List of U.S. counties named after rivers
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This is a list of U.S. counties that are named for rivers and streams.


Counties named for rivers (alphabetical by county name)


A

*
Alamance County, North Carolina Alamance County (), from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved September 18, 2012. is a county in North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 171,415. Its county seat ...
: Alamance is named for
Great Alamance Creek Great Alamance Creek, also called Big Alamance Creek, is a 37-mile longMeasurement Tool on Alamance County GIS found on theAlamance County Website/ref> creek that is a tributary of the Haw River. The creek's headwaters are in Guilford County, ...
. *
Allegany County, New York Allegany County is a County (United States), county in the Southern Tier of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. As of the United States Census 2020, 2020 census, the population was 46,456. Its county seat is Belmont, New York, Belmont. ...
: Allegany is a variant spelling of the
Allegheny River The Allegheny River ( ) is a long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into ...
. *
Alleghany County, North Carolina Alleghany County (
, from the North Carolina Collection website at the
...
: ''Alleghany'' is a corruption of the Native American
Delaware tribe The Lenape (, , or Lenape , del, Lënapeyok) also called the Leni Lenape, Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. Their historical territory inclu ...
's word for the
Allegheny River The Allegheny River ( ) is a long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into ...
, which is said to have meant ''a fine stream''. *
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Allegheny County () is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,250,578, making it the state's second-most populous county, following Philadelphia Co ...
: ''Allegheny'' is a corruption of the Native American
Delaware tribe The Lenape (, , or Lenape , del, Lënapeyok) also called the Leni Lenape, Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. Their historical territory inclu ...
's word for the
Allegheny River The Allegheny River ( ) is a long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into ...
, which is said to have meant ''a fine stream''. *
Amite County, Mississippi Amite County is a county located in the state of Mississippi on its southern border with Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,720. Its county seat is Liberty. The county is named after the Amite River, which runs through the ...
: Amite County is named for the
Amite River The Amite River (french: Rivière Amite) is a tributary of Lake Maurepas in Mississippi and Louisiana in the United States. It is about long. It starts as two forks in southwestern Mississippi and flows south through Louisiana, passing Greater ...
. *
Appomattox County, Virginia Appomattox County is a United States county located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is part of the Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is the town of Appom ...
: Appomattox is named for the
Appomattox River The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 in central and eastern Virginia in the United ...
, which is in turn named for the Appamatucks Native American people. *
Aroostook County, Maine Aroostook County ( ; french: Comté d'Aroostook) is a county in the U.S. state of Maine along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,105. Its county seat is Houlton, with offices in Caribou and Fort Kent. Kno ...
: named for the
Aroostook River The Aroostook River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 22, 2011 tributary of the Saint John River in the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Bru ...
. *
Ashtabula County, Ohio Ashtabula County ( ) is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,574. The county seat is Jefferson. The county was created in 1808 and later organized in 1811. The name Ashtabula deriv ...
: Ashtabula was named for the
Ashtabula River The Ashtabula River is a river located northeast of Cleveland in Ohio. The river flows into Lake Erie at the city of Ashtabula, Ohio. It is in length and drains . Name ''Ashtabula'' derives from Lenape language ''ashte-pihële'', 'always enough ...
. *
Asotin County, Washington Asotin County () is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,285. The county seat is at Asotin, and its largest city is Clarkston. The county was created out of Garfield County in 1883 and deriv ...
: Asotin is named for the Nez Percé name for Eel Creek. *
Auglaize County, Ohio Auglaize County () is a county in Northwestern Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,442. Its county seat is Wapakoneta. Auglaize County comprises the Wapakoneta Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also includ ...
: Auglaize is named for the
Auglaize River The Auglaize River (Shawnee: ''Kathinakithiipi'') is a tributary of the Maumee River in northwestern Ohio in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming area in the watershed of Lake Erie. The name of the river was derived from the F ...
.


