Crane Creek (James River tributary) facts for kids

Crane Creek is a stream in Missouri, about 23.2 miles (37.3 km) long. It flows past the town of Crane. This creek is a smaller stream that flows into the James River. The James River is part of an even bigger water system called the White River drainage basin.

Crane Creek is very special! It's part of the Missouri Department of Conservation's program to manage trout. Because of this, it's known as a "Blue Ribbon Trout Area." This means it's a fantastic place for fishing, especially for trout!

Where Crane Creek Begins

The very beginning of Crane Creek is called its headwaters. You can find these headwaters about one mile south of Marionville. They are also about four miles east of Aurora.

From its start, the stream flows south. Then, it makes a turn to the east and southeast. This happens near a small community called Bonham. At Bonham, another small stream called Hemphill Branch joins Crane Creek, adding more water to its flow.

Crane Creek's Journey

After Bonham, Crane Creek enters Stone County. It flows past the southwest side of the town of Crane. The creek then goes under Missouri Route 13, a main road.

The stream then turns east. It flows past the community of Quail. It also passes south of Hurley. Here, the creek turns southeast. It makes several sharp bends, which are called meanders. These bends show how the water has shaped the land over time.

Finally, Crane Creek flows into the James River. This meeting point is about 2.5 miles north of Galena.

Why is it Called Crane Creek?

The name "Crane Creek" is quite simple! The creek was named this because many blue cranes used to live in the area. These tall, graceful birds were a common sight along the stream.