Pithlachascotee River

Pithlachascotee River
"Cotee River"
The US 19 bridge over the Pithlachascotee River between Port Richey(left) and New Port Richey.
Map
Location
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyPasco
DistrictSWFWMD
Physical characteristics
SourceStarkey park
 • locationShady Hills, Florida
 • coordinates28°22′08″N 82°31′58″W / 28.36889°N 82.53278°W / 28.36889; -82.53278
MouthGulf of Mexico
 • location
Port Richey, Florida
 • coordinates
28°16′40″N 82°44′37″W / 28.27778°N 82.74361°W / 28.27778; -82.74361
Length23 mi (37 km)
Discharge 
 • location10.5mi upstream from mouth
 • average25.42 cu ft/s (0.720 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightFive Mile Creek,
A view of the winding Pithlachascotee River from James E. Grey Preserve

The Pithlachascotee River, often called the Cotee or "Cootie" River,[1][2][3] is a blackwater river in Pasco County, Florida.

Originating near Crews Lake, the river flows for over 23 miles (37 km)[4] to the south and west, flowing through the Starkey Wilderness Park before turning northwest through downtown New Port Richey, entering the Gulf of Mexico at Miller's Bayou. A Florida State Canoe Trail runs along the river.

On a chart representing the west coast of Florida accompanying the annual report of the U.S. Coast Survey for 1851, the name is translated as "Boat Building River". The whole word signifies the place where canoes were chopped or dug out. The Seminole used canoes dug out of cypress trunks. It is derived from the Creek pithlo (canoe), and chaskita (to chop out).[5]

  1. ^ Cannon, Jeff (2009). Hudson. Images of America. Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 9780738567815. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  2. ^ Ford, Norman D. (1969). Norman Ford's Florida. New York: Harian Publications. p. 180. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  3. ^ Henshall, James Alexander (1884). Camping and Cruising in Florida. Cincinnati, OH: Robert Clarke & Co. p. 230. Retrieved 2011-10-18. Cootie River.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 18, 2011
  5. ^ Simpson, J. Clarence (1956). Mark F. Boyd (ed.). Florida Place-Names of Indian Derivation. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Geological Survey.