B

*
Beaver County, Oklahoma Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,636. The county seat is Beaver. The name was given because of the presence of many beaver dams on the Beaver River, which runs through ...
: Beaver is named for its
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of
Beaver, Oklahoma Beaver is a town and county seat in Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States. The community is in the Oklahoma Panhandle. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,515, a 3.5 percent decrease from 1,570 at the 2000 census. The city is ...
and the Beaver River, which flows through the county. *
Benzie County, Michigan Benzie County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 17,970. The county seat is Beulah. The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869.
is an Americanization of the French name, ''Riviere Aux-Bec-Scies'', for the local river. *
Blanco County, Texas Blanco County (Spanish: "white", ) is a United States county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in Central Texas and its county seat is Johnson City. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,374. The county is named for ...
: Blanco is named for the Blanco River. ''Blanco'' means ''white'' in the
Spanish language Spanish ( or , Castilian) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European language family that evolved from colloquial Latin spoken on the Iberian peninsula. Today, it is a world language, global language with more than 500 millio ...
. * Boise County, Idaho: Boise is named after the
Boise River The Boise River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. , accessed May 3, 2011 tributary of the Snake River in the Northwestern United States. It drains a rugged portion of the Sawtooth Range in sou ...
. ''Boise'' is French for "timber". *
Bosque County, Texas Bosque County ( ) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,235. Its county seat is Meridian, while Clifton is the largest city and the cultural/financial center of th ...
: Bosque is named for the
Bosque River The Bosque River ( ) is a long river in Central Texas fed by four primary branches. The longest branch, the North Bosque, forms near Stephenville, and flows toward Waco through Hamilton, Bosque and McLennan counties. It is subsequently joined ...
. *
Brazoria County, Texas Brazoria County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the county was 372,031. The county seat is Angleton. Brazoria County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan sta ...
: Brazoria is named for the
Brazos River The Brazos River ( , ), called the ''Río de los Brazos de Dios'' (translated as "The River of the Arms of God") by early Spanish explorers, is the 11th-longest river in the United States at from its headwater source at the head of Blackwater Dr ...
. *
Brazos County, Texas Brazos County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 233,849. The county seat is Bryan. Along with Brazoria County, the county is named for the Brazos River, which forms its western border. The ...
: Brazos is named for the
Brazos River The Brazos River ( , ), called the ''Río de los Brazos de Dios'' (translated as "The River of the Arms of God") by early Spanish explorers, is the 11th-longest river in the United States at from its headwater source at the head of Blackwater Dr ...
. *
Buffalo County, Wisconsin Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,317. Its county seat is Alma. The county was created in 1853 and organized the following year. History Buffalo County, founded ...
: Buffalo is named for the Buffalo River.


