The Hersey River is a stream

Stream

A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...

 in the lower peninsula

Lower Peninsula of Michigan

The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...

 of the U.S. state 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"....

. It rises in Lincoln Township

Lincoln Township, Osceola County, Michigan

Lincoln Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,629.-Communities:...

 in northwest Osceola County

Osceola County, Michigan

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households, and 6,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile . There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...

 at the junction of Hersey Creek and the East Branch Hersey Creek at 43°50′55"N 85°25′59"W. For approximately the first two miles, the river flows southward just east of U.S. Route 131

U.S. Route 131

US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...

. US 131 crosses the river near the northern boundary of Richmond Township

Richmond Township, Osceola County, Michigan

Richmond Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,695 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...

. The river continues southward into Lake No Sho Mo, formed by a dam just south of Nartron Field

Nartron Field

Nartron Field is an airport located 2 miles north of Reed City, Michigan, US.-History:Originally known as Miller Airport, the facility was purchased by Nartron Corporation in the 1970's to house its engineering and manufacturing operations...

 airport. The river continues southward under U.S. Route 10

U.S. Route 10

U.S. Route 10 is an east–west United States highway formed in 1926. Though it never became the cross-country highway suggested by the "0" as the last digit of its route number, U.S...

 into Reed City

Reed City, Michigan

Reed City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,430. It is the county seat of Osceola County.It is the home town of author Timothy James Bazzett.-Geography:...

 and turns to the east, continuing southeastward into the village of Hersey

Hersey, Michigan

Hersey is a village in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 374 at the time of the 2000 census. The village is located within Hersey Township.-History:...

, where it empties into the Muskegon River

Muskegon River

The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan,...

.

Named tributaries

From the mouth:

• (left) Johnson Creek
  • (right) Hewitt Creek
  • (left) Knuth Creek
• (left) Jewitt Creek
• (right) Lawrence Creek
• (right) Lincoln Creek
  • Lincoln Lake
    • Todd Lake
      • Indian Creek
      • Johnson Creek
        • Beaver Dam Lake
• (right) East Branch Hersey Creek
  • (right) Olson Creek
    • Sherwood Lake
      • Sprague Lake
    • (right) Twin Creek
      • Twin Lake
• (left) Hersey Creek
  • (left) Burt Creek
  • (left) Kissinger Creek

Drainage basin

The drainage basin includes all or portions of the following townships and municipalities:

• Osceola County
  Osceola County, Michigan
  -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households, and 6,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile . There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
  
  
  • Cedar Township
    Cedar Township, Michigan
    Cedar Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 406 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
    
    
  • Hersey
    Hersey, Michigan
    Hersey is a village in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 374 at the time of the 2000 census. The village is located within Hersey Township.-History:...
    
    
  • Hersey Township
    Hersey Township, Michigan
    Hersey Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,846 at the 2000 census. The village of Hersey is located within the township.-Geography:...
    
    
  • Le Roy Township
    Le Roy Township, Michigan
    Le Roy Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,159 at the 2000 census. The Village of Le Roy is located within the township.-Geography:...
    
    
  • Lincoln Township
    Lincoln Township, Osceola County, Michigan
    Lincoln Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,629.-Communities:...
    
    
  • Reed City
    Reed City, Michigan
    Reed City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,430. It is the county seat of Osceola County.It is the home town of author Timothy James Bazzett.-Geography:...
    
    
  • Richmond Township
    Richmond Township, Osceola County, Michigan
    Richmond Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,695 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
    
    
  • Rose Lake Township
    Rose Lake Township, Michigan
    Rose Lake Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,231 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
    
    

• Lake County
  Lake County, Michigan
  -Highways:* US 10* M-37-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
  
  
  • Chase Township
    Chase Township, Michigan
    Chase Township is a civil township of Lake County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,194 at the 2000 census.The unincorporated community of Chase is the only significant population center in the township. Chase is located where U.S. Route 10 crosses the Middle Branch of the Pere...
    
    
  • Ellsworth Township
    Ellsworth Township, Michigan
    Ellsworth Township is a civil township of Lake County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 821 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
    
    
  • Pinora Township
    Pinora Township, Michigan
    Pinora Township is a civil township of Lake County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 643 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...