Scioto
Scioto is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- 39.74°, -83.01°
About Scioto
The Scioto River ( sy-OH-tə) is a river in central and southern Ohio more than 231 miles (372 km) in length. It rises in Hardin County just north of Roundhead, flows through Columbus, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olentangy River, flows south into Appalachian Ohio, and meets the Ohio River at Portsmouth. Early settlers and Native Americans used the river for shipping, but it is too small for modern commercial craft. The primary economic importance for the river now is for recreation and drinking water. It is the longest river that is entirely within Ohio.
The Scioto River is represented on the Ohio state seal and coat of arms.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Scioto River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Scioto in Depth
Geography and geology
The lower Scioto River valley is large compared to the width of the river and is extensively farmed. Meltwaters from retreating glaciers carved the valley exceptionally wide. Valley bottoms are smooth, and flood deposits created during and since the most recent Glacial period cause floodplain soils to be very productive. As a result, farms line much of the lower Scioto where it flows through low, rolling hills covered in hardwood trees.
The geologic history of the Scioto River is tied to the destruction of the Teays River network during the Ice Ages and consequent creation of the Ohio River. The north flowing Teays River was dammed by glaciers, and damming of other rivers led to a series of floods as lakes overflowed into adjacent valleys.
History
The Scioto River valley was home to many Native American cultures. The best known groups are the Mound Builders of the Hopewell tradition 2,000 years ago, the Adena tradition 3,000 years ago, and the later Fort Ancient culture about 1,000 years ago. Numerous Hopewell earthworks can be seen near Chillicothe at Hopewell Culture National Historic Park. The former strength of these cultures is demonstrated in settler accounts from as far east as Virginia. The name Scioto is derived from the Wyandot word skɛnǫ·tǫ’ 'deer' (compare Shenandoah, derived from the word for deer in another Iroquoian language).
During the antebellum years, the Scioto River provided a route to freedom for many slaves escaping from the South, as they continued north after crossing the Ohio River.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Scioto River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Scioto: Key Facts
| Length | 372 km |
|---|---|
| Average discharge | 189 m³/s |
| Drainage basin | 16,879 km² |
| Mouth | Ohio River |
| Drainage system | Scioto River drainage basin |
| Tributaries | Olentangy River, Big Walnut Creek, Paint Creek, Big Darby Creek, Salt Creek, Mill Creek, Scioto Brush Creek, Little Scioto River |
Facts from Wikidata Q209540 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Scioto: Quick Answers
- Where is Scioto?
- Scioto is located in United States, at 39.7420° N, 83.0068° W.
- Are there dams on the Scioto?
- No dam on the Scioto is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.