Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Housatonic River
river, United States
Housatonic River, river in southwestern New England, rising in the Berkshire Hills, near Pittsfield, Mass., U.S. It flows southward for 148 miles (238 km) through Massachusetts past Pittsfield, Lee, and Great Barrington; and then through Connecticut past New Milford, Derby, and Shelton to enter Long Island Sound, 4 miles (6 km) east of Bridgeport. Several hydroelectric plants utilize the river’s drop of 959 feet (292 m) in the first 119 miles (191 km) to Derby. Below Derby the river is tidal for about 12 miles (19 km). Lake Zoar is impounded in the river in Paugussett State Forest. The name Housatonic is supposedly derived from the Mohican (Mahican) Indian word for “place beyond the mountain.”
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.