Download coordinates as: The Black River is a tributary of the White River, about 300 miles (480 km) long,[2] in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States.

[4] The Black River rises in Missouri as three streams: The headwaters forks converge near Lesterville, and the Black River flows generally southwardly through Reynolds, Wayne and Butler Counties in Missouri; and Clay, Randolph and Lawrence Counties in Arkansas.

In its lowermost course the river is used to define the boundary between Independence and Jackson Counties.

It flows past the towns of Mill Spring, Williamsville and Poplar Bluff in Missouri; and Pocahontas, Black Rock, and Powhatan in Arkansas.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam in Wayne County, Missouri, causes the river to form Clearwater Lake.