What's in a Name?

The Wabanaki "m̥soákw̥-htə́kw̥" or "flowing out to the tides," was first anglicized to "Sowacotuck," before going through a few other variations that preceded the current "Saco River" name.

The Wabanaki word was a description of the river more than a name — with the river likely having multiple cultural meanings and names for specific sections along its 170+ miles.

For Indigenous People, the areas of a river were often named for key features or things that could be found — and as we'll show, the Saco River provided a lot to the people who lived along its shores.