Battle Creek River

The Battle Creek River (simply Battle Creek on federal maps[1]) is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River, joining it at Battle Creek, Michigan; the Kalamazoo River empties into Lake Michigan.

Battle Creek River
Overlooking the Battle Creek River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountiesEaton, Calhoun
MunicipalitiesCharlotte, Bellevue, Battle Creek
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationClarence Township
 • coordinates42.44226°N 84.77609°W / 42.44226; -84.77609[1]
MouthKalamazoo River
 • location
Battle Creek
 • coordinates
42.32254°N 85.193881°W / 42.32254; -85.193881
Length54.5 mi (87.7 km)
Basin size307 sq mi (800 km2)

The river's drainage basin is approximately 196,750 acres (796.2 km2) and covers northern Calhoun County, southern Eaton County, and southeastern Barry County in southwest Michigan. The headwaters of the Battle Creek River are at Duck Lake in Clarence Township in northeast Calhoun County, and the stream flows north to the city of Charlotte, then southwest through the village of Bellevue and empties into the Kalamazoo River at the city of Battle Creek. Tributaries of the Battle Creek River include Wanadoga Creek, Ellis Creek, Crooked Brook, Goose Creek, Ackley Creek, Indian Creek, and Big Creek. The river is 53.3 miles (85.8 km) long[2] with an average gradient of 1.25 feet/mile.[3]

Toponym
Main article: Battle Creek § Toponym

The river's name, according to local lore, was given after a survey party, led by Col. John Mullet, engaged in hostilities with some local Native Americans in the winter of 1823–24.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Battle Creek
  2. "The National Map". National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  3. The Battle Creek River Watershed Management Plan (PDF). Lansing: State of Michigan. September 2004. Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  4. Carter, Clarence Edwin (1942). The Territory of Michigan, 1805–1837. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  5. Rust, E. G. (1869). Calhoun County Business Directory for 1869–70… together with a history of the county…. Battle Creek, Michigan: E. G. Rust.


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