Names The Smoky Hill is named from the Smoky Hills region of north-central Kansas through which it flows. American Indians living along the Smoky Hill considered it and the Kansas River to be the same river, and their names for it included Chetolah and Okesee-sebo. Early maps of European explorers called the river (also in combination with the Kansas River) the River of the Padoucas as its source is located in what was then Padouca (Comanche) territory.
NameS the SmoKY HIll Is nAmEd froM the smoKY hills regION oF NORtH-CentRaL kanSAs throuGh wHIch IT flowS aMEriCaN IndIans LIving ALong The SmoKy HIll consIdered it AnD THE kansas river to Be THe sAme rIVEr and ThEir namEs foR it Included CHetOLah and OkesEe-Sebo EaRly mApS of eUropeAn eXPlorers cAlLED tHE river (Also iN CombiNAtiON wiTh the kANsaS RiVeR) tHe rivEr Of thE PadOucAs aS its SourCe is locaTeD iN what waS thEn paDoucA (comaNChe) teRritorY