Crooked River (Missouri)

The Crooked River is a tributary of the Missouri River in west-central Missouri in the United States. The stream has also been known historically as "Big Creek," "Little River" and "Tiger River."^[1] The Crooked River was named for its meandering disposition. Big Creek refers to the stream's status as the largest tributary to the Missouri River in the county.^[2]

The Crooked River headwaters arise approximately four miles southeast of Lathrop just east of I-35 in southeastern Clinton County and flows generally southeastwardly through the southwest corner of Caldwell and Ray counties. In southwestern Ray County it collects the short East Fork^[3] and West Fork^[4] and flows into the Missouri River, approximately 4 miles (6 km) south of Hardin and 2.5 miles northeast of Lexington across the Missouri in northern Lafayette County.^[5]