Unadilla River

Summary

The Unadilla River is a 71-mile-long (114 km)[1] river in the Central New York Region of New York State.[2] The river begins northeast of the hamlet of Millers Mills and flows generally south to the village of Sidney, where it converges with the Susquehanna River, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay,[3] a bay of the Atlantic Ocean.

Unadilla River
Tianadara
Historic marker of the Unadilla River
Unadilla River is located in New York
Unadilla River
Location of the mouth of Unadilla River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
RegionCentral New York
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationNE of Millers Mills
 • coordinates42°55′57″N 75°01′39″W / 42.93250°N 75.02750°W / 42.93250; -75.02750
MouthSusquehanna River
 • location
Sidney
 • coordinates
42°19′00″N 75°24′36″W / 42.3168°N 75.4100°W / 42.3168; -75.4100
 • elevation
961 ft (293 m)
Length71 mi (114 km)
Basin features
ProgressionUnadilla River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake BayAtlantic Ocean
Tributaries 
 • leftCampbell Brook, Wharton Creek, Butternut Creek, Rogers Hollow Brook
 • rightNorth Winfield Creek, West Branch Unadilla River, Button Creek, Beaver Creek, Tallette Creek, Center Brook, Mill Brook, Great Brook, White Store Brook, Kent Brook, Guilford Creek, Peckham Brook

Most of the length of the Unadilla forms the western border of Otsego County and the eastern borders of Chenango and Madison counties, all in New York. This border made up a significant portion of the Fort Stanwix Treaty Line of 1768. It was meant to establish the border for an Indian reserve, beyond which European-American settlers were not supposed to go. Settlers resented British efforts to control their movements, and continued to encroach on Native American territories.[4]

Branches edit

The Unadilla has two branches which join at Unadilla Forks on the Otsego-Madison County border.

Tributaries edit

The Unadilla's tributaries, from north to south, include:

  • Campbell Brook: from the east, near the Skaneateles Turnpike north of Leonardsville
  • Button Creek: from the west, between Leonardsville and West Edmeston
  • Beaver Creek: from the west, between South Brookfield and Columbus Quarter
  • Tallette Creek: from the west, near Columbus Quarter
  • Center Brook: from the west, at New Berlin
  • Wharton Creek: from the east, at New Berlin
  • Butternut Creek: from the east, near Mount Upton
  • Guilford Creek: from the west, north of Sidney

Alternate names and spellings edit

Unadilla has had various spellings and alternate names, particularly in the 18th century:[4]

  • Che-on-a-dill-ha: Oneida dialect
  • Teyonadelhouogh: Gideon Hawley, Journey to Broome County, Oquaga (Onaheghgwage), 1753
  • Tiona-derha: Guy Johnson's 1768 map
  • Tienaderha: Guy Johnson's 1771 map and Southeir's 1779 map
  • Tianaderaha: Surveyor-General, Simeon De Witt's map c. 1790
  • Tianaderha: Fort Stanwix Treaty of 1768
  • Tunadilla: Common spelling 18th century correspondence
  • Susquehannock: Vaughan's 18th century Chorographical Map

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Unadilla River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  2. ^ "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved Feb 11, 2011.
  3. ^ "Susquehanna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  4. ^ a b History of Chenango County, Ch. 7
  5. ^ "West Branch Unadilla River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  6. ^ Francis W., Halsey (1901). The Old New York Frontier: Its Wars with Indians and Tories; Its Missionary. p. 35.
  • History of Chenango County, Ch. 7.
  • Francis W. Halsey, The Old New York Frontier, 1901

External links edit

  • Upper Unadilla Valley Association