The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about 460 mi (740 km) long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.
In its southern portion, it is also known as the Grand River.
Course
The Neosho rises in
Morris County, Kansas and initially flows southeastwardly through southeastern Kansas. In
Ottawa County, Oklahoma the river turns south-southwestwardly for the remainder of its course through Oklahoma. It meets the Arkansas River near the city of
Muskogee, about a mile downstream of the mouth of the
Verdigris River.
Dams
The Neosho has been
dammed at several points along its course, in most cases by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In Kansas, a dam upstream of
Council Grove forms
Council Grove Lake, and a dam near
New Strawn forms
John Redmond Reservoir. In Oklahoma, a dam at
Langley forms the Neosho's largest reservoir, the
Grand Lake o' the Cherokees. A dam near
Locust Grove forms
Lake Hudson (also known as Markham Ferry Reservoir), and a dam upstream of
Fort Gibson forms
Fort Gibson Lake.
Tributaries
In Kansas, the Neosho is joined by the
Cottonwood River in
Lyon County. In Oklahoma, it is joined by the
Spring River in Ottawa County and the
Elk River in
Delaware County.
Cities and towns along the Neosho River
- Burlington, Kansas
- Chetopa, Kansas
- Council Grove, Kansas
- Disney, Oklahoma
- Emporia, Kansas
- Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
- Grand Lake Towne, Oklahoma
- Hartford, Kansas
- Humboldt, Kansas
- Iola, Kansas
- Langley, Oklahoma
- Le Roy, Kansas
- Miami, Oklahoma
- Neosho Falls, Kansas
- Neosho Rapids, Kansas
- Oswego, Kansas
- Parkerville, Kansas
- Pensacola, Oklahoma
- Pin Oak Acres, Oklahoma
- Salina, Oklahoma
Variant names
According to the
Geographic Names Information System, the Neosho River has also been known as:
- Grand River
- Le Grande Riviere
- Nee Ozho River
- Neozhoo River
- Ni-u-sho River
- Niocho River
- Nion-chou River
- Noshow River
- Osage River
- Rio Blanco
- Six Bulls River
See also
Rivers of Kansas | Rivers of Oklahoma