Elk River (Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
The Elk River is a river
, about 70 mi (115 km) long, in east-central Minnesota
in the United States
. It is a tributary
of the Mississippi River
, draining a watershed
of 630 mi² (1,632 km²).
and initially flows generally southward. In Sherburne County
the river turns southeastward, paralleling the Mississippi River for the remainder of its course, past the communities of Becker
and Big Lake
. In his 1843 map of the Upper Mississippi, Joseph Nicollet recorded this river as "Kabitawi R[iver]", reflecting Gaa-biitawi-ziibi ("the parallelling river") in the Ojibwe
) due to this parallel course with the Mississippi. It joins the Mississippi at the city of Elk River
, after passing through Orono Lake, which is formed by a municipal hydroelectric dam
.
, the Elk collects the St. Francis River
and the Snake River; the latter is a minor stream which flows for its entire length in Sherburne County, generally southward through Santiago
, Becker
and Big Lake Townships in a straightened and channelized course.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
, about 70 mi (115 km) long, in east-central Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, draining a watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 630 mi² (1,632 km²).
Course
The Elk River rises in northern Benton County, MinnesotaBenton County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,226 people, 13,065 households, and 8,518 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 13,460 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
and initially flows generally southward. In Sherburne County
Sherburne County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,417 people, 21,581 households, and 16,746 families residing in the county. The population density was 148 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
the river turns southeastward, paralleling the Mississippi River for the remainder of its course, past the communities of Becker
Becker, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,673 people, 929 households, and 728 families residing in the city. The population density was 308.6 people per square mile . There were 967 housing units at an average density of 111.6 per square mile...
and Big Lake
Big Lake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,063 people, 2,117 households, and 1,570 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,688.4 people per square mile . There were 2,206 housing units at an average density of 614.3 per square mile...
. In his 1843 map of the Upper Mississippi, Joseph Nicollet recorded this river as "Kabitawi R[iver]", reflecting Gaa-biitawi-ziibi ("the parallelling river") in the Ojibwe
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
) due to this parallel course with the Mississippi. It joins the Mississippi at the city of Elk River
Elk River, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,447 people, 5,664 households, and 4,400 families residing in the city. Recent estimates show the population at 21,329 as of 2005. The population density was 385.5 people per square mile . There were 5,782 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per...
, after passing through Orono Lake, which is formed by a municipal hydroelectric dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
.
Tributaries
In Sherburne County's Big Lake TownshipBig Lake Township, Minnesota
Big Lake Township is a township in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,785 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Lake’s geographical location is in a corridor placing it 30 minutes from St. Cloud and 35 minutes from Minneapolis...
, the Elk collects the St. Francis River
St. Francis River (Minnesota)
The Saint Francis River is a tributary of the Elk River, long, in east-central Minnesota in the United States. Via the Elk River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area historically characterized by mixed hardwood and coniferous forests on flat to rolling till...
and the Snake River; the latter is a minor stream which flows for its entire length in Sherburne County, generally southward through Santiago
Santiago Township, Minnesota
Santiago Township is a township in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,555 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.3 square miles , of which, 36.1 square miles of it is land and...
, Becker
Becker Township, Sherburne County, Minnesota
Becker Township is a township in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,605 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.It is bordered on the southwest by the...
and Big Lake Townships in a straightened and channelized course.