Neosho Or Grand? Oklahomans Divided On Name Of Flooding River

Many Oklahomans are convinced the river that formed Grand Lake should be called the Grand River. But other Oklahomans feel just as strongly that it should be called the Neosho River.

The river in question begins in Morris County in eastern Kansas. It flows southeast into Oklahoma where it turns southwest and eventually joins the Arkansas River.

It's been dammed at several points along its course, including Pensacola Dam which formed Grand Lake and Kerr Dam which formed Lake Hudson.

News On 6 has heard from countless people who demand that we refer to it as the Grand River. 

Our resident fishing expert, Meteorologist Dick Faurot, said he's always known it as the Grand River. "Anyone who fishes there will call it the Grand River for sure," he said.

Like-minded people point out that road signs call it the Grand and the name of the authority that manages it is the Grand River Dam Authority.

The internet doesn't help clear up the confusion. Wikipedia has pages for both the Neosho and Grand Rivers, but the Grand River page says "Grand" is an alternate name for the river after it meets the Spring River near Miami.

Google Maps calls it the Neosho River, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers page calls it the Grand-Neosho River Basin. 

So what's the answer? Just like the question of whether Verdigris is pronounced Ver-di-gris or Ver-di-gree, we'll probably never know.