Saint Joe River flowing west from Elkhart (top) through Osceola (middle) and into Mishawaka (bottom).

The St. Joseph River (locally known as the St. Joe) is a river, approximately 210 mi (338 km) long, in southern Michigan and northern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming area in the watershed of Lake Michigan. It was enormously important in the days of Native Americans and the colonial settlement as a canoe route between Lake Michigan and the watershed of the Mississippi River. It is sometimes known as St. Joseph River of Lake Michigan to distinguish it from the nearby St. Joseph River in the Maumee River watershed. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1928 KB) Summary East side of Mishawaka, Indiana, with the St. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1928 KB) Summary East side of Mishawaka, Indiana, with the St. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mishawaka (IPA: ) is a city on the St. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one in the group located entirely within the United States. ... Native Americans are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. ... A wood-and-canvas canoe evokes the heritage of canoeing in North America A canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, but also commonly sailed. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... The St. ... The Maumee River at Grand Rapids, Ohio. ...

Description

It rises in southern Michigan in Hillsdale County near Baw Beese Lake, within 5 mi (8 km) of the headwaters of the St. Joseph River in the Maumee watershed. It follows a zigzag route generally westward across southern Michigan, dipping into northern Indiana. From its headwaters it flows initially northwest past Hillsdale into southeastern Calhoun County, then turns abruptly southwest to flow past Tekonsha, Union City, and Sherwood. At Three Rivers it is joined from the north by the Rocky and Portage Rivers, then 3 mi (5 km) further southwest by the Prairie River from the east. Hillsdale County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Hillsdale is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Calhoun County is a county located in the state of Michigan. ... Tekonsha is a village located in Calhoun County, Michigan. ... Union City is a village located mostly within Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Sherwood is a village in Branch County of the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Three Rivers is a city located in St. ... The Rocky River is a river located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Portage River (St. ...

It crosses into northern Indiana, flowing west through Elkhart and South Bend, where it turns abruptly to north to re-enter southwestern Michigan in southeastern Berrien County. In southwestern Michigan it follows a wide meandering route generally northwest through Niles and past Berrien Springs. It enters Lake Michigan between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, receiving the Paw Paw River from the north approximately 1 mi (1.6) km from its mouth on Lake Michigan. Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: County St. ... Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Meanders in a river A meander is a bend in a river, also known as an oxbow loop. ... Niles is a city located in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Berrien Springs is a village located in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... St. ... Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. State of Michigan. ... The Paw Paw River is located in the U.S. state of Michigan in the southwest portion of the lower peninsula. ...

Saint Joe River where it flows through downtown South Bend, Indiana and gives the city its name.

Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1928 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 1928 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: County St. ...

History

The river was one of the most significant early transportation routes both to Native Americans and to early French fur trappers in the Illinois Country. It furnished two different portages that allowed nearly continuous travel by canoe among different watersheds of the region. The first major transfer point was at its headwaters in southwestern Michigan, where it furnished a portage to the St. Joseph River of the Maumee River watershed, which drained into Lake Erie. An Alberta fur trader in the 1890s. ... French settlements and forts in the Illinois Country in 1763, showing U.S. current state boundaries. ... For the Gentoo Linux package manager, see Portage (software). ... Lake Erie (pronounced ) is the eleventh largest lake on Earth[2] and, of the five Great Lakes of North America, it is the fourth largest by surface area, the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume. ...

The second major transfer point was at South Bend, Indiana, where a short portage to the nearby Kankakee River allowed access to the Illinois River and subsequently to the Mississippi. The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately 90 mi (144 km) long, in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ...

Another major access point along river was at Niles, Michigan, where the Old Sauk Trail, a major east-west Indian trail crossed the river. The French established Fort St. Joseph there in 1691. Fort Saint Joseph was a fort near present day Niles, Michigan. ... Events March 5 - French troops under Marshal Louis-Francois de Boufflers besiege the Spanish-held town of Mons March 20 - Leislers Rebellion - New governor arrives in New York - Jacob Leisler surrenders after standoff of several hours March 29 - Siege of Mons ends to the city’s surrender May 6...

In 1995 Dorla Null was the first known woman to canoe the entire length of the river. ^{[citation needed]}

The St. Joe River widens as it flows west through Elkhart.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2500x1601, 1074 KB) Summary St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2500x1601, 1074 KB) Summary St. ...

Cities and towns along the St. Joseph River

Indiana

• Bristol
• Elkhart
• Mishawaka
• Osceola
• South Bend

Bristol is a town located in Elkhart County, Indiana. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Mishawaka (IPA: ) is a city on the St. ... Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: County St. ...

Michigan

• Benton Harbor
• Berrien Springs
• Buchanan
• Burlington
• Constantine
• Fair Plain
• Hillsdale
• Jonesville
• Litchfield
• Mendon
• Niles
• St. Joseph
• Tekonsha
• Three Rivers
• Union City

Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. State of Michigan. ... Berrien Springs is a village located in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Buchanan is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Burlington is a village located in Calhoun County, Michigan. ... Constantine is a village located in St. ... Fair Plain is an unincorporated community located in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Hillsdale is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Jonesville is a village in Fayette Township, Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Litchfield is a city in Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Mendon is a village located in St. ... Niles is a city located in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... St. ... Tekonsha is a village located in Calhoun County, Michigan. ... Three Rivers is a city located in St. ... Union City is a village located mostly within Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...

See also

• List of Indiana rivers
• List of Michigan rivers

This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Indiana. ... This is a list of Michigan rivers. ...

External link

• Friends of the St. Joe River: History
• Saint Joseph River Watershed Website
• St. Joseph River Interstate Anadromous Fish Project
• Michigan DNR Fisheries Special Report No. 24--Executive Summary on the Saint Joseph River
• USGS Paw Paw River Flow Data at Riverside, Michigan (The Paw Paw is the last major tributary of the Saint Joseph before it flows into Lake Michigan)
• USGS St. Joseph River Flow Data at Niles, Michigan
• USGS St. Joseph River Flow Data at Mottville, Michigan
• USGS St. Joseph River Flow Data at Three Rivers, Michigan
• USGS St. Joseph River Flow Data at Burlington, Michigan