Cottonwood River

**Cottonwood River** is one of the main tributaries of the Neosho River in central Kansas of the United States.

## 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.

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. 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. 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.

## 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 ().

## Related pages

- Cedar Point Mill
- Jacobs Creek and Jacobs Creek Flood
- Great Flood of 1951
- List of Kansas rivers

## Other websites

- Cottonwood River current depth and history:
- west edge of Marion
- 1 mile east of Florence
- 1 mile southwest of Plymouth (between Strong City and Emporia)
- 4 miles east of Emporia

## Infobox (river)

- **name**: Cottonwood River
- **image**: US-KS-ClementsStoneArchBridge-004.jpg
- **image caption**: 1886 Clements Stone Arch Bridge over Cottonwood River near Clements, Kansas, Clements (2006)
- **subdivision type1**: Country
- **subdivision name1**: United States
- **subdivision type2**: State
- **subdivision name2**: Kansas
- **subdivision type3**: Region
- **subdivision name3**: Flint Hills
- **discharge1 location**: Neosho Rapids, Kansas, Neosho Rapids
- **source1 location**: West of Marion, Kansas
- **mouth**: Neosho River
- **mouth location**: East of Emporia, Kansas
- **river system**: Neosho River