Blackburn gets its name from River Blakewater which runs through Lancashire.
The river flows from the moors above Guide as Knuzden Brook, after which it runs through the areas of Little Harwood, Whitebirk, Cob Wall and Brookhouse to the town centre. During the industrial revolution, the river was culverted and in the town centre it runs underground, under Ainsworth Street and between Blackburn Bus Station and Blackburn Cathedral. To the west of the town centre, the river continues to flow under Whalley Banks and cuts through the Redlam area before connecting with River Darwen outside Witton Country Park. The river continues to flow to Walton-le-Dale, where it joins the River Ribble.

Recently, Blackburn has passed though a phase of regeneration and there are future proposals for the opening of parts of the culverted river to allow it to flow openly once again, through parts of the town centre.