title: Lavaca River
text: # Lavaca River
  
  The Lavaca River (/ləˈvɑːkə/ (listen) lə-VAH-kə) is a navigable river in the U.S. state of Texas. It begins in the northeastern part of Gonzales County, and travels generally southeast for 115 miles (185 km) until it empties into Lavaca Bay, which is a component of Matagorda Bay.
  
  ## History
  
  The navigable Texas river's name is a corruption of Rivière des Vaches ("Cow River"), by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. The flagship of Jean Laffite's fleet was alleged to have been scuttled in the lower part of the river.
  
  ## Economy
  
  Hallettsville, and Moulton, Texas, are included this river section's river authority is Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, which was established in 1941.
  
  