Battle Creek River | |
Subdivision Type1: | Country |
Subdivision Name1: | United States |
Subdivision Type2: | State |
Subdivision Name2: | Michigan |
Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
Subdivision Name3: | Eaton, Calhoun |
Subdivision Type4: | Municipalities |
Source1 Coordinates: | 42.4423°N -84.7761°W |
Mouth Coordinates: | 42.3225°N -85.1939°W |
Length: | 54.5miles |
Basin Size: | 307sqmi |
The Battle Creek River (simply Battle Creek on federal maps) is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River, joining it at Battle Creek, Michigan; the Kalamazoo River empties into Lake Michigan.
The river's drainage basin is approximately 196750acres and covers northern Calhoun County, southern Eaton County, and southeastern Barry County in southwest Michigan. The headwaters of the Battle Creek River are at Duck Lake in Clarence Township in northeast Calhoun County, and the stream flows north to the city of Charlotte, then southwest through the village of Bellevue and empties into the Kalamazoo River at the city of Battle Creek. Tributaries of the Battle Creek River include Wanadoga Creek, Ellis Creek, Crooked Brook, Goose Creek, Ackley Creek, Indian Creek, and Big Creek. The river is long[1] with an average gradient of 1.25 feet/mile.[2]
The river's name, according to local lore, was given after a survey party, led by Col. John Mullet, engaged in hostilities with some local Native Americans in the winter of 1823–24.[3] [4]