Pease River

Pease River
Photo of North Pease River
North Pease River in Cottle County
Map of Red River and tributaries
Location
Country United States
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of North and Middle Pease, Cottle County, Texas
 • coordinates34°14′20″N 100°07′27″W / 34.2389597°N 100.1242754°W / 34.2389597; -100.1242754[1]
 • elevation1,538 ft (469 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Red River, Tillman County, Oklahoma
 • coordinates
34°12′02″N 99°01′47″W / 34.2006436°N 99.0297969°W / 34.2006436; -99.0297969[1]
 • elevation
1,102 ft (336 m)
Length100 mi (160 km)
Basin size760 sq mi (2,000 km2)
Basin features
River systemRed River

The Pease River is a river in Texas, United States. It is a tributary of the Red River that runs in an easterly direction through West Texas. It was discovered and mapped for the first time in 1856 by Jacob de Córdova, who found the river while surveying for the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company; it was named after Texas Governor Elisha M. Pease.[2] In December 1860, the Texas Rangers recaptured Cynthia Ann Parker, kidnapped by the Comanche Indians in 1836, and her daughter from the Comanche at an engagement along the river.[2]

The river begins 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Paducah in northern Cottle County and runs eastward for 100 miles (160 km) to its mouth on the Red River 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Vernon. Its course flows through "flood-prone flat terrain with local shallow depressions, surfaced by sandy and clay loams";[2] part of it forms the county line between Hardeman and Foard Counties.

The river has three main branches, the North Pease, Middle Pease, and Tongue (or South Pease) Rivers;[2] the beginning of the main river is variously given as where all three branches come together,[2] or where only the North and Middle Pease Rivers intersect.[3][4] Satellite and topographical imagery, however, clearly shows that the Tongue River empties into the Middle Pease before the latter's meeting with the North Pease.[5]

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pease River
  2. ^ a b c d e "Handbook of Texas Online - Pease River". Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  3. ^ "Handbook of Texas Online - North Pease River". Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  4. ^ "Handbook of Texas Online - Middle Pease River". Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  5. ^ "Google Maps". Retrieved 2009-08-22.