Big River (Missouri)

Big River
River
Dam at Cedar Hill, Missouri, on the Big River
Name origin: French: Grande Rivière
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Tributaries
- left	Brock Creek, Clear Creek, Furnace Creek, Hopewell Creek, Blay Creek, Cabanne Course, Bear Creek, Three Hill Creek, Maddin Creek, Mineral Fork, Ditch Creek, Maupin Creek, Jones Creek, Skullbones Creek
- right	Sam Branch, Smith Branch, Janes Creek, Dent Branch, Cedar Creek, Mill Creek, Dry Creek (Washington County), Hayden Creek, Eaton Branch, Flat River, Cedar Run, Pike Run, Coonville Creek, Bee Run, Perkins Creek, Dry Creek (Jefferson County), Belews Creek, Heads Creek
Cities	Caledonia, Irondale, Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Byrnes Mill
Source
- location	Iron County, Missouri, United States
- elevation	1,300 ft (396 m)
- coordinates	37°41′24″N 90°57′56″W / 37.6899°N 90.9656°W / 37.6899; -90.9656
Mouth	Meramec River
- elevation	400 ft (122 m)
- coordinates	38°28′19″N 90°37′08″W / 38.4720°N 90.6188°W / 38.4720; -90.6188
Length	145 mi (233 km)
Basin	955 sq mi (2,473 km2)

The Big River is a tributary of the Meramec River in east-central Missouri. The river rises in western Iron County (37°41′24″N 90°57′56″W / 37.6899°N 90.9656°W / 37.6899; -90.9656 (Big River (source))), near the summit of Johnson Mountain and the locale of Enough; it flows through Washington County, Saint Francois County, and Jefferson County. It forms part of the boundary between Jefferson County and Saint Francois County and also part of the boundary between Jefferson County and Washington County. It empties into the Meramec River opposite Eureka (38°28′19″N 90°37′08″W / 38.4720°N 90.6188°W / 38.4720; -90.6188 (Big River (mouth))Coordinates: 38°28′19″N 90°37′08″W / 38.4720°N 90.6188°W / 38.4720; -90.6188 (Big River (mouth))), where the Meramec forms the border between Jefferson County and Saint Louis County. The river flows through Washington State Park, St. Francois State Park, and the Lead Belt mining district. The elevation of the river at its source is approximately 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level and at its mouth about 400 feet (120 m). The length of the river is approximately 145 miles (233 km), while the airline distance between source and mouth is about 56 miles (90 km). Its watershed area is 955 square miles (2,470 km²).