The St. Francis River is a lengthy river in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas. It is a tributary of the Mississippi River and runs for about 426 miles. The river flows through mostly rural areas and also forms part of the Missouri-Arkansas state line. The St. Francis River begins in the granite mountains of Missouri and flows southwards through the Ozarks and St. Francois Mountains. It forms the Missouri-Arkansas border and eventually joins the Mississippi River. Along its course, it passes through various towns and natural areas, including Lake Wappapello and the Mark Twain National Forest. It is also joined by several tributaries, including the Little River and the L'Anguille River. The St. Francis River became home to Cherokee Indians after they attacked a boat on the Tennessee River in 1794. The Spanish authorities allowed the Indian settlement to trade, leading to a flourishing population that exceeded that of Arkansas Post. The origin of the St. Francis River's name is unclear, but it may have been named by Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit, when he explored its mouth in 1673. The spelling of the name shifted from "François" to "Francis" in the early 20th century. The United States Board on Geographic Names officially named it "St. Francis River" in 1899.

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