C

*
Canadian County, Oklahoma Canadian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 154,405, making it the fifth most populous county in Oklahoma. Its county seat is El Reno. The county is named for the Canadian Ri ...
: Canadian County is named for the
Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .Cassia County, Idaho Cassia County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 Census the county had a population of 24,655. The county seat and largest city is Burley. Cassia County is included in the Burley, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area. History ...
: Cassia is named after
Cassia Creek Cassia typically refers to cassia bark, the spice made from the bark of East Asian evergreen trees. Cassia may also refer to: Plants ;Cinnamon trees * ''Cinnamomum cassia'' (, ''ròuguì''), the cassia or Chinese cinnamon, found in southern Chin ...
. *
Cattaraugus County, New York Cattaraugus County (locally known as Catt County) is a county in Western New York, with one side bordering Pennsylvania. As of the United States 2020 census, the population was 77,042. The county seat is Little Valley. The county was created ...
:Cattargus County is named for
Cattaraugus Creek Cattaraugus Creek is a stream, approximately long, in western New York in the United States.Cedar County, Iowa Cedar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,505. Its county seat is Tipton. The county is named for the Cedar River, which runs through the county. Cedar County is located between t ...
: Cedar is named for the Cedar River. *
Chariton County, Missouri Chariton County is a county located in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,408. Its county seat is Keytesville. The county was organized November 16, 1820, from part of Howard C ...
: Chariton is named from the
Chariton River The Chariton River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 26, 2011 tributary to the Missouri River in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. The river forms in southe ...
. * Chattahoochee County, Georgia: Chattahoochee is named for the
Chattahoochee River The Chattahoochee River forms the southern half of the Alabama and Georgia border, as well as a portion of the Florida - Georgia border. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chatta ...
of Georgia, which also forms part of the Alabama-Georgia state line. * Chattooga County, Georgia: Chattooga is named for the
Chattooga River The Chattooga River (also spelled Chatooga, Chatuga, and Chautaga, variant name Guinekelokee River) is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Water course The headwaters of the Chattooga River are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carol ...
in northeast Georgia. *
Cheboygan County, Michigan Cheboygan County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 25,579. The county seat is Cheboygan. The county boundaries were set off in 1840, with land partitioned from Mackinac County. The Cheboy ...
is named for the
Cheboygan River The Cheboygan River ( ) is a short but significant river in the Lake Huron drainage basin of the U.S. state of Michigan. in length,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed Novemb ...
, which was itself a Native American name. *
Chippewa County, Minnesota Chippewa County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,598. Its county seat is Montevideo. The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1868. History Chippewa County was organized on M ...
is named after the Chippewa River, which flows through the county. *
Clear Creek County, Colorado Clear Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,397. The county seat is Georgetown. Clear Creek County is part of the Denver metropolitan area. History Clear Creek County w ...
: Clear Creek is named for Clear Creek, which runs through the county. *
Clearwater County, Idaho Clearwater County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,734. The county seat is Orofino. Established in 1911, the county was named after the Clearwater River. The county is home to North ...
: Clearwater is named after the Clearwater River. *
Clearwater County, Minnesota Clearwater County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,524. Its county seat is Bagley. Clearwater County is home to Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi Rive ...
is named after the Clearwater River and Clearwater Lake, which are both located within the county. *
Colorado County, Texas Colorado County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 20,557. Its county seat is Columbus, Texas, Columbus. It is named for the Colorado Rive ...
: Colorado is named for the
Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid drainage basin, watershed that encompasses parts of ...
. *
Columbia County, Oregon Columbia County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,589. The county seat is St. Helens. History The Chinook and Clatskanie Native American peoples inhabited this region for c ...
: Named for the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
which it borders. *
Columbia County, Washington Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,952, making it the second-least populous county in Washington. The county seat and largest city is Dayton. The county was create ...
: Columbia is named for the
Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...
. *
Coosa County, Alabama Coosa County is located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 10,387. Its county seat is Rockford. Its name derives from a town of the Creek tribe and the Coosa River, which forms ...
: Named for the Coosa River of Alabama & Georgia *
Cottonwood County, Minnesota Cottonwood County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,517. Its county seat is Windom. History The county was created on May 23, 1857, named for the river in Germantown Township ("cottonwoo ...
is named after the Cottonwood River, which flows through the county. *
Costilla County, Colorado Costilla County (Spanish for "rib") is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,499. The county seat is San Luis, the oldest continuously occupied town in Colorado. History On July 8, 1694, ...
: Costilla is named for the Costilla River. *
Cuyahoga County, Ohio Cuyahoga County ( or ) is a large urban county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the Canada–United States border, U.S.-Canada maritime border. As of the 2020 U ...
: Cuyahoga is named for the
Cuyahoga River The Cuyahoga River ( , or ) is a river located in Northeast Ohio that bisects the City of Cleveland and feeds into Lake Erie. As Cleveland emerged as a major manufacturing center, the river became heavily affected by industrial pollution, so mu ...
. *
Conecuh County, Alabama Conecuh County () is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 11,597. Its county seat is Evergreen. Its name is believed to be derived from a Creek Indian term meaning ...
: Conecuh is named for the
Conecuh River The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States. The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The r ...
in southern Alabama.


D

*
Des Moines County, Iowa Des Moines County is located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,910. The county seat and largest city is Burlington. It is one of Iowa's two original counties along with Dubuque County; both were organized ...
: Des Moines is named for the
Des Moines River The Des Moines River () is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwestern United States that is approximately long from its farther headwaters.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe Na ...
. *
Deschutes County, Oregon Deschutes County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 198,253. The county seat is Bend. The county was created in 1916 out of part of Crook County and was named for the Deschutes ...
: Deschutes is named for the
Deschutes River Deschutes River may refer to: *Deschutes River (Oregon) The Deschutes River in central Oregon is a major tributary of the Columbia River. The river provides much of the drainage on the eastern side of the Cascade Range in Oregon, gathering many ...
. *
Dolores County, Colorado Dolores County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 2,326. The county seat is Dove Creek, Colorado, Dove Creek. History It is thought that the area has been the ...
: Dolores is named for the
Dolores River The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. The river drains a rugged and arid region of the Colorado Plateau west of the San Juan Mountains. Its name derives from the S ...
, originally ''Rio de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores'', or, in
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
, "River of our Lady of Sorrows". *
DuPage County, Illinois DuPage County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, and one of the collar counties of the Chicago metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 932,877, making it Illinois' second-most populous county. Its county seat is ...
is named after the
DuPage River The DuPage River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed May 13, 2011 tributary of the Des Plaines River in the U.S. state of Illinois. Course The river begins as two i ...
.


