The Palmer River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 17 km (11 mi).
The river has two separate branches which converge near the intersection of Danforth Street and Winthrop Street (U.S. 44) in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to form the main branch of the river.
The west branch (officially West Branch Palmer River) rises in a small unnamed pond near the eastern intersection of Tremont Street and Agricultural Avenue in Rehoboth. It continues roughly south from here until converging with the east branch. It flows approximately 9 km (5 mi).
The east branch (officially East Branch Palmer River) rises in Little Cedar Swamp in North Rehoboth and flows roughly southwest to converge with the west branch. It flows approximately 8 km (5 mi).
After the two branches converge, the river flows roughly south-southwest through Rehoboth and Swansea before crossing into Rhode Island and flowing between Barrington and Warren for its last few miles. At its mouth, it converges with the Barrington River to form the Warren River.
Below is a list of all crossings over the Palmer River and its branches. The list begins at the headwaters and goes downstream.
In addition to many unnamed tributaries, the following brooks feed the Palmer and its branches:
The river was probably named for Walter Palmer, one of the founders of Rehoboth.
The Palmer River is a subject of an 1885 painting by local artist Edward Mitchell Bannister.[1]