Knife River
Encyclopedia
Knife River (disambiguation)
-Rivers:*The Knife River, a tributary of Lake Superior in Minnesota in the United States*The Knife River, a tributary of the Snake River in Minnesota in the United States*The Knife River in North Dakota in the United States...
The Knife 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 120 mi (193 km) long, in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
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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It rises in west central North Dakota, in the Killdeer Mountain
Killdeer Mountain
-External links:* *...
s in Billings County
Billings County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:* Little Missouri National Grassland * Theodore Roosevelt National Park -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 888 people, 366 households, and 255 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.79 people per square mile . There were 529 housing...
. It flows east, and is joined by Spring Creek
Spring Creek (North Dakota)
Spring Creek is a tributary of the Knife River, approximately 50 mi long, in western North Dakota in the United States.It rises in the Killdeer Mountains, in Dunn County, and flows east across the prairie country, past Killdeer, Dunn Center, Halliday, and Zap. It joins the Knife near Beulah....
near Beulah
Beulah, North Dakota
At the 2000 census, there were 3,152 people, 1,213 households, and 851 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,307.8 inhabitants per square mile . There were 1,475 housing units at an average density of 612.0 per square mile...
. It joins the Missouri north of Stanton
Stanton, North Dakota
Stanton is a city in Mercer County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Mercer County. The population was 366 at the 2010 census. Stanton was founded in 1883 and became the county seat when Mercer County organized in 1884....
, at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, which was established in 1974, preserves the historic and archaeological remnants of the Northern Plains Indians. This area was a major trading and agricultural area. There were three villages that occupied the Knife area. In general, these...
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Much of the terrain surrounding the river valley still remains in native grasslands, supporting many species of wildlife, including Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Coyote, Fox, Native Grouse, Pheasant, etc. Many of the small tributaries such as the Little Knife support local farms and ranches; some have been family owned for over 100 years. Some of the larger ranches include the Circle Five Ranch, Dressler Ranch, and Greenshield Ranch.
See also
