Elk River (Kansas)

The Elk River is a tributary of the Verdigris River in southeastern Kansas in the United States. Via the Verdigris and Arkansas rivers, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.

Elk River
Location
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Region	Flint Hills
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Southwest Greenwood County, Flint Hills, Kansas, United States
• coordinates	37°36′31″N 096°31′30″W[1]
• elevation	735 ft (224 m)
Mouth	Verdigris River
• location	Near Independence, Kansas, United States
• coordinates	37°15′24″N 095°41′39″W[1]
• elevation	224 ft (68 m)[1]
Length	95 mi (153 km), Southeast[2]
Basin features
River system	Verdigris River

Description and course

The Elk River is formed by a collection of intermittent streams in southwestern Greenwood County,[1] and flows for about 95 miles (153 km)[2] generally east-southeast through Butler, Elk, and Montgomery counties, past the towns of Elk Falls, Longton and Elk City. It joins the Verdigris River at the northern edge of the city of Independence.

Between Elk City and Independence, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam causes the river to form Elk City Lake. A state park and federal lands along the lake offer recreation, including three National Recreation Trails.

The Elk River Archeological District is a 14,807 acres (59.92 km²) area in Elk and Montgomery counties, presumably in the Elk River watershed, which was has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Stream course

Upriver:[3]

37°15′24″N 095°41′39″W (confluence with the Verdigris River)

37°33′00″N 096°29′11″W

37°29′06″N 096°23′01″W

37°14′55″N 095°48′11″W

37°17′00″N 095°46′51″W

37°16′50″N 095°55′31″W

37°27′10″N 096°18′11″W

37°25′20″N 096°13′01″W

37°22′10″N 096°09′51″W

37°21′50″N 096°05′21″W

37°36′31″N 096°31′30″W

See also

• List of Kansas rivers

References

1. "Elk River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
2. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 31, 2011 Archived 2012-04-05 at WebCite
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elk River

External links

• "Elk City Lake, KS". Recreation.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
• "Elk City State Park". Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elk River