Big River (Missouri)
The Big River is a tributary of the Meramec River in east-central Missouri. The river rises in western Iron County near the summit of Johnson Mountain just north of Missouri Route 32 and approximately 3.5 miles southeast of the community of Enough. It flows through Washington, Saint Francois, and Jefferson counties. It forms part of the boundary between Jefferson and Saint Francois counties and also part of the boundary between Jefferson and Washington counties. It empties into the Meramec River opposite Eureka where the Meramec forms the border between Jefferson and Saint Louis counties. The river flows through Washington State Park, St. Francois State Park, and the Lead Belt mining district. The elevation of the river at its source is approximately 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level and at its mouth about 400 feet (120 m). The length of the river is approximately 145 miles (233 km), while the airline distance between source and mouth is about 56 miles (90 km). Its watershed area is 955 square miles (2,470 km2).
| Big River | |
|---|---|
Dam at Cedar Hill, Missouri, on the Big River | |
Location of Big River Mouth Big River (Missouri) (the United States) | |
| Etymology | French: Grande Rivière |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Cities | Caledonia, Irondale, Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Byrnes Mill |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Iron County, Missouri, United States |
| • coordinates | 37°41′18″N 90°57′58″W |
| • elevation | 1,318 ft (402 m) |
| Mouth | Meramec River |
• location | United States |
• coordinates | 38°28′18″N 90°37′05″W |
• elevation | 410 ft (120 m) |
| Length | 145 mi (233 km) |
| Basin size | 955 sq mi (2,470 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Byrnesville |
| • average | 862 cu/ft. per sec. |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Brock Creek, Clear Creek, Furnace Creek, Hopewell Creek, Blay Creek, Cabanne Course, Bear Creek, Three Hill Creek, Maddin Creek, Mineral Fork, Ditch Creek, Maupin Creek, Jones Creek, Skullbones Creek |
| • right | Sam Branch, Smith Branch, Janes Creek, Dent Branch, Cedar Creek, Mill Creek, Dry Creek (Washington County), Hayden Creek, Eaton Branch, Flat River, Cedar Run, Pike Run, Coonville Creek, Bee Run, Perkins Creek, Dry Creek (Jefferson County), Belews Creek, Heads Creek |
The river flows through or near the communities of Belgrade, Irondale, Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Morse Mill, Cedar Hill, and Byrnes Mill.
Tributaries of the Big River include Flat River, Belews Creek, Turkey Creek, Mill Creek, Mineral Fork, Calico Creek, Heads Creek, Terre Bleue Creek, Ditch Creek, and Jones Creek.