Keya Paha River
Encyclopedia
The Keya Paha River is a river flowing 127 miles (204.4 km) through the U.S. state
s of South Dakota
and Nebraska
.
The name is derived from the Dakota language
ke'-ya pa-ha, meaning "turtle hill". The river's name was given to Keya Paha County, Nebraska
, through which it flows.
The river originates in Todd County in south central South Dakota, at the confluence of Antelope Creek and Rock Creek near the town of Hidden Timber. It flows in a generally southeasterly direction through Todd and Tripp
counties in South Dakota and then through Keya Paha and Boyd
counties in Nebraska. It ends at its confluence with the Niobrara River
about 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Butte, Nebraska
.
In 1861, the border between the Nebraska
and Dakota
territories followed the Keya Paha River from the 43rd parallel
to the river's confluence with the Niobrara; it then followed the Niobrara to the Missouri. This situation lasted until 1882, when the boundary was changed to follow the 43rd parallel all the way to the Missouri; the change added portions of Keya Paha and Boyd counties to Nebraska.
in Boyd County, the river's mean discharge was 138.6 cuft/s. The maximum mean annual discharge was 389.4 cuft/s, recorded in 1962; the minimum mean annual discharge was 44.5 cuft/s, recorded in 1976. The peak flow recorded at that point was 9280 cuft/s, registered on July 1, 1962. From July 22 to July 30, 1976, the discharge was recorded as zero.
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...
s of 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...
and Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
.
The name is derived from the Dakota language
Dakota language
Dakota is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Sioux tribes. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lakota language.-Dialects:...
ke'-ya pa-ha, meaning "turtle hill". The river's name was given to Keya Paha County, Nebraska
Keya Paha County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 983 people, 409 households, and 292 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile . There were 548 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the county was 99.39%...
, through which it flows.
The river originates in Todd County in south central South Dakota, at the confluence of Antelope Creek and Rock Creek near the town of Hidden Timber. It flows in a generally southeasterly direction through Todd and Tripp
Tripp County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,430 people, 2,550 households, and 1,721 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
counties in South Dakota and then through Keya Paha and Boyd
Boyd County, Nebraska
Boyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2010, the population is 2,099. Its county seat is Butte.In the Nebraska license plate system, Boyd County is represented by the prefix 63 .-Geography:According to the U.S...
counties in Nebraska. It ends at its confluence with the Niobrara River
Niobrara River
The Niobrara River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, running through the U.S. states of Wyoming and Nebraska. The river drains one of the most arid sections of the Great Plains, and has a low flow for a river of its length...
about 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Butte, Nebraska
Butte, Nebraska
Butte is a village in Boyd County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 366 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Boyd County.- Geography :Butte is located at ....
.
In 1861, the border between the Nebraska
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
and Dakota
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
territories followed the Keya Paha River from the 43rd parallel
43rd parallel north
The 43rd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 43 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
to the river's confluence with the Niobrara; it then followed the Niobrara to the Missouri. This situation lasted until 1882, when the boundary was changed to follow the 43rd parallel all the way to the Missouri; the change added portions of Keya Paha and Boyd counties to Nebraska.
Discharge
At a gaging station south of NaperNaper, Nebraska
Naper is a village in Boyd County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 105 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Naper is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
in Boyd County, the river's mean discharge was 138.6 cuft/s. The maximum mean annual discharge was 389.4 cuft/s, recorded in 1962; the minimum mean annual discharge was 44.5 cuft/s, recorded in 1976. The peak flow recorded at that point was 9280 cuft/s, registered on July 1, 1962. From July 22 to July 30, 1976, the discharge was recorded as zero.