elkhorn

Elkhorn is a toponym of North American origin, derived from elk horns. The name often reflects the presence of elk or the shape of landscape features, and it has been applied to towns, rivers, and geographic formations across several states.

In the United States, Elkhorn designations include a city in Wisconsin and a number of natural features. Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is a city in Walworth County in the southeastern part of the state. The Elkhorn River is a major tributary of the Missouri River, running through eastern Nebraska and forming part of the region’s watershed. Elkhorn Slough is a tidal estuary on California’s Monterey Bay, noted for its marsh habitat and diverse bird life. The Elkhorn Mountains constitute a mountain range in Oregon, part of the Pacific Northwest’s broader range system.

Beyond these examples, the Elkhorn name appears on maps and in local histories across North America, often carried by communities, waterways, and geographic features that echo the region’s wildlife heritage. The continuity of the name in multiple locales reflects a common practice of using natural imagery to describe and distinguish places.