The Salamonie River originates near Salamonia in southeastern Jay County and flows generally northwestwardly through Blackford, Wells, Huntington and Wabash counties, past the communities of Portland, Pennville, Montpelier, Warren and Mount Etna.

[5] In Wabash County, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam, completed for the purpose of flood control in 1966,[6] causes the river to form Salamonie Lake.

The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Salamonie River" as the stream's name in 1917.

"[1] The name Salamonie is derived from the Miami Indian word osahmonee which means "yellow paint".

The Indians would make yellow paint from the bloodroot plant that grew along the river banks.