The Chagrin River is located in Northeast Ohio. The river has two branches, the Aurora Branch and East Branch. Its name is believed to stem from what the local Erie Indians used to call it, the "Sha-ga-rin", or "Clear Water". Given the clear flowing nature of especially the East Branch of the river, this name is appropriate. Another hypothesis attributes the name of the river to a corruption and anglicization of the name of a French trader, Sieur de Saguin. The Chagrin River runs through suburban areas of Greater Cleveland in Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Portage counties, transects two Cleveland Metroparks reservations, and then meanders into nearby Lake County before emptying into Lake Erie.
The East Branch begins in Geauga County, flows north then west through Lake County, largely in Kirtland, and Kirtland Hills, In these communities the East Branch transects the Holden Arboretum, before intersecting the main in Willoughby.
The Aurora Branch begins in northwest Portage County, flowing northwest through Aurora and portions of Geauga and Cuyahoga Counties, intersecting the main branch west of Chagrin Falls.
The Chagrin River was designated as a State Scenic River in 1979.
Read more about Chagrin River: Natural History, Sporting, Channelization
Famous quotes containing the words chagrin and/or river:
“I know very well what Goethe meant when he said that he never had a chagrin but he made a poem out of it. I have altogether too much patience of this kind.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“We approached the Indian Island through the narrow strait called “Cook.” He said, “I ‘xpect we take in some water there, river so high,—never see it so high at this season. Very rough water there, but short; swamp steamboat once. Don’t paddle till I tell you, then you paddle right along.” It was a very short rapid. When we were in the midst of it he shouted “paddle,” and we shot through without taking in a drop.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)