How The Buffalo River Got It’s Name

Posted on July 29, 2007
Filed Under General |

I have to admit that I looked around a bit online to find the answer to the question, “How did the Buffalo River get it’s name?” I either didn’t search hard enough or it just isn’t mentioned much on the internet? I’m sure the answer can be found in books about the Buffalo. I happened to find the following information on a National Geographic Buffalo River map.

Over 200 years ago, around 1793, a Spanish land grant refers to this tributary of the White River as “Rio Cibolos.” In Spanish, “cibolo” is the name for the American bison or buffalo, animals an 18th century explorer would likely have observed along this picturesque Ozark stream.

A few years after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, an American mapmaker changed the name to “Buffalo River”. By that time, hunters had already exterminated much of the Ozarks bison herd. The river’s name soon became only a reminder of the mighty animal that once roamed the area.

So there you have it! Surprisingly enough, the river was named after….a “buffalo”. ;) If I turn up a more exciting explanation, you know I’ll share it with you here.

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Comments

17 Responses to “How The Buffalo River Got It’s Name”

  1. Bryan @ One Man's Goal on July 30th, 2007 3:59 am

    I’m glad you explained the origin. I really had no idea. Informative!

  2. Chris on July 30th, 2007 6:48 am

    Hi Bryan - I was curious about it myself! Thanks for dropping by!

  3. Milan on August 3rd, 2007 3:51 pm

    Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Chris on August 6th, 2007 8:46 am

    Hi Milan - You’re very welcome!

  5. sprecher on August 10th, 2007 10:21 am

    Thanks Chris for spreadding your resaerch facts to us.

  6. Chris on August 10th, 2007 12:19 pm

    Hello Sprecher - Glad to be of assistance!

  7. Dirk Klingelton on August 17th, 2007 1:52 pm

    very interessting article

  8. Releaselog on August 29th, 2007 4:24 am

    nice article, thanks

  9. Columbia on September 4th, 2007 2:49 pm

    I was also wondering how it got its name until I read this post. Thanks for sharing!

  10. Satellite tv on October 4th, 2007 5:39 pm

    I just knew it! Before reading the whole post I have my guess in mind and that’s of course form a buffalo it self and Spanish named it..and there you go I guessed it right! :D

    Bev

  11. Miss Lingeric on October 12th, 2007 2:45 am

    thx for sharing and has gained some knowledge from the acticle.

  12. My Forex Tools on October 17th, 2007 12:15 am

    haha..wonderful article, previously i was curios hom come they named this river as buffalo river now only i know how and why it gets this name. thx for sharing us this.

  13. Anime on October 30th, 2007 10:40 am

    wow nice one man!

  14. Victor on December 6th, 2007 3:42 pm

    Nice post.. we enjoyed it.. :-) keep it up!

  15. Tom on February 21st, 2008 6:14 am

    Nice story but short.. post bigger story of Buffalo river :)

  16. Get Camping on April 4th, 2008 9:32 am

    Yes makes sense I suppose, lol. It would be great to see buffalos roaming about still, well maybe not too safe for camping out.

  17. Monavie on July 30th, 2008 4:10 pm

    Well, it is always good to know why things were named what they were. It’s too bad the native buffalo herds aren’t there anymore though.

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