The Bad River is a tributary of the Missouri River

Missouri River

The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...

, approximately 161 miles (259.1 km) long, in central South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

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The river is formed at Philip, South Dakota

Philip, South Dakota

Philip is a city in Haakon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 779 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Haakon County.-Geography:Philip is located at ....

, by the confluence of its North and South forks. The North Fork Bad River rises in eastern Pennington County

Pennington County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 88,565 people, 34,641 households, and 23,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 37,249 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...

 and flows 51 miles (82.1 km) east-southeast to Philip, while the South Fork Bad River rises at the confluence of Whitewater Creek and Big Buffalo Creek in Jackson County

Jackson County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,930 people, 945 households, and 675 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,173 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...

, within the Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Buffalo Gap National Grassland is a National Grassland located primarily in southwestern South Dakota, United States. It is also the second largest National Grassland. Characteristics of the grasslands include mixed prairie and chalky badlands. The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service...

, and flows 36 miles (57.9 km) northeast to Philip. The main stem of the Bad River flows east-northeast from Philip, passing Midland

Midland, South Dakota

Midland is a town in Haakon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 129 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Midland is located at ....

 and Capa. It joins the Missouri at Fort Pierre

Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Fort Pierre is a city in Stanley County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Pierre, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,078 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stanley County. Lily Park, in Fort Pierre, is situated at the mouth of the Bad River. The...

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The river basin is noted for deposits of manganese

Manganese

Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...

 and fuller's earth

Fuller's earth

Fuller's earth is any non-plastic clay or claylike earthy material used to decolorize, filter, and purify animal, mineral, and vegetable oils and greases.-Occurrence and composition:...

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