E

*
Eagle County, Colorado Eagle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 55,731. The county seat is the Eagle, Colorado, Town of Eagle and the most populous community is Edwards, Colora ...
: Eagle is named for the Eagle River. *
Elk County, Kansas Elk County (county code EK) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,483. Its county seat and most populous city is Howard. History Early history For many millennia, the Great Plains ...
: Elk is named for the Elk River. *
Escambia County, Florida Escambia County is the westernmost and oldest county in the U.S. state of Florida. It is in the state's northwestern corner. At the 2020 census, the population was 321,905. Its county seat and largest city is Pensacola. Escambia County is incl ...
: Escambia is named for the
Escambia River The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States. The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The r ...
. *
Escambia County, Alabama Escambia County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,757. Its county seat is Brewton. Escambia County is coextensive with the Atmore, AL Micropolitan Stat ...
: Escambia, AL is also named for the
Escambia River The Conecuh River and Escambia River constitute a single river in Alabama and Florida in the United States. The Conecuh River rises near Union Springs in the state and flows in a general southwesterly direction into Florida near Century. The r ...
.


F

*
Fluvanna County, Virginia Fluvanna County is a county located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,249. Its county seat is Palmyra, while the most populous community is the census designated place of Lak ...
: Fluvanna, VA is named for the Fluvanna River, a previous name for the
James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesapea ...
. ''Fluvanna'' is
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
for ''Anne's River'' after
Queen Anne of Great Britain Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 8 March 1702 until 1 May 1707. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, the kingdoms of England and Scotland united as a single sovereign state known as ...
.


G

*
Gila County, Arizona Gila County ( ) is in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272. The county seat is Globe. Gila County comprises the Payson, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area. Gila County contains p ...
: Gila is named for the
Gila River The Gila River (; O'odham ima Keli Akimel or simply Akimel, Quechan: Haa Siʼil, Maricopa language: Xiil) is a tributary of the Colorado River flowing through New Mexico and Arizona in the United States. The river drains an arid watershed of n ...
. *
Grand County, Colorado Grand County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 15,717. The county seat is Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, Hot Sulphur Springs. History When Grand County was ...
: Grand is named for the Grand River, later renamed the
Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid drainage basin, watershed that encompasses parts of ...
. *
Grand County, Utah Grand County is a county on the east central edge of the U.S. state of Utah, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 9,225. Its county seat and largest city is Moab. History Evidence of indigenous occupation up t ...
: Grand is named for the Grand River, later renamed the
Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid drainage basin, watershed that encompasses parts of ...
. *
Greenbrier County, West Virginia Greenbrier County () is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977. Its county seat is Lewisburg. The county was formed in 1778 from Botetourt and Montgomery counties in Virginia. History ...
: Greenbrier is named for the
Greenbrier River The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long,McNeel, William P. "Greenbrier River." ''The West Virginia Encyclopedia''. Ken Sullivan, editor. Charleston, WV: West Virginia Humanities Council. 2006. . in southeastern West Virginia ...
.


H

*Hillsborough County, Florida: Hillsborough is named for the Hillsborough River (Florida), which in turn is named after Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire, Wills Hill, Viscount Hillsborough, a Great Britain, British politician during the period of the American Revolutionary War who ordered the mapping of the river's course. *Hocking County, Ohio: Hocking is named for the Hocking River. *Hood River County, Oregon: Named for the Hood River (Oregon), Hood River, a river in the county. *Humboldt County, Nevada: Humboldt is named for the Humboldt River, named in turn for Alexander von Humboldt, Friedrich Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt, the famous German scientist, explorer and statesman. *Hudson County, New Jersey: Hudson is named for the Hudson River, which in turn is named after Henry Hudson.


