James River (Dakotas)

The James River is a very long river. It flows through two states. It sits in North and South Dakota. The land there is very flat.

The river flows into the Missouri River. It starts in North Dakota. Then it moves into South Dakota. It is the only river to cross all of South Dakota.

Sometimes the river flows the wrong way. This happens when other water flows in fast. It can also flood after heavy rain.

Look at the old map. It shows where the river is. The river is a special part of the land.

The James River is a long river in the United States. It flows through North Dakota and South Dakota. It is about 710 miles long. The river flows into the Missouri River. Most of the river area is in South Dakota.

The land around the river is very flat. This area was made by ice long ago. Large sheets of ice moved across the land. This left a narrow space for the river. Because the land is flat, the river does not drop much.

Sometimes, the river flows backward. This is called reverse flow. This happens when other water flows in very fast. It often happens north of Huron, South Dakota.

The river can also flood. This happens after heavy rain or melting snow. The low banks let the water spread out.

People have used many names for this river. The Sioux people called it the unnavigable river. A French trader named it Riviere aux Jacques. Later, English speakers called it the James River.

The map shows where the river sits near old lands.

The James River is a long and important river. It is a tributary of the Missouri River. This means it flows into the Missouri. The river is about 710 miles long. It drains a large area of 20,653 square miles. Most of this area sits in South Dakota. About 70 percent of the water area is there. The river also flows through North Dakota.

The river flows through a very flat area. This land sits between two plateau regions. These plateaus are named the Missouri Coteau and the Coteau des Prairies. A large ice sheet once moved over this land. This was during the last ice age. The ice was called the James lobe. It left a narrow space for the river. This narrow shape means the river has few large tributaries.

Because the land is flat, the river is special. It does not drop much in height. This low gradient can cause reverse flow. This is when water flows backward. It happens when other water flows in very fast. This often occurs north of Huron, South Dakota. The river can also flood quite easily. This happens after heavy rains or melting snow. The low banks let the water spread out.

The river starts in Wells County, North Dakota. It flows past the town of Jamestown. A large reservoir called the Jamestown Dam is there. The Pipestem River joins the James near Jamestown. It then enters Brown County in South Dakota. Two more reservoirs sit near Aberdeen. The Elm River joins it at Columbia. The river passes through Huron and Mitchell. Finally, it joins the Missouri near Yankton.

Many people have given this river different names. The Sioux language called it Itázipokakse Wakpa. This means the unnavigable river. A French trader named it Riviere aux Jacques in 1794. Later, English speakers called it the James River. In 1861, the Dakota Territory Organic Act changed its name. They called it the Dakota River for a short time. However, most people kept using the name James River.

The James River is a significant waterway in the United States. It is a tributary of the Missouri River. A tributary is a smaller river that flows into a larger one. This river is approximately 710 miles long. It drains a massive area of 20,653 square miles. Most of this drainage area sits within the state of South Dakota. Specifically, about 70 percent of the area is in South Dakota. The rest of the watershed is located in North Dakota.

The geography of the river is shaped by ancient ice. The river flows through a flat lowland area. This area sits between two plateau regions. These plateaus are named the Missouri Coteau and the Coteau des Prairies. During the last ice age, a massive ice sheet moved through this region. This ice sheet was called the James lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The movement of this ice formed a narrow space between the plateaus. Because of this shape, the river watershed is slender. As a result, the river has very few major tributaries.

The physical behavior of the river is quite unique. The James River has a very low gradient. A gradient is the slope or steepness of the land. Because the land is so flat, the river does not drop much in height. This low slope can cause a phenomenon called reverse flow. Reverse flow happens when water from other sources flows in very quickly. This high inflow can push the James River water backward. This can cause the river to flow upstream for several miles. This event happens most frequently north of Huron, South Dakota.

The river follows a specific path through two states. It begins in Wells County, North Dakota. It starts about 10 miles northwest of Fessenden. The river flows briefly east toward New Rockford. Then, it flows south-southeast through eastern North Dakota. It passes the town of Jamestown. At Jamestown, the river is impounded by the Jamestown Dam. This creates a large reservoir. The Pipestem River joins the James at this location. The river then enters Brown County in northeastern South Dakota.

In South Dakota, the river continues its southward journey. Near Aberdeen, the river is impounded to form two reservoirs. At the town of Columbia, the Elm River joins the James. The river flows south past the cities of Huron and Mitchell. Near Mitchell, the Firesteel Creek joins the main river. The James River is special because it flows fully across South Dakota. It is the only river besides the Missouri to do so. Finally, the river joins the Missouri River just east of Yankton.

Water conditions on the river change depending on the season. In normal years, the river and its tributaries can be very still. However, the river is also prone to flooding. Floods often happen after heavy rains or during snowmelt. Because the river has low banks, water can easily breach them. When this happens, floods cover a significant portion of the floodplain. It is also noted that when the river is still, the water quality drops.

The history of the river involves many different names. In the Sioux language, it was called Itázipokakse Wakpa. This name means "unnavigable river" or "Bow Cutting River." In 1794, a French trader named Jean Trudeau called it Riviere aux Jacques. This name was later anglicized to the James River. When the Dakota Territory was incorporated, local English speakers used that name. In 1861, the Dakota Territory Organic Act officially renamed it the Dakota River. This new name did not become popular. Most people continued to use the name James River.