBenton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
at 659 feet (200.9 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
and falls 452 feet (137.8 m) between source and mouth to an elevation of 207 feet (63.1 m). The main stem, formed by the confluence of the East Fork Marys River and the West Fork Marys River, begins at about river mile
River mile
In the United States, a River mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. The corresponding metric unit using kilometers is the River kilometer...
40 (RM 40) or river kilometer 64 (RK 64) north of Marys Peak
Marys Peak
Marys Peak is a mountain in Benton County, Oregon, United States, just southwest of Philomath. It is the highest peak in the Oregon Coast Range...
in the Central Oregon Coast Range. The West Fork Marys River, which is 6 miles (9.7 km) long, rises at 44.7333333°N 123.5708333°W and flows south to join the East Fork. The East Fork, which is 5 miles (8 km) long, rises at 44.7°N 123.5152778°W and flows southwest to join the West Fork. Marys Peak rises to 4022 feet (1,225.9 m) above sea level at 44.5042870°N 123.5512165°W.
From its source, the river flows south along the east side of Marys River Road past the unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community of Summit
Summit, Oregon
Summit is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. Summit lies on Oregon Route 180 northwest of Blodgett....
and under Oregon Route 180
Oregon Route 180
Oregon Route 180 is an Oregon state highway running from U.S. Route 20 in Eddyville to U.S. 20 in Blodgett. OR 180 is known as the Eddyville-Blodgett Highway No. 180...
at about 38 miles (61.2 km) from the mouth. Turning southeast, the river flows just south of Route 180, receiving Devitt Creek from the left before reaching the unincorporated community of Blodgett
Blodgett, Oregon
Blodgett is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States, where Oregon Route 180 meets U.S. Route 20 in the Central Oregon Coast Range 15 miles west of Corvallis. It is near the confluence of the Tumtum and Marys rivers. The population was 58 at the 2010 census.Blodgett was...
. Here, about 32 miles (51.5 km) from the mouth, it crosses under U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
and in quick succession receives Norton Creek from the left and the Tumtum River
Tumtum River
The Tumtum River is a tributary of the Marys River in Benton and Lincoln counties of the U.S. state of Oregon, rising in the Central Oregon Coast Range west of Burnt Woods and draining into the Marys River north of Alder...
from the right. Turning south and then east, it passes the unincorporated community of Harris
Harris, Oregon
Harris is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. Harris lies on U.S. Route 20 just south of its interchange with Oregon Route 223 in Wren....
at about RM 26.5 (RK 42.6) before reaching the unincorporated community of Wren
Wren, Oregon
Wren is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the junction of U.S. Route 20 and Oregon Route 223 on the Marys River....
. Near Wren, it turns north, crosses under Route 20 again, turns east, receives Gellatly Creek and La Bare Creek, both from the left, and passes under Oregon Route 223 at about 22 miles (35.4 km) from the mouth.
Just east of Route 223, the river receives Read Creek from the left, then Blakesley Creek from the left at about RM 20 (RK 32) and soon turns sharply south. About 14.5 miles (23.3 km) from the mouth, it flows under Route 20 for the third time, immediately receives Woods Creek from the right and turns southeast. It soon passes under Oregon Route 34 at the unincorporated community of Flynn
Flynn, Oregon
Flynn is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. Flynn is located on U.S. Route 20 at its interchange with Oregon Route 34, just west of Philomath, near the Marys River.-References:...
, where it receives Greasy Creek from the right. Marys River then flows southeast by Philomath
Philomath, Oregon
Philomath is a city in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It was named for Philomath College. The population was 3,838 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, which lies to its left (north), receives Newton Creek from the left, and passes a United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) stream gauge
Stream gauge
A stream gauge, stream gage or gauging station is a location used by hydrologists or environmental scientists to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water surface elevation and/or volumetric discharge are generally taken and observations of biota may also be...
at 9.4 miles (15.1 km) from the mouth. At about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from the mouth, the river receives Muddy Creek from the right and turns northeast toward Corvallis. In Corvallis, it passes Marysville Golf Course and Mill Race on the right, receives Squaw Creek and Oak Creek from the left, and passes Avery Park on the right right about 1 miles (1.6 km) from the mouth. Shortly thereafter, it flows under Oregon Route 99W and enters the Willamette River near the larger river's RM 132 (RK 212).
Works cited
- McArthur, Lewis A., and McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names, 7th ed. Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.