I

*Indian River County, Florida: Indian River is named for the Indian River (Florida), Indian River, which is not a real river, but rather is a long, narrow saltwater lagoon between the mainland and the barrier islands. *Iowa County, Iowa: Iowa is named for the Iowa River and the Iowa tribe, Iowa Native American tribe.


J

*Judith Basin County, Montana: Judith Basin is named for the Judith River.


K

* Kalamazoo County, Michigan is named for the Kalamazoo River. ''Kalamazoo'' is an Anglicized Native American word which probably meant ''boiling water''. *Kankakee County, Illinois: Kankakee is named after the Kankakee River. *Kanabec County, Minnesota: Kanabec is named after the Snake River, which flows through the area. ''Kanabec'' is Ojibwe language, Ojibwa for ''snake''. *Kanawha County, West Virginia: Kanawha is named for the Kanawha River. *Kennebec County, Maine: Kennebec is named for the Kennebec River. *Kern County, California: Kern is named after the Kern River, which is named in turn for Edward M. Kern, a topography, topographer who accompanied John C. Frémont on an early expedition through the state. *Keya Paha County, Nebraska: Keya Paha is named for the Lakota language, Dakota words ''Ké-ya Pa-há Wa-kpá'', which, translated, mean Turtle Hill River. *Kings County, California: Kings is named for the Kings River (California), Kings River. *Koochiching County, Minnesota is named after a Cree word of uncertain meaning given by Ojibwas to Rainy River (Minnesota–Ontario), Rainy River.


L

*Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania: Lackawanna is named after the Lackawanna River. *Las Animas County, Colorado: Las Animas is named for the Las Animas River, originally ''El Rio de las Animas Perdidas en Purgatorio'', or, in
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
, "River of the Souls Lost in Purgatory". *Latah County, Idaho: Latah is named after Latah Creek. *Lehigh County, Pennsylvania: Leigh is named after the Lehigh River; a tributary of the Delaware River. * Limestone County, Alabama: Limestone is named for Limestone Creek, which runs through the county and has a bed of limestone. *Little River County, Arkansas: Little River is named for the Little River (Red River), Little River. *Loup County, Nebraska: Loup is named for the Loup River.


M

*Mahoning County, Ohio: Mahoning is named for the Mahoning River. *Malheur County, Oregon: Malheur is named for the Malheur River. * Manistee County, Michigan was named for the Manistee River, which in turn had Native American name meaning ''river at whose mouth there are islands''. *Maries County, Missouri: Maries is named from the Maries River. *Merrimack County, New Hampshire: Merrimack is named for the Merrimack River. *Mississippi County, Arkansas: Mississippi is named for the Mississippi River. *Mississippi County, Missouri: Mississippi is named after the Mississippi River. *Moniteau County, Missouri: Montineau is named after Moniteau Creek (south central Missouri), Moniteau Creek. *Monongalia County, West Virginia: Monongalia is named for the Monongahela River. * Muskegon County, Michigan is named for the Muskegon River, named for the Ojibwe language, Ojibwa language word meaning ''swamp'' or ''marsh''. *Musselshell County, Montana: Musselshell is named for the Musselshell River, named in turn by the Lewis and Clark Expedition presumably due to mussels found on its banks.


N

*Nemaha County, Kansas: Nemaha is named for the Nemaha River. *Nemaha County, Nebraska: Nemaha is named for ''Nimaha'', the Otoe tribe, Oto name meaning ''miry water'' for a stream which crossed the county and emptied into the Missouri River. *Neosho County, Kansas: Neosho is named for the Neosho River. *Niobrara County, Wyoming: Niobrara is named for the Niobrara River. ''Niobrara'' is Omaha (tribe), Omaha for ''flat or broad river''. *Nodaway County, Missouri: Nodaway is named from the Nodaway River. ''Nodaway'' is a Potawatomi word meaning ''placid''.


