Little Wabash River

Not to be confused with the Little River of northeastern Indiana..

The Little Wabash River is a 240-mile-long (390 km)^[2][3] tributary of the Wabash River in east-central and southeastern Illinois in the United States. Via the Wabash and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. It is the third largest tributary after the White River and the Embarras River.

Little Wabash River
Map of the Little Wabash River highlighted within the Wabash River watershed
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Coles County west of Mattoon, Illinois
• coordinates	39°28′31″N 88°27′30″W
Mouth
• location	Confluence with the Wabash River near New Haven, Illinois
• coordinates	37°53′27″N 88°05′40″W
• elevation	341 ft (104 m)
Length	242 mi (389 km)
Discharge
• location	Carmi, IL
• average	2,978 cu/ft. per sec.[1]
Basin features
Progression	Little Wabash → Wabash → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico
GNIS ID	412430

West Branch Little Wabash River
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Shelby County southeast of Windsor
• coordinates	39°25′08″N 88°32′46″W
Mouth
• location	Confluence with the Little Wabash River, Shelby County, Illinois
• coordinates	39°17′49″N 88°32′45″W
• elevation	568 ft (173 m)
Basin features
Progression	West Branch → Little Wabash → Wabash → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico
GNIS ID	420792

Course

The Little Wabash rises in Coles County near Mattoon and flows generally southwardly through Shelby, Effingham, Clay, Richland, Wayne, Edwards and White counties, past the towns of Louisville, Golden Gate, Carmi and New Haven. It enters the Wabash River on the common boundary of White and Gallatin counties, about 4 miles (6 km) southeast of New Haven.

In its upper course in Shelby County, the river is dammed to form Lake Mattoon and collects the short West Branch Little Wabash River, which flows for its entire length in Shelby County. Other tributaries include the Fox River, which joins it in Edwards County; the Elm River, which joins it in Wayne County; and the Skillet Fork, which joins it in White County.

See also

• List of Illinois rivers
• Watersheds of Illinois