Hocking River

Channeled section of the Hocking River in Athens, Ohio

The catchment area of ​​the Hocking River

The Hocking River is a 164 km long river in the southeastern U.S. state of Ohio.

The outflow is via the Ohio River and Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. The Hocking River is part of the river system of the Mississippi River and drains an area of 3100 km ². The river rises in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, flows generally in a southeasterly direction through the counties of Fairfield, Hocking and Athens and flows Hockingport in the Ohio River. 62 % of the catchment area consists of forest, followed by farmland and pastures with 27 %, while about 10% are cultivated.

The name is Indian in origin and means Gourd, where it refers to the shape of the river in the present town of Logan. Until the late 19th century it was called River Hockhocking River. According to the Geographic Names Information System, the river in its settlement history with Great Hock - hocking River, squatting squatting River, Hocking Hocking River, Hakhakkien River and similar spellings was called.

Previously, the Hocking Canal connected the town of Athens and Lancaster with the Ohio - Erie Canal, but was destroyed by the flood and not restored. Due to the risk of flooding for the campus of Ohio State University renovated in 1970 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a section of the former canal at Athens. Between Nelsonville and Athens the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is built on a former railway line. It is a 29 km long cycle path which is mainly used by students for recreational activities.