Woonasquatucket River
| Woonasquatucket River | |
|---|---|
The Woonasquatucket River below Stillwater Reservoir in Smithfield | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | North Smithfield, Rhode Island |
| Mouth | |
• location | Providence River |
• coordinates | 41°49′36″N 71°24′36″W / 41.8267°N 71.4100°W |
| Length | 15.8 mi (25.4 km) |
| Basin size | 130 km2 (50 sq mi) |
The Woonasquatucket River (pronounced /wuːˈnɑːskwəˌtʌkɪt/ woo-NAH-skwə-TUK-it, Algonquian for "where the salt water ends"), sometimes called "the Woony", is a river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 15.8 miles (25.4 km) and drains a watershed of 130 km2 (50 sq mi).
Together with the Blackstone River to the north, the Woonasquatucket was designated an American Heritage River in 1998. Both rivers played active roles in the Industrial Revolution and the history of Rhode Island in the 19th century. Evidence of this industrial history remains in the fact that there are 18 dams along the river's length.