- Mackinaw River
The Mackinaw River, also called "Mackinac River", is a river located in the
U.S. state ofIllinois . It flows through what was once the GrandePrairie region of Central Illinois. This region is now a zone of intensive cropfarm ing, and high-productivity farming techniques have extensively altered the river from its natural state.The headwaters of the river are located near
Sibley, Illinois , in western Ford County. Flowing west through McLean County, the Mackinaw River provides drainage to part of theBloomington-Normal metropolitan area.The Mackinaw River then flows west through Woodford County before turning southwest and draining much of Tazewell County. The river's course describes several bends and meanders typical of alluvial rivers before flowing northwards into the
Illinois River just south ofPekin, Illinois .A parcel of Mackinaw River hillside land, in far eastern Tazewell County just east of Mackinaw, Illinois, is preserved as the
Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area , a state game preserve.Most central Illinois towns and cities were founded as a result of transportation on local
railroad s, not rivers. Even though this river drains much of three counties, only one town of any size,Mackinaw, Illinois , is actually located on the Mackinaw River.It is believed that the Mackinaw River was named in the early 1800s in honor of an unnamed fur trader from
Mackinac Island, Michigan who traded goods at or near the river.ee also
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List of Illinois rivers References
*Gnis|403283
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