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Marmaton River
Marmaton River.jpg
The Marmaton River near Nevada, Missouri
Osagerivermap.png
Map of the Osage River watershed including the Marmaton River
Country United States
State Kansas, Missouri
Physical characteristics
Main source Allen County, Kansas
1,105 ft (337 m)
37°56′45″N 95°07′51″W / 37.94583°N 95.13083°W / 37.94583; -95.13083
River mouth Little Osage River
Vernon County, Missouri
732 ft (223 m)
37°59′57″N 94°19′08″W / 37.99917°N 94.31889°W / 37.99917; -94.31889
Length 102 mi (164 km)
Basin features
Watersheds Marmaton-Little Osage-Osage-Missouri-Mississippi

The Marmaton River (say MAR-muh-tuhn) is a river that flows through parts of Kansas and Missouri in the United States. It is about 102-mile-long (164 km). The Marmaton River is a tributary, which means it flows into a larger river. It joins the Little Osage River.

Eventually, the water from the Marmaton River travels through the Little Osage, Osage, and Missouri rivers. All these rivers are part of the huge watershed of the mighty Mississippi River.

Where the River Flows

The Marmaton River starts in eastern Allen County, Kansas. This is northeast of a town called Moran. From there, the river generally flows towards the east.

Journey Through States

As it travels, the Marmaton River passes through Bourbon County in Kansas. It then continues into Vernon County in Missouri. Along its path, it flows past several towns.

Towns Along the Way

In Kansas, you can find the river near Uniontown, Redfield, and Fort Scott. Once it crosses into Missouri, it flows past Deerfield. Finally, the Marmaton River meets the Little Osage River from the south. This meeting point is about 7 miles (11 km) south-southeast of Rich Hill, Missouri.

What's in a Name?

The name "Marmaton" has an interesting history! It comes from the French word Marmiton. French fur traders gave the river this name a long time ago.

Meaning of Marmiton

The word "Marmiton" means "scullion". A scullion was a person who worked in a kitchen, doing tasks like washing dishes. It's a unique name for a river!

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