Palmer River (Massachusetts–Rhode Island)

The Palmer River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 17 km (11 mi).

Palmer River at the Wheeler Street crossing in Rehoboth, Massachusetts

Course

The river has two separate branches which converge near the intersection of Danforth Street and Winthrop Street (U.S. 44) in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to form the main branch of the river.

West branch

The west branch (officially West Branch Palmer River) rises in a small unnamed pond near the eastern intersection of Tremont Street and Agricultural Avenue in Rehoboth. It continues roughly south from here until converging with the east branch. It flows approximately 9 km (5 mi).

East branch

The east branch (officially East Branch Palmer River) rises in Little Cedar Swamp in North Rehoboth and flows roughly southwest to converge with the west branch. It flows approximately 8 km (5 mi).

Main branch

After the two branches converge, the river flows roughly south-southwest through Rehoboth and Swansea before crossing into Rhode Island and flowing between Barrington and Warren for its last few miles. At its mouth, it converges with the Barrington River to form the Warren River.

Crossings

Below is a list of all crossings over the Palmer River and its branches. The list begins at the headwaters and goes downstream.

Carpenter Bridge
over the West Branch

West branch

• Rehoboth
  • Fairfield Street
  • Ash Street
  • Homestead Avenue
  • Perryville Road
  • Danforth Street
  • Carpenter Street

Village Pond
on the East Branch

East branch

• Rehoboth
  • Fairview Avenue
  • Williams Street
  • Winthrop Street (U.S. 44)
  • Moulton Street (MA 118)
  • County Street (Twice)
  • Winthrop Street (U.S. 44)

Shad Factory Pond Dam
on the Main Branch

Main branch

• Rehoboth
  • Danforth Street
  • Winthrop Street (U.S. 44)
  • Wilmarth Bridge Road
  • Summer Street
  • Wheeler Street
  • Reed Street
  • Providence Street
  • Interstate 195
  • Fall River Avenue (U.S. 6)
• Swansea
  • Old Providence Road
• Barrington
  • County Road (RI 103/114)

Tributaries

In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks feed the Palmer and its branches:

• Mine Brook (West Branch)
• Bliss Brook (West Branch)
• Wolf Plain Brook (West Branch)
• Carpenter Brook (West Branch)
• Roaring Brook (East Branch)
• Bad Luck Brook (East Branch)
• Rumney Marsh Brook
• Fullers Brook
• Rocky Run
• Torrey Creek

Eponym

The river was probably named for Walter Palmer, one of the founders of Rehoboth.

Depiction in art

Bannister's depiction of the Palmer River

The Palmer River is a subject of an 1885 painting by local artist Edward Mitchell Bannister.

See also

• List of rivers in Massachusetts
• List of rivers in Rhode Island

References

• Maps from the United States Geological Survey