Belle River (Michigan)
Encyclopedia
The Belle River is a 73.5 miles (118.3 km) river
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
, flowing into the St. Clair River
in Marine City
at 42°42′25"N 82°29′50"W.
The North Branch Belle River rises out of Long Lake at 43°00′50"N 83°08′41"W in section 22 of Attica Township
in southeast Lapeer County
. Long Lake is fed by the Long Lake Drain which drains marshy areas to the south of the lake. From Long Lake, the river flows eastward around the north side of Imlay City
. It is fed by the Hunt, Pennell, and Clark Corner drains on the northeast of Imlay City and turns to the southward where it joins the main branch of the river at 42°59′31"N 83°03′57"W near the intersection of I-69
and M-53
.
The main branch of the Belle River rises in the south of Dryden Township
at 42°53′54"N 83°07′50"W, in a marshy area near the boundary between Lapeer County
and Oakland County
. It flows mostly north and east until joined by the north branch, after which it flows mostly south and east into St. Clair County
. It passes the north side of Memphis
, then turns southeast and passes through the northeast corner of Macomb County
. Interstate 94
crosses the river in the northeast corner of Casco Township
. The river continues east by southeast through China Township
and into East China Township
, where it turns south less than a half mile from the St. Clair River and parallels the St. Clair for a few miles before its mouth in downtown Marine City.
The river's watershed drains portions of Lapeer
, Macomb
, Oakland
, and St. Clair
counties.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, flowing into the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
in Marine City
Marine City, Michigan
Marine City is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the west bank of the St. Clair River, it is one of the cities in the River District north of Detroit and south of Lake Huron. The population was 4,652 at the 2000 census...
at 42°42′25"N 82°29′50"W.
The North Branch Belle River rises out of Long Lake at 43°00′50"N 83°08′41"W in section 22 of Attica Township
Attica Township, Michigan
Attica Township is a civil township of Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,678 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
in southeast Lapeer County
Lapeer County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile . There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
. Long Lake is fed by the Long Lake Drain which drains marshy areas to the south of the lake. From Long Lake, the river flows eastward around the north side of Imlay City
Imlay City, Michigan
Imlay City is a city in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,869 at the 2000 census and 3,597 at the 2010 census.-Education:Imlay City has five public schools and one private school...
. It is fed by the Hunt, Pennell, and Clark Corner drains on the northeast of Imlay City and turns to the southward where it joins the main branch of the river at 42°59′31"N 83°03′57"W near the intersection of I-69
Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
and M-53
M-53 (Michigan highway)
M-53 is a gateway route to The Thumb region of the US state of Michigan, carrying vacationers to the many cottages and resorts located on Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in the vicinity of Caseville and Port Austin. This highway is also used to transport agricultural and manufactured products from the...
.
The main branch of the Belle River rises in the south of Dryden Township
Dryden Township, Michigan
Dryden Township is a civil township of Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,624 at the 2000 census. The village of Dryden is located within the township.-Geography:...
at 42°53′54"N 83°07′50"W, in a marshy area near the boundary between Lapeer County
Lapeer County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile . There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
and Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
. It flows mostly north and east until joined by the north branch, after which it flows mostly south and east into St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
. It passes the north side of Memphis
Memphis, Michigan
Memphis is a city on the line between Macomb and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, then turns southeast and passes through the northeast corner of Macomb County
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
. Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
crosses the river in the northeast corner of Casco Township
Casco Township, St. Clair County, Michigan
Casco Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 4,747.-Communities:...
. The river continues east by southeast through China Township
China Township, Michigan
China Charter Township is a charter township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,340 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and into East China Township
East China Township, Michigan
East China Charter Township is a charter township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,630 at the 2000 census. East China Township is home to the St. Clair and Belle River Power Plants...
, where it turns south less than a half mile from the St. Clair River and parallels the St. Clair for a few miles before its mouth in downtown Marine City.
The river's watershed drains portions of Lapeer
Lapeer County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile . There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
, Macomb
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
, Oakland
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
, and St. Clair
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
counties.