Farmington River | |
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![]() Looking downstream on the Farmington River in Simsbury, Connecticut | |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Massachusetts and Connecticut |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Outlet of Hayden Pond (West Branch of the Farmington River) |
• location | Otis, Berkshire County, Massachusetts |
2nd source | Barkhamsted Reservoir (East Branch of the Farmington River) |
• location | Hartland, Hartford County, Connecticut |
Source confluence | confluence of the East Branch and West Branch |
• location | New Hartford, Litchfield County, Connecticut |
Mouth | confluence with Connecticut River |
• location | Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut |
• coordinates | 41°50′37.3596″N 72°37′52.6368″W / 41.843711000°N 72.631288000°W |
Length | 80.4 mi (129.4 km), from source of West Branch |
Basin size | 602 sq mi (1,560 km2) |
Official name | Farmington River |
Type | Recreational |
Designated | August 26, 1994 |
The Farmington River is a river, 46.7 miles (75.2 km)[1] in length along its main stem, located in northwest Connecticut with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. The longest route of the river, from the origin of its West Branch, is 80.4 miles (129.4 km) long, making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by 2.3 miles (3.7 km) over the major river directly to its north, the Westfield River.[1] The Farmington River's watershed covers 609 square miles (1,580 km2). Historically, the river played an important role in small-scale manufacturing in towns along its course, but it is now mainly used for recreation and drinking water.