Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary)

Last updated
Vermilion River
Vermilion wabashrivermap.png
Map of the Vermilion River (including the Salt, Middle, and North forks) highlighted within the Wabash River watershed.
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Confluence of the Middle Fork and Salt Fork west of Danville, Illinois
  coordinates 40°06′13″N87°43′01″W / 40.1036474°N 87.716968°W / 40.1036474; -87.716968 (Vermilion River origin)
Mouth  
  location
Wabash River northeast of Cayuga, Indiana
  coordinates
39°57′31″N87°26′24″W / 39.9586493°N 87.4400157°W / 39.9586493; -87.4400157 (Vermilion River mouth) Coordinates: 39°57′31″N87°26′24″W / 39.9586493°N 87.4400157°W / 39.9586493; -87.4400157 (Vermilion River mouth)
  elevation
472 ft (144 m)
Length28.4 miles (45.7 km) [1]
Discharge 
  location Danville, Illinois
  average1,078 cu/ft. per sec. [2]
Basin features
ProgressionVermilion River → WabashOhioMississippiGulf of Mexico
Tributaries 
  left Middle Fork, North Fork
  right Salt Fork
GNIS ID 445248
Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap  
Download coordinates as: KML

The Vermilion River is a tributary of the Wabash River in the states of Illinois and Indiana, United States. [3]

Contents

There are two "Vermilion Rivers" in Illinois. The Wabash tributary flows south, while the other Vermilion River flows north to the Illinois River. There are also two Little Vermilion rivers, one flowing into the Wabash River and one into the Illinois.

The north-flowing Vermilion River and the south-flowing Middle Fork Vermilion River lie along a straight line connecting Oglesby and Danville. The two rivers drain what was once an upland marsh near Roberts. The two rivers have been extended by drainage ditches so that they nearly connect at their headwaters. The rivers may share a common name because early settlers regarded them as a single river that flowed two directions. The rivers may have served as a canoe route between the Illinois River and Wabash River, with a portage through the marshes near Roberts.

Tributaries

The main tributaries of the Vermilion River join near Danville:

The Vermilion starts with the confluence of the Salt Fork and Middle Fork, to be joined by the North Fork approximately 5 miles (8 km) downstream.

The Salt Fork is the western tributary. It arises north of Urbana, flowing east toward Danville. It was named for the saline springs in its lower reaches. When settlers first arrived in the area, the saline springs were the basis of the dominant industry.

The Middle Fork arises near Roberts, and flows southeast toward Danville. The Middle Fork is notable as the only river in Illinois designated as a National Wild and Scenic River by United States National Park Service. This scenic stream flows through Kickapoo State Park near Danville and is a favorite of Illinois canoeists.

The North Fork arises in Indiana to the northeast of Hoopeston, Illinois. It flows south and southwest toward Danville.

From Danville, the Vermilion River flows to its confluence with the Wabash River to the east of the Illinois/Indiana border.

Cities and counties

The following cities, towns and villages are among those in the Vermilion River watershed:

Portions of the following counties are drained by the Vermilion River:

See also

Related Research Articles

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White River (Indiana)

The White River is an American two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is 362 miles (583 km) long. Indiana's capital, Indianapolis, is located on the river. The two forks meet just north of Petersburg and empty into the Wabash River at Mount Carmel, Illinois.

Vermilion River or Vermillion River or Vermillon River may refer to:

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Saline River (Illinois) River in Illinois, United States

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Boneyard Creek is a 3.3-mile-long (5.3 km) waterway that drains much of the cities of Champaign and Urbana, Illinois. It is a tributary of the Saline Branch of the Salt Fork Vermilion River, which is a tributary of the south-flowing Vermilion River and the Wabash River. The creek flows through the northern sections of the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The newsletter of the university's ACM chapter is Banks of the Boneyard, named after the creek.

Vermilion River (Illinois River tributary)

The Vermilion River is a 74.8-mile-long (120.4 km) tributary of the Illinois River in the state of Illinois, United States. The river flows north, in contrast to a second Vermilion River in Illinois, which flows south to the Wabash River. The Illinois and Wabash rivers each have a tributary named the Little Vermilion River as well.

The Little Vermilion River is a 59.6-mile-long (95.9 km) tributary of the Wabash River. The Little Vermilion rises in southern Vermilion County, Illinois, flowing eastward past Georgetown, Illinois, into Vermillion County, Indiana, where it joins the Wabash near Newport.

Middle Fork Vermilion River River

The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is a tributary of the Vermilion River in Illinois. The Middle Fork rises in Ford County and flows southeast to join the Vermilion near Danville.

Salt Fork Vermilion River

The Salt Fork is a tributary of the Vermilion River located in the Central Corn Belt Plains of Illinois.

Sidney Township, Champaign County, Illinois Township in Illinois, United States

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Urbana Township, Champaign County, Illinois Township in Illinois, United States

Urbana Township is a township in Champaign County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 7,451 and it contained 3,435 housing units.

This article is a timeline of Vermilion County, Illinois history.

The Saline Branch, or Saline Branch Ditch, is a tributary of the Vermilion River in east central Illinois. It drains a parcel of east-central Champaign County, including most of the city of Urbana, Illinois and the University of Illinois campus within Urbana.

References

  1. "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved Feb 8, 2011.
  2. "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 03339000 VERMILION RIVER NEAR DANVILLE, IL".
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Vermilion River