| Yamhill River | |
| Name Etymology: | Uncertain but probably after a local Kalapuya tribe[1] |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Oregon |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Yamhill River in Oregon |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Yamhill |
| Length: | 11miles[2] |
| Source1: | confluence of South Yamhill River and North Yamhill River |
| Source1 Location: | between McMinnville and Dayton, Yamhill County, Oregon |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 45.2258°N -123.145°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 152feet[3] |
| Mouth: | Willamette River |
| Mouth Location: | Yamhill County, Oregon |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 45.2297°N -122.9978°W[4] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 59feet |
| Basin Size: | 837sqmi[5] |
The Yamhill River is an 11miles tributary of the Willamette River, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of the South Yamhill River and the North Yamhill River about 3miles east of McMinnville, it drains part of the Northern Oregon Coast Range. The river meanders east past Dayton to join the Willamette River at its river mile (RM) 55 or river kilometer (RK) 89, south of Newberg.[2] [6]
It is likely that Yamhill was the 19th century white settlers' name for a tribe of Native Americans, a Kalapuya people who inhabited the region.[1] The Yamhill people were among 27 bands and tribes moved to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation, formally established in 1857.[7]
Formed by the confluence of the South Yamhill and North Yamhill rivers about 3miles east of McMinnville, the main stem Yamhill River flows generally east for about 11miles to the Willamette River, a tributary of the Columbia River. At about RM 9 (RK 14), Hawn Creek and then Millican Creek enter from the left as the Yamhill nears Lafayette, which lies to the river's left. Beyond Lafayette, Henry Creek enters from the left. Near Dayton, the river passes under Oregon Route 18 before skirting the city, which lies to its right at RM 5 (RK 8). Here Palmer Creek enters from the right. Below Dayton, the river enters the Willamette at its RM 55 (RK 89) south of Newberg.[2] [6]
See main article: Yamhill River lock and dam. In 1900 a Yamhill River lock and dam lock and dam was completed about 1.5 miles downriver from Lafayette, Oregon. The lock was decommissioned in 1954. The dam was deliberately destroyed in 1963 to allow better passage for salmon on the river. The site of the lock and dam is now a county park.