The Saugus River is a river in Massachusetts.

Saugus River and environs

The river is 13 miles (21 km) long, drains a watershed of approximately 47 square miles (120 km2), and passes through Wakefield, Lynnfield, Saugus, and Lynn as it meanders east and south from its source in Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield (elevation 90 feet (27 m)) to its mouth in Broad Sound. It has at least eight tributaries: the Mill River; Bennets Pond Brook; the Pines River; Hawkes Brook; Crystal Pond Brook; Beaver Dam Brook; Strawberry Brook; and Shute Brook.

Although Native Americans called the river Aboutsett ("winding stream"), European settlers first called it the River at Saugus, where Saugus (possibly a native word for "long") arguably named the beach running from Swampscott to Revere (there are competing theories as to the origin of the word "Saugus"). In early European times, alewives and bass were harvested from 1632 onwards. The Saugus Iron Works used water power from the river in by 1642, and the river subsequently attracted grist mills, chocolate mills, wool and flannel mills, and a tannery.

Saugus River
Lake Quannapowitt
Lowell Street, Wakefield
Main Street, Wakefield
I-95/MA-128
Beaverdam Brook
I-95/MA-128
Salem Street, Wakefield
Water Street, Wakefield
Mill River
Hawkes Pond Brook
US-1
Oaklandvale Brook
Prankers Pond
Central Street, Saugus
Elm Street, Saugus
Hamilton Street, Saugus
Saugus Branch Railroad
Lincoln Ave, Saugus
Salem Turnpike, Saugus / Lynn
Newburyport/Rockport Line
Pines River
MA-1A General Edwards Bridge
Lynn Harbor

References

edit
  • Saugus River Watershed Council
  • "A Gathering of Memories: Saugus 1900-2000" by John Burns, Tom Sheehan, et al.; 2000, Jostens / Saugus.net, ISBN 978-0-9703141-0-9; http://www.saugus.org/GatheringOfMemories/ (Provides at least three conflicting theories as to the origin of the name "Saugus")

42°26′38″N 70°58′02″W / 42.44382°N 70.96724°W / 42.44382; -70.96724