Crooked River (Missouri) facts for kids
The Crooked River is a stream in west-central Missouri, USA. It flows into the Missouri River, which is a much larger river. When a smaller river flows into a larger one, it's called a tributary.
This river got its name, "Crooked River," because it doesn't flow in a straight line. Instead, it winds and turns a lot, like a snake. People have also called it by other names over time, such as "Big Creek," "Little River," and "Tiger River." It was sometimes called "Big Creek" because it's the largest tributary to the Missouri River in its area.
Where the Crooked River Flows
The Crooked River starts in southeastern Clinton County, Missouri. This area is near the town of Lathrop and close to the I-35 highway.
From there, the river generally flows towards the southeast. It passes through the southwestern part of Caldwell County and then into Ray County.
As it travels through southwestern Ray County, the Crooked River gets bigger. It picks up water from two smaller streams, which are called the East Fork and the West Fork.
Finally, the Crooked River joins the mighty Missouri River. This meeting point is about 4 miles (6 km) south of Hardin. It's also about 2.5 miles northeast of Lexington, which is across the Missouri River in northern Lafayette County.
See also
- List of Missouri rivers
