Castor River (Missouri) facts for kids

Map of the St. Francis River watershed showing Little River. The Castor/Whitewater headwaters (darker shade on the map) were historically part of the St. Francis watershed via Little River but are now diverted to the Mississippi by the Headwater Diversion Channel.

The Castor River is a waterway in southeast Missouri, USA. It is special because it is split into two main parts: the Upper Castor River and the Lower Castor River. A man-made waterway called the Headwater Diversion Channel divides them.

The Upper Castor River

The Upper Castor River begins in the southern part of Ste. Genevieve County. This is in the southeastern area of Missouri. Its starting point is about ten miles (16 km) north-northeast of a town called Fredericktown.

From its source, the river flows south. It travels through the eastern side of Madison County. Then, it enters the eastern edge of Wayne County. Finally, it reaches Bollinger County. Here, the Upper Castor River flows into the Headwater Diversion Channel. This channel then carries the water to the mighty Mississippi River, just south of Cape Girardeau.

The Lower Castor River

The Lower Castor River is the part of the river that flows south of the Headwater Diversion Channel. After the channel, the Lower Castor River continues to flow south.

It eventually joins another river called the Little River. This connection means that the Lower Castor River's water becomes part of the Little River's flow.

What's in a Name?

The name "Castor" comes from the French language. It means "beaver." This suggests that beavers might have been common in the area when the river was named.

An explorer named Henry Schoolcraft wrote about the Castor River. He mentioned it in his report from 1818. This report was about his travels and explorations in southern Missouri.