O

*Oconee County, Georgia: Oconee is named for the Oconee River that forms part of the county's border * Ohio County, Indiana: Ohio is named for the Ohio River. * Ohio County, Kentucky: Also named for the Ohio River. When the county was formed, the river formed its northern boundary, but no longer does after several new counties were carved from it. * Ohio County, West Virginia: Also named for the Ohio River. * Ontonagon County, Michigan is named for a river called ''Nantounagon'' on an early France, French map. *Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Otter Tail is named after Otter Tail Lake and Otter Tail River. The river was named by the Ojibwa for its long sandbar shaped like an otter's tail. *Osage County, Kansas: Osage is named for the Osage River. *Oswego County, New York: Oswego is named for the Oswego River (New York), Oswego River. *Ouachita County, Arkansas: Ouachita is named for the Ouachita River. *Ouachita Parish, Louisiana: named for the Ouachita River


P

*Payette County, Idaho: Payette is named after the Payette River, which, in turn, is named for explorer Francois Payette. *Pearl River County, Mississippi: Named for the Pearl River, obviously *Pecos County, Texas: Pecos [pey-kuhs] is named after the Pecos River. The name "Pecos" derives from the Keresan (Native American language) term for the Pecos Pueblo, [p'æyok'ona]. *Platte County, Nebraska: Platte is named for the Platte River. *Platte County, Wyoming: Platte is named for the North Platte River. ''Platte'' is French for ''flat''. *Plumas County, California: Plumas is named for Spanish name for the Feather River (''Rio de las Plumas''), which flows through the county. *Powder River County, Montana: Powder River is named for the Powder River (Montana), Powder River, which in turn was named for gunpowder-like sand along its banks.


R

* Racine County, Wisconsin: Racine is named for the Root River (Wisconsin), Root River, ''racine'' being the French word for ''root''. *Rappahannock County, Virginia: Rappahannock is named for the Rappahannock River, named in turn for the Rappahannock Tribe, Rappahannock Native American people. *Red Lake County, Minnesota: Red Lake County is named after the Red Lake River, named by the Ojibwa for its reddish sand and water. *Red River County, Texas: Red River is named for the Red River of the South, Red River. *Red River Parish, Louisiana: named for the Red River of the South, Red River *Redwood County, Minnesota: Redwood County is named after the Redwood River, which flows through the county. *Republic County, Kansas: Republic is named for the Republican River, which in turn was named for the Pawnee Republic which once existed near the river. *Rio Arriba County, New Mexico: Rio Arriba is named for its location on the upper Rio Grande. (''Rio Arriba'' is "upper river" in Spanish language, Spanish.) *Rio Blanco County, Colorado: Rio Blanco is named for Rio Blanco, or, in
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
, the White River (Green River), White River. *Rio Grande County, Colorado: Rio Grande is named for the Rio Grande, which runs through the county. *Rock County, Wisconsin: Rock is named for the Rock River (Mississippi River), Rock River. *Roseau County, Minnesota: Roseau County is named after the Roseau Lake and Roseau River (Manitoba), Roseau River. *Rosebud County, Montana: Rosebud is named for the Stillwater River (Stillwater County, Montana), Rosebud River, which was named for the many Rosa acicularis, wild roses along the banks of the river.


S

*Sacramento County, California: Named for the Sacramento River *Saline County, Arkansas: Named for the Saline River (Ouachita River tributary), Saline River. *Saline County, Illinois: Named for the Saline River (Illinois), Saline River. *Saline County, Kansas: Named for the Saline River (Kansas), Saline River. *San Benito County, California: Named for San Benito Creek. *San Juan County, Colorado: Named for the San Juan River (Colorado River), San Juan River and San Juan Mountains. *San Juan County, New Mexico: Named for the San Juan River (Colorado River), San Juan River. *San Miguel County, Colorado: Named for the San Miguel River (Colorado), San Miguel River. *Santa Cruz County, Arizona: Named for the Santa Cruz River (Arizona), Santa Cruz River. *Sangamon County, Illinois Named for the Sangamon River. *Scioto County, Ohio: Named for the Scioto River. *Sevier County, Utah: Named for the Sevier River. *Shenandoah County, Virginia: Named for the Shenandoah River; Shenandoah is a Native American term meaning ''beautiful daughter of the stars''. *Shiawassee County, Michigan: Shiawassee is named for the Shiawassee River. *St. Francis County, Arkansas: St. Francis is named for the St. Francis River. *St. Johns County, Florida: St. Johns is named for the St. Johns River. *St. Joseph County, Indiana: St. Joseph is named for the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River. *St. Joseph County, Michigan: St. Joseph is named for the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River *St. Lawrence County, New York: St. Lawrence is named for the St. Lawrence River. *St. Louis County, Minnesota: St. Louis is named after the Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary), St. Louis River. *Stillwater County, Montana: Stillwater is named for the Stillwater River (Stillwater County, Montana), Stillwater River, named for its very slow current. *Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania named after the Susquehanna River. *Suwannee County, Florida: Suwannee is named for the Suwannee River, the same river made famous by Stephen Foster in his song ''Old Folks at Home''. *Sweetwater County, Wyoming: Sweetwater is named for the Sweetwater River (Wyoming), Sweetwater River.


