Macoupin Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macoupin Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Montgomery County west of Morrisonville 39°24′39″N 89°34′48″W / 39.4108846°N 89.5800944°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Illinois River near Hardin 420 ft (130 m) 39°10′47″N 90°35′55″W / 39.1797702°N 90.5987325°W |
| Length | 99.7 mi (160.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| GNIS ID | 412812 |
Macoupin Creek is a long stream, about 160 kilometers (99.7 miles) long. It flows into the Illinois River near a village called Hardin.
The name Macoupin comes from a special plant. It's a yellow pond lily, also known as Nuphar advena. This plant grows naturally in the wet areas (called wetlands) around the creek. Native American tribes in the area loved to eat its large root, which is like a potato. They would bake it in a fire pit. The name macoupin comes from how French explorers tried to write down the word from the Miami-Illinois language.
Contents
The Creek's Path and Macoupin Island
Near where Macoupin Creek joins the Illinois River, its path has been changed. A straight channel was dug to make the creek flow directly to the river. This new channel cuts through old bends in the creek, which are called oxbows.
The old path of the creek still winds through the Illinois bottoms for about 8 kilometers (5 miles). It also joins the river near Hardin. Because of these two channels, an island was formed. This island is called Macoupin Island. It sits across the Illinois River from the village of Hardin.
The old part of Macoupin Creek also forms the border between Greene and Jersey Counties. Sometimes, the exact border can be hard to tell because the creek's path can shift over time.
Features of Macoupin Creek
Macoupin Creek is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) long. The last 37 kilometers (23 miles) of the creek flow through a narrow valley. This valley is usually less than 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) wide. It has steep hills, called bluffs, that can be as high as 55 meters (180 feet).
The bottom of the valley is mostly flat. It doesn't drop much in height as it goes downstream. The modern channel of the creek runs in a straight line. There are not many signs of the old, winding oxbows here. This part of Macoupin Creek seems like it was once a ditch dug through a swamp or marsh. This area didn't have a clear natural stream before. Old stories say this area used to be a large wetland with natural lakes and lots of macoupin plants growing.
Cities and Towns Along the Creek
Many cities, towns, and villages get their water drained by Macoupin Creek. These include:
Counties in the Macoupin Creek Area
Parts of these counties are located in the area that Macoupin Creek drains:
Parks and Places to Visit
You can visit Beaver Dam State Park, which is near Macoupin Creek.
Lakes and Water Bodies
Several lakes and water bodies are connected to Macoupin Creek:
- Bunn Lake
- Carlinville Lake
- New Gillespie Lake
- Otter Lake
- Sunset Lake
