The Blackstone River is a river in the US states of the Massachusetts and the Rhode Island. It flows for approximately 80 kilometers and drain water shed of almost 1400 square kilometers.

History
The name of the river was given after the name of William Blackstone whose original spelling was William Blaxton. He arrived in Weymouth, Massachusetts in the year 1623, and he became the first settler of present day Boston in the year 1625. He really became fed of Boston and relocated himself to Rhode Island in 1635 and he then built his home on the river, in what was going to become Cumberland in the coming future. I must tell you that originally in the American tongue the river was called “Kittacuck” and this meant in English to be the great tidal river. The “Kittacuck”, or Blackstone, was abundant with Salmon and Lamprey in pre-colonial and colonial times.

As far as the industrial revolution is concerned I must tell you that in the United States the revolution started in the year 1790 when Samuel Slater who was one of the industrialists built Slater Mill at Pawtucket Falls. You must know that this was the first textile mill in the United States and it was powered by the water of the Blackstone River. With this mil started the building of series of mills and the Blackstone River was now known as the Americas hardest working river. However due to the excess industrialization the Blackstone River by the end of the 19th century was known as the primary source of Narragansett Bay pollution.

In the year 1955 and in the month of August severe flooding on the Blackstone caused extensive damage to Woonsocket, Rhode Island. I must tell you that where the river was only 21 meters wide now swell to an extraordinary figure of 1 mile or 1.6 kilometers which really is quiet too wide. For your knowledge I must tell you that much of the flooding was due to the excessive and surplus rain that occurred as a slow moving tropical cyclone which moved over the area.

The river of Blackstone in combination with the woonasquatucket River to the south was elected an American Heritage River in 1998.

Origination
I must tell you that the river is formed in Worcester, Massachusetts by the meeting of the Middle River and Mill Brook. After that, I must tell you that it follows rough southeast course through Millbury, Sutton, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Millville, and Blackstone. After that it flows into Rhode Island, and then it flows through Woonsocket, Cumberland, Lincoln, Central Falls, and Pawtucket, and then the river then reaches Pawtucket Falls. After that, it is termed as the Pawtucket River until it joins the Ten Mile River which is situated in the East Providence which forms the Seekonk River of Narragansett Bay.

Up till now you must have got an idea about how important the Blackstone River is and what role it played during the industrial revolution.

Tags: blackstone river, history, origination