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The Raccoon River is a tributary
Tributary

A tributary is a stream or river which flows into a Mainstem river. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea. Tributaries and the mainstem river serve to drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater by leading the water out into an ocean or some other large body of water....
 of the Des Moines River
Des Moines River

The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately 525 miles long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States....
 in central Iowa
Iowa

The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. As measured from the longest of its three forks, it is 200 mi (322 km) long. Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean....
 of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
.

During the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993

The Great Flood of 1993 was among the most costly and devastating ever to occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages. The hydro graphic basin affected covered around 745 miles in length and 435 miles in width, totaling about 320,000 square miles ....
, the Raccoon River flooded the water treatment
Water purification

This article discusses large scale, municipal water purification. For portable/emergency water purification, see Portable water purification.Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemical and biological contaminants from raw water....
 facility of Des Moines, shutting off the city's supply of drinking water.

Raccoon River flows for much of its length as three streams:

The north and south forks join in Dallas County just west of Van Meter
Van Meter, Iowa

Van Meter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, Iowa, along the Raccoon River. The population was 866 at the 2000 census. Major league baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller is a native of Van Meter and operates a museum in the town....
, and the Raccoon River flows generally eastwardly into Polk County
Polk County, Iowa

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 374,601. The 2007 estimate was 418,339. Its county seat is Des Moines, Iowa, which is also the capital city of Iowa....
, past Walnut Woods State Park
Walnut Woods State Park

Walnut Woods State Park is a park in Polk County Iowa, in suburban West Des Moines. It is next to the Raccoon River. Its coordinates are 41.542 N, and 93.743 W....
 and West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa

West Des Moines is a city in Polk County, Iowa, Dallas County, Iowa, and Warren County, Iowa counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents....
.






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Encyclopedia


The Raccoon River is a tributary
Tributary

A tributary is a stream or river which flows into a Mainstem river. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea. Tributaries and the mainstem river serve to drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater by leading the water out into an ocean or some other large body of water....
 of the Des Moines River
Des Moines River

The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately 525 miles long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States....
 in central Iowa
Iowa

The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. As measured from the longest of its three forks, it is 200 mi (322 km) long. Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean....
 of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico....
.

During the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993

The Great Flood of 1993 was among the most costly and devastating ever to occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages. The hydro graphic basin affected covered around 745 miles in length and 435 miles in width, totaling about 320,000 square miles ....
, the Raccoon River flooded the water treatment
Water purification

This article discusses large scale, municipal water purification. For portable/emergency water purification, see Portable water purification.Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemical and biological contaminants from raw water....
 facility of Des Moines, shutting off the city's supply of drinking water.

Course

The Raccoon River flows for much of its length as three streams:
  • The North Raccoon River is substantially the longest of the three. It rises north of Marathon
    Marathon, Iowa

    Marathon is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, Iowa, United States. The population was 302 at the 2000 census. The food writer Richard Olney grew up in Marathon....
     in northeastern Buena Vista County
    Buena Vista County, Iowa

    Buena Vista County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named for the final victory field of General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War....
     and initially flows southwardly into Sac County
    Sac County, Iowa

    Sac County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 11,529. Its county seat is Sac City, Iowa....
    , where it turns southeastward for the remainder of its course through Calhoun
    Calhoun County, Iowa

    Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 11,115. Its county seat is Rockwell City, Iowa....
    , Carroll
    Carroll County, Iowa

    Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence....
    , Greene
    Greene County, Iowa

    Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named in honor of General Nathanael Greene. As of 2000, the population was 10,366....
     and Dallas
    Dallas County, Iowa

    Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 40,750. Its county seat is Adel, Iowa. It was named for George M....
     Counties. It passes the towns of Sac City
    Sac City, Iowa

    Sac City is a city in Sac County, Iowa, Iowa, United States, situated on the rolling hills along the valley of the Raccoon River, in one of the prime agricultural regions of the United States....
    , Jefferson
    Jefferson, Iowa

    Jefferson is a city in Greene County, Iowa, Iowa, United States, along the Raccoon River. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County, Iowa....
    , Perry
    Perry, Iowa

    Perry is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, Iowa, United States, along the Raccoon River. The population was 7,633 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines, Iowa–West Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines metropolitan area....
     and Adel
    Adel, Iowa

    Adel is a city along the Raccoon River in Dallas County, Iowa in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 3,435 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Dallas County, Iowa and the birthplace of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick....
    .
  • The South Raccoon River, about 50 mi (80 km) long, rises in northeastern Audubon County
    Audubon County, Iowa

    Audubon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 6,830. Its county seat is Audubon, Iowa....
     and flows generally southeastwardly through Guthrie
    Guthrie County, Iowa

    Guthrie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 11,353. Its county seat is Guthrie Center, Iowa, and it is one of the five counties that make up the Des Moines, Iowa–West Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines metropolitan area....
     and Dallas Counties, past the town of Guthrie Center
    Guthrie Center, Iowa

    Guthrie Center is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, Iowa, United States, along the Raccoon River. The population was 1,668 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Guthrie County, Iowa....
    .
  • The Middle Raccoon River, 76 mi (122 km) long, rises in northwestern Carroll County and flows generally southeastwardly through Guthrie and Dallas Counties, past Carroll
    Carroll, Iowa

    Carroll is a city in Carroll County, Iowa, Iowa, United States, along the Raccoon River. The population was 10,106 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County....
    , Coon Rapids
    Coon Rapids, Iowa

    Coon Rapids is a city in Carroll County, Iowa and Guthrie County, Iowa counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,305 at the 2000 census....
    , Springbrook State Park, Panora
    Panora, Iowa

    Panora is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines, Iowa–West Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines metropolitan area....
     and Redfield
    Redfield, Iowa

    Redfield is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, Iowa, United States, along the Raccoon River. The population was 833 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines, Iowa–West Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines metropolitan area....
    . A dam
    Dam

    A dam is a barrier that Reservoirs surface water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates, levees, and Dike are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions....
     in Guthrie County causes the river to form Lake Panorama. It flows into the South Raccoon River about 1 mi (2 km) south of Redfield.


The north and south forks join in Dallas County just west of Van Meter
Van Meter, Iowa

Van Meter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, Iowa, along the Raccoon River. The population was 866 at the 2000 census. Major league baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller is a native of Van Meter and operates a museum in the town....
, and the Raccoon River flows generally eastwardly into Polk County
Polk County, Iowa

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 374,601. The 2007 estimate was 418,339. Its county seat is Des Moines, Iowa, which is also the capital city of Iowa....
, past Walnut Woods State Park
Walnut Woods State Park

Walnut Woods State Park is a park in Polk County Iowa, in suburban West Des Moines. It is next to the Raccoon River. Its coordinates are 41.542 N, and 93.743 W....
 and West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa

West Des Moines is a city in Polk County, Iowa, Dallas County, Iowa, and Warren County, Iowa counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents....
. It joins the Des Moines River just south of downtown Des Moines.

See also

  • List of Iowa rivers
    List of Iowa rivers

    The following is a list of rivers in Iowa. The rivers are listed by multiple arrangements:*those that form part of the boundaries of the U.S. state of Iowa;...


Sources

  • DeLorme
    DeLorme

    DeLorme is a leading provider of business-to-business and consumer mapping and GPS products and technologies based in Yarmouth, Maine, Maine, United States....
     (1998). Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-214-5.
  • GNIS entries for , , ,