{"id":13278,"date":"2023-11-25T05:35:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T04:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13278"},"modified":"2023-11-25T05:35:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T04:35:54","slug":"is-the-missouri-river-east-of-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/is-the-missouri-river-east-of-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Missouri River East Of The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction<\/h2>\n

The debate over whether the Missouri River is east or west of the Mississippi River has spanned centuries. While there are some clear geographic truths that determine the answer, people have been deep in debates of the matter since the early 1800s. As our understanding of geography has increased, the Missouri River’s position in relationship to the Mississippi River has become somewhat blurred. This article will look to give insight on the debate, provide relevant data and perspectives from experts, and analyze the two rivers’ locations in relation to one another.<\/p>\n

Location Overview<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is a major river in the United States with a total length of approximately 2,340 miles. It flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. The Missouri River, on the other hand, is the longest river in the United States with a total length of around 2,340 miles. It begins at Montana and terminates in Missouri. If you look at a map of the US, you will find that the Missouri River flows immediately to the right of the Mississippi River (north-northwest). Consequently, the Missouri River is considered to be east of the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n

Historical Perspective<\/h2>\n

The debate over whether the Missouri River is east or west of the Mississippi River has existed since the 1800s. At the time, maps of the United States did not include the Missouri River, which meant that it was the opinion of the individual map makers that determined the side of the Mississippi River on which the Missouri River lay. This debate came to a head when supporters of the Union during the Civil War argued that the Missouri River was east of the Mississippi River and that it should be used as the boundary between the Union and the Confederacy. This resulted in the 1854 Missouri-Nebraska Compromise, which declared the Missouri River as the boundary between these two territories. Since then, the Missouri River has been considered to be east of the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n

Geographical Factors<\/h2>\n

Geographically speaking, the Missouri River is east of the Mississippi River. As mentioned above, the Missouri River flows directly north of the Mississippi River and terminates at Missouri, while the Mississippi River terminates at Louisiana. Consequently, the state of Missouri is, technically, east of the Mississippi River by physical standards.<\/p>\n

Analysis<\/h2>\n