Rabbit River (Michigan) facts for kids
The Rabbit River is a cool waterway in Michigan. It flows for about 62 miles (100 kilometers). This river is like a smaller stream that feeds into a bigger one, the Kalamazoo River. It's mostly found in Allegan County. The land that drains into the Rabbit River is huge, covering about 187,200 acres! This area includes parts of Allegan, Barry, Kent, and Ottawa counties.
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The Rabbit River: A Michigan Waterway
Where Does the Rabbit River Flow?
The Rabbit River starts in the farmlands of Leighton Township. From there, it generally flows towards the west. It travels through several townships and cities. These include Wayland Township and the city of Wayland.
The river continues its journey through Hopkins Township. It also passes through a small part of Dorr Township. Other areas it flows through are Salem Township and Overisel Township.
Finally, the Rabbit River reaches Heath Township and Manlius Township. Near a place called New Richmond, it joins the larger Kalamazoo River.
Friends of the River: Its Tributaries
The Rabbit River has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries. They add more water to the main river as it flows along. Here are some of its main tributaries, listed from east to west:
- Green Lake Creek
- Buskirk Creek
- Miller Creek (this one is in Hopkins Township)
- Bear Creek
- Little Rabbit River
- Black Creek
- Miller Creek (this one is in Monterey Township)
- Silver Creek
The Little Rabbit River: A Special Branch
The Little Rabbit River is an important tributary of the main Rabbit River. It is about 11 miles (18 kilometers) long. The land that drains into the Little Rabbit River covers about 30,850 acres. This area includes parts of four townships.
These townships are Byron Township in Kent County. It also includes Leighton, Dorr, and Salem townships in Allegan County.
The Little Rabbit River actually starts as two smaller branches. One is called the Red Run Drain. It begins in the western part of Leighton Township, near Moline. The other branch is the Dorr & Byron Drain. This one starts in the southern part of Byron Township. These two branches meet west of Dorr. Then, they flow together into the Rabbit River in southwest Salem Township.
