Title: Cottonwood River Content: Cottonwood River is one of the main tributaries of the Neosho River in central Kansas of the United States.Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 1912. ==Course== The river starts near the west line of Marion County as two tributaries: the North Cottonwood River and the South Cottonwood River. They both start within 2 miles of each other, and they start within a few miles northwest of Lehigh.Marion County Map; KDOT. The North Cottonwood starts near the west line of Marion County. It crosses into McPherson County and is parallel to the county line northward for 5 miles. Then, crosses back into Marion County.McPherson County Map; KDOT. It goes through Durham, then into the Marion Reservoir. The South Cottonwood also starts near the west line of Marion County. It goes southward about 1 mile west of Lehigh. Then it flows eastward about 2 miles south of Hillsboro, then northeast towards the lower side of the Marion Reservoir. The North and South Cottonwood join about 1 mile southeast of the Marion Reservoir to become the North Fork Cottonwood River. Then, it goes through the city of Marion. The river goes southeast to Florence, then eastward towards Chase County.Chase County Map; KDOT. In Chase County, it goes northeast through Cedar Point then near Clements and Elmdale. It then flows eastward through Strong City, Cottonwood Falls. The South Fork Cottonwood River starts south of Matfield Green, then flows northward along the east side of Matfield Green and Bazaar. It combines with the North Fork Cottonwood River about 3 miles east of Cottonwood Falls. Then, it goes eastward near Saffordville and across into Lyon County near Plymouth, Kansas, then along the south edge of Emporia. It goes into the Neosho River about 5 miles east of Emporia.Lyon County Map; KDOT. ==History== In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri. Part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County near the current towns of Florence, Marion, Durham. ==Cities and towns along the river== * Marion * Florence * Cedar Point * Clements * Elmdale * Strong City * Cottonwood Falls * Saffordville * Emporia ==Tributaries== * Cedar Creek * Diamond Creek * Doyle Creek * Jacobs Creek ==Lakes== These lakes are in the Cottonwood River drainage basin: * Marion Reservoir, northwest of Marion. * Marion County Lake, southeast of Marion. * Chase County State Lake, west of Cottonwood Falls. * Camp Wood YMCA Lake, south of Elmdale. * Peabody Country Club Lake, south of Peabody. ==Bridges== These bridges over the Cottonwood River are on the National Register of Historic Places list: * 1916 Cottonwood River Pratt Truss Bridge, 0.8 miles west of Cedar Point . * 1886 Clements Stone Arch Bridge, 0.5 miles southeast of Clements . * 1914 Cottonwood River Bridge, north edge of Cottonwood Falls . * 1923 Soden's Grove Bridge, south edge of Emporia . ==Gallery== File:Cottonwood River Pratt Truss Bridge.JPG|1916 Cottonwood River Pratt Truss Bridge west of Cedar Point (2012) File:Cedar Point Mill, Cedar Point Kansas.JPG|Cedar Point Mill in Cedar Point (2012) File:Cottonwood River Bridge.JPG|1914 Cottonwood River Bridge in Cottonwood Falls (2012) Image:Emporiabridge.JPG|1923 Soden's Grove Bridge over Cottonwood River in Emporia (2005) ==Related pages== * Cedar Point Mill * Jacobs Creek and Jacobs Creek Flood * Great Flood of 1951 * List of Kansas rivers