Historically, the Oxbow was connected directly to the Connecticut River as a large U-shaped bend. In 1840, flood waters cut through the narrow section, separating the Oxbow from the main river and the current. In the early 1900s, the Oxbow was used extensively for logging operations, as a holding area for logs sent downriver. The northern end was later cut off to build I-91, which runs between the Oxbow and the Connecticut River. The Connecticut River is still accessible by a channel made under the I-91 and US-5 bridges.