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23-521: The Muskingum is formed at Coshocton in east-central Ohio by the confluence of the Walhonding and Tuscarawas rivers. It flows in a meandering course southward past Conesville and Dresden to Zanesville , and then southeastward past South Zanesville , Philo , Gaysport , Malta , McConnelsville , Beverly , Lowell , Stockport and Devola . It joins the Ohio at Marietta . Along its course

46-611: Is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan for flood reduction and water conservation in the Muskingum River watershed, the state's largest wholly contained watershed , covering more than 8,000 square miles (21,000 km ). Since the original construction of fourteen reservoirs and dams in the 1930s (two more were built later), more than $ 7 billion worth of property damage has been saved from flooding. After its formation,

69-595: The MWCD began planning an extensive system of flood-reduction reservoirs and dams in the Muskingum River watershed, which covers all or portion of 27 counties (about 20 percent of the state). By 1938, a network of fourteen reservoirs and dams was constructed. The ten permanent reservoirs attract more than five  million visitors annually. Two additional dams and lakes were added at a later date: Dillon Lake (1960) and North Branch Kokosing. The operation of

92-409: The Muskingum River was called Elk's Eye "because of the numbers of elk that formerly fed on its banks, these animals being found there even at the present time [1779-1780]..." Historically, it was also the name of a large Wyandot town along the river. As part of an expedition to assert French dominance throughout the entire Ohio valley, on August 15, 1749, a leaden plate claiming the region for France

115-635: The Muskingum collects Wills Creek near Conesville; Wakatomika Creek at Dresden; the Licking River at Zanesville; Moxahala Creek at South Zanesville; and Wolf Creek near Beverly. The name Muskingum derives from the Shawnee word mshkikwam 'swampy ground'. In Lenape Muskingum was taken to mean 'elk's eye' ( mus wəshkinkw ) by folk etymology , as if < mus 'elk' + wəshkinkw 'its eye'. Moravian missionary David Zeisberger wrote that

138-428: The age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.9% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in

161-420: The age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87. In the city the population was spread out, with 23.2% under

184-460: The age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 31,098, and the median income for a family was $ 42,088. Males had a median income of $ 31,163 versus $ 22,130 for females. The per capita income for

207-747: The city was $ 17,436. About 6.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. Coshocton is home to a campus of the Central Ohio Technical College , which offers 31 associate degree programs and 12 certificate programs. The main branch of the Coshocton Public Library system is located on Main Street in downtown Coshocton. Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District ( MWCD )

230-403: The city was 42.9 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 11,682 people, 5,048 households, and 3,160 families residing in the city. The population density

253-477: The city. The population density was 1,388.1 inhabitants per square mile (535.9/km ). There were 5,458 housing units at an average density of 675.5 per square mile (260.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White , 1.8% African American , 0.2% Native American , 0.4% Asian , 0.3% from other races , and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population. There were 4,872 households, of which 27.1% had children under

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276-600: The first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory , at the mouth of the Muskingum River on the Ohio River. The Big Bottom Massacre occurred along its banks in 1791. Zanesville was settled by European Americans in 1799 at the site where Zane's Trace crossed the Muskingum at the mouth of the Licking River . Later, the National (Cumberland) Road crossed the Muskingum at Zanesville. In

299-540: The lakes and dams, along with the property immediately surrounding the dam sites, was transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , Huntington District, after the approval of the Flood Control Act of 1939 by Congress. The MWCD continues to be responsible for the management of much of the reservoir areas behind the dams, serving as a partner to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood reduction. The reservoirs also serve as sources of public water supply and

322-680: The late 1770s by bands who had migrated from the East under European oppression. Coshocton is the principal city of the Coshocton micropolitan area . The Lenape sympathetic to the new United States stayed near Coshocton. White Eyes , then leader of the Lenape people, signed the Treaty of Fort Pitt of 1778, by which the Lenape hoped to secure their safety during the War, and he promised scouts and support to

345-400: The mid-19th century the Muskingum was an important commercial shipping route, with dams and locks controlling the water level to allow boats to travel up and down the river. With the decrease in use of water-based transportation in Ohio by the 1920s, the locks fell into disrepair. Since the 1960s, the locks have been repaired to enable pleasure craft to travel the entire navigable length of

368-559: The rebel colonists. In retaliation for frontier raids by hostile Lenape and British, Colonel Daniel Brodhead of the Continental Army ignored the treaty. After indiscriminately raiding and destroying the peaceful Moravian Christian Lenape settlement of Indaochaic also known as Lichtenau , he attacked and destroyed the Lenape at Coshocton in April 1781. Coshocton was originally called Tuscarawas by American colonists, after

391-561: The river, and under the latter name was laid out in 1802. The young town was renamed Coshocton when it was designated county seat by the legislature in 1811. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 8.20 square miles (21.24 km ), of which 8.08 square miles (20.93 km ) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km ) is water. As of the census of 2010, there were 11,216 people, 4,872 households, and 2,927 families residing in

414-558: The river. According to the Geographic Names Information System , the Muskingum River has also been known as: 39°24′33″N 81°27′22″W  /  39.40917°N 81.45611°W  / 39.40917; -81.45611 Coshocton, Ohio Coshocton ( / k ə ˈ ʃ ɒ k t ən / ) is a city in and the county seat of Coshocton County, Ohio , United States, approximately 63 miles (101 km) east-northeast of Columbus . The population

437-511: The river. The Muskingum waterway is one of the few remaining systems in the US to use hand-operated river locks. The navigation system has been designated a national Historic Civil Engineering Landmark . In 2006, it was designated "An Ohio Water Trail;" this designation provides for increased canoe access on the river. Located north of the Mason–Dixon line , from around 1812 to 1861 the Muskingum River

460-479: Was 1,562.1 inhabitants per square mile (603.1/km ). There were 5,471 housing units at an average density of 731.6 per square mile (282.5/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 96.05% White , 1.63% African American , 0.16% Native American , 0.79% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.33% from other races , and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population. There were 5,048 households, out of which 28.0% had children under

483-533: Was 11,050 at the 2020 census . The Walhonding River and the Tuscarawas River meet in Coshocton to form the Muskingum River . Coshocton contains Roscoe Village , a restored town of the canal era, located next to the former Ohio and Erie Canal . A heritage tourist attraction, it showcases the area's unique canal history. The city was developed on the site of a former Lenape village established in

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506-610: Was a major Underground Railroad route used by fugitive slaves escaping from the South on their journey north to Lake Erie and Canada . The Friends of the Lower Muskingum River is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit land trust based in Marietta, Ohio , concerned with protection of the Muskingum River and adjacent lands. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is a quasi-governmental entity concerned with flood control on

529-480: Was buried at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers by Pierre Joseph Céloron . Noted frontier explorer Christopher Gist reached the Big Sandy Creek tributary of the river on December 4, 1751. Traveling downriver, he recorded arriving on December 14 at the western Wyandot town of Muskingum, at present-day Coshocton . There he remained for the following month. Marietta was founded in 1788 as

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