The White River is a tributary of the Salt River in the U.S. state of

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

. Formed by two forks that drain part of the White Mountains, it begins in

Navajo County Navajo County is in the northern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, its population was 106,717. The county seat is Holbrook. Navajo County comprises the Show Low, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area. Navajo County c ...

and ends in

Gila County Gila County ( ) is in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272. The county seat is Globe. Gila County comprises the Payson, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area. Gila County contains p ...

, where it meets the Black River to form the Salt River. The White River lies entirely within the

Fort Apache Indian Reservation The Fort Apache Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation on the border of New Mexico and Arizona, United States, encompassing parts of Navajo, Gila, and Apache counties. It is home to the federally recognized White Mountain Apache Tribe of ...

in the east-central part of the state. The North Fork White River and the East Fork White River merge near Fort Apache to form the

main stem In hydrology, a mainstem (or trunk) is "the primary downstream segment of a river, as contrasted to its tributaries". Water enters the mainstem from the river's drainage basin, the land area through which the mainstem and its tributaries flow.. A ...

, which continues generally southwest to its confluence with the Black River. The North Fork is long, and the East Fork is long. Originating near the

Mogollon Rim The Mogollon Rim ( or or ) is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately , starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border ...

, the North Fork flows generally west through Apache County to near McNary and then south through Navajo County to near Fort Apache. The East Fork flows generally west from near Mount Baldy in Apache County to the confluence with the North Fork near Fort Apache. According to ''Arizona Place Names'', the river and its forks take their name from the White Mountains, "as nearly as can be determined". The origin of name of the mountains is "probably lost", but "White Mountains" was used by the state's governor in a speech in 1871.Barnes, p. 483 An earlier Spanish-language alternative name for the stream was ''Sierra Blanca River''.

References

{{authority control Rivers of Arizona Rivers of Navajo County, Arizona Rivers of Gila County, Arizona White Mountains (Arizona) Tributaries of the Salt River (Arizona)

See also

References