View source for Broadkill River

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Broadkill River
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Broadkill River.jpg
| image_caption      = The Broadkill River in [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]] in 2006
| map                = 
| map_size           = 180
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = Delaware#USA
| pushpin_map_size   = 180
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the Broadkill River
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[Delaware]]
| subdivision_type3  = County
| subdivision_name3  = [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex]]
| subdivision_type4  = City
| subdivision_name4  = [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]]
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|13.3|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=Ches>{{cite web |url=http://estuariesandcoasts.org/cdrom/CPSC1973_14_1_28_40.pdf |title=The Hydrography of the Broadkill River Estuary, Delaware |author=DeWitt, Piet |author2=Daiber, Franklin C. |work=Chesapeake Science, Vol. 14 No. 1 |date=March 1973 |accessdate=2007-02-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711081550/http://estuariesandcoasts.org/cdrom/CPSC1973_14_1_28_40.pdf |archivedate=2007-07-11 }}</ref> 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Wagamons Pond
| source1_location   = [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|38|46|37|N|75|18|47|W|display=inline}}<ref name=GNIS>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|213715}} |title=GNIS entry for Broadkill River (Feature ID #213715)|author=Geographic Names Information System|authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = Delaware Bay
| mouth_location     = northwest of [[Lewes, Delaware|Lewes]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|38|47|25|N|75|09|44|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=GNIS/>
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|3|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=GNIS/>
| progression        = [[Delaware Bay]] → [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|110|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name=Ches/>
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = Round Pole Branch<br />Beaverdam Creek<br />Doty Glade<br />Crooked Creek<br />Mill Creek<br />[[Canary Creek (Broadkill River tributary)|Canary Creek]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Broadkill River''' is a river flowing to [[Delaware Bay]] in southern [[Delaware]] in the [[United States]]. It is {{convert|13.3|mi|km}} long and drains an area of {{convert|110|mi2|km2}} on the [[Atlantic Coastal Plain]].

The Broadkill flows for its entire length in eastern [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex County]]. It issues from Wagamons Pond in the town of [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]]; the pond is fed by two tributaries known as Ingram Branch<ref>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|214147}} |title=GNIS entry for Ingram Branch (Feature ID #214147)|author=Geographic Names Information System|authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref> and Pemberton Branch.<ref>{{cite web |url={{Gnis3|214434}} |title=GNIS entry for Pemberton Branch (Feature ID #214434)|author=Geographic Names Information System|authorlink=Geographic Names Information System|accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>  From Milton, the Broadkill River flows generally eastwardly, passing through [[wetland]]s and [[salt marsh]]es in the [[Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook/ |title=Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge |author= United States Fish and Wildlife Service |authorlink= United States Fish and Wildlife Service |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>  After approaching to within {{convert|1+1/4|mi|km|spell=in}} of Delaware Bay, the river parallels the shoreline a short distance inland for approximately {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} before flowing into the bay in northwest of [[Lewes, Delaware|Lewes]]. The [[United States Coast Guard]] maintains a station near the mouth of the Broadkill at Green Hill. The mouth is connected to [[Rehoboth Bay]] by the [[Lewes and Rehoboth Canal]], which forms part of the [[Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway]].<ref>[[DeLorme]] (2004).  ''Maryland Delaware Atlas & Gazetteer''. pp.44-45. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme.  {{ISBN|0-89933-279-X}}.</ref>

In the 19th century the river was the center of a regional [[shipbuilding]] industry, arising from the access it furnished to inland forests; the industry fell into decline in the 1890s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.de.us/sos/dpa/markers/sc/SHIPBUILDING%20ON%20THE%20BROADKILL%20SC%20143.shtml |title= Shipbuilding on the Broadkill |author=State of Delaware |authorlink=Delaware |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>

A footpath known as the Governors Walk follows the Broadkill in central Milton.  [[The Nature Conservancy]] established a preserve along the river downstream of Milton in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destateparks.com/greenway/traillist/traillist3.htm |title=Greenways & Trails |author=State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Division of Parks and Recreation |accessdate=2007-02-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028030925/http://www.destateparks.com/greenway/traillist/traillist3.htm |archivedate=2007-10-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  {{As of|2005}}, an annual canoe and kayak race was being held on the river in Milton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miltonde.com/milton/festivals.html |title= Milton Fairs and Festivals |accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref>

==Variant names and spellings==
The [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] issued an opinion clarifying "Broadkill River" as the stream's name in 1961. According to the [[Geographic Names Information System]], it has also been known historically as:<ref name=GNIS/>
*Broad Creek 
*Broad [[Kill (body of water)|Kill]]
*Broad Kill Creek 
*Broadkill Creek 
*Broadkiln Creek
*Lewis Creek

==See also==
*[[List of Delaware rivers]]
*[[Thomas Winsmore (schooner)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Delaware}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Delaware]]
[[Category:Rivers of Sussex County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Tributaries of Delaware Bay]]