T

* Tallapoosa County, Alabama: Named for the Tallapoosa River. ''Tallapoosa'' is believed to be a Choctaw word meaning ''pulverized rock''. *Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana: Named for the Tangipahoa River * Tensas Parish, Louisiana: Named for the Tensas River * Tioga County, Pennsylvania: Named for the Tioga River *Tippecanoe County, Indiana: Tippecanoe is named for the Tippecanoe River and the Battle of Tippecanoe. * Tuscaloosa County, Alabama: ''Tuscaloosa'' was a Native American name for the Black Warrior River. * Tuscarawas County, Ohio: Tuscarawas is named for the Tuscarawas River.


V

*Vermilion County, Illinois: Vermilion is named for both the Vermilion River (Illinois River tributary), Vermilion River and the Little Vermilion River (Illinois River tributary), Little Vermilion River.


W

* Wabash County, Indiana: Wabash is named for the Wabash River. *Wabash County, Illinois: Wabash is named for the Wabash River. *Wicomico County, Maryland: Wicomico is named for the Wicomico River (Maryland eastern shore), Wicomico River. In Lenape, indicated ''a place where houses are built'', possibly in reference to a settlement.


Y

*Yamhill County, Oregon: Yamhill is named after the Yamhill River. *Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota: Yellow Medicine County is named after the Yellow Medicine River, which flows through the county.


Counties possibly named for rivers

*Cumberland County, Illinois: Cumberland is named for either the Cumberland River or the Cumberland Road. *San Juan County, Utah: San Juan is possibly named for the San Juan River (Colorado River), San Juan River. *Skamania County, Washington: Skamania is named for a Chinookan word meaning ''swift water''.


Counties indirectly named for rivers

*
Aroostook County, Maine Aroostook County ( ; french: Comté d'Aroostook) is a county in the U.S. state of Maine along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,105. Its county seat is Houlton, with offices in Caribou and Fort Kent. Kno ...
: Aroostook is named for a Native American word meaning ''beautiful river''. *Canyon County, Idaho: Canyon is named after either the
Boise River The Boise River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. , accessed May 3, 2011 tributary of the Snake River in the Northwestern United States. It drains a rugged portion of the Sawtooth Range in sou ...
or Snake River canyons. * Coös County, New Hampshire: Coös is named for a Native American word meaning ''crooked'', in reference to a bend in the Connecticut River. *Crow Wing County, Minnesota: Crow Wing is named after an island shaped like a raven's wing at the junction of the Crow Wing River and Mississippi River. *Huerfano County, Colorado: Huerfano is named for Huerfano Butte, as was the Huerfano River. ''Huerfano'' is ''orphan'' in Spanish language, Spanish. *Merced County, California: Merced is named for the Spanish language, Spanish word for ''mercy'', and was named by Spanish explorers in gratitude for water of the Merced River, which was found after a dry 40-mile trek. *Muskingum County, Ohio: ''Muskingum'' is a Delaware Indians, Delaware word meaning ''by the river side''. *Riverside County, California: Riverside is named for the city of Riverside, California, Riverside, the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
, which in turn was named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. *Sagadahoc County, Maine: Sagadahoc is named for a Native American word meaning ''mouth of big river''. *Twin Falls County, Idaho: Twin Falls is named after the double falls along the Snake River. *Yellowstone County, Montana: Yellowstone is named for the yellow rocks found along what is now known as the Yellowstone River.


See also

* County (United States) * Lists of U.S. county name etymologies {{USCountyLists Rivers of the United States, U.S. county name etymologies, Rivers Lists of rivers of the United States