<P> The river rises from several short headstreams in southern McLean County that arise from a glacial moraine southeast of Bloomington - Normal , Illinois . Part of the moraine is publicly owned as the Moraine View State Recreation Area . The river 's course forms a large arc through central Illinois , first flowing east into Champaign County , Illinois , south through Mahomet , then west through Monticello and Decatur , then turning northwest to flow along the north side of Springfield . It receives Salt Creek at 40 ° 7 ′ 33.24 '' N 89 ° 49 ′ 30.36 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 40.1259000 ° N 89.8251000 ° W ﻿ / 40.1259000 ; - 89.8251000 , approximately 25 miles ( 40 km ) north - northwest of Springfield ; then the river turns west , forming the southern boundary of Mason County with Menard and Cass counties . It joins the Illinois River from the east just north of Beardstown . </P>
<P> The river rises from several short headstreams in southern McLean County that arise from a glacial moraine southeast of Bloomington - Normal , Illinois . Part of the moraine is publicly owned as the Moraine View State Recreation Area . The river 's course forms a large arc through central Illinois , first flowing east into Champaign County , Illinois , south through Mahomet , then west through Monticello and Decatur , then turning northwest to flow along the north side of Springfield . It receives Salt Creek at 40 ° 7 ′ 33.24 '' N 89 ° 49 ′ 30.36 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 40.1259000 ° N 89.8251000 ° W ﻿ / 40.1259000 ; - 89.8251000 , approximately 25 miles ( 40 km ) north - northwest of Springfield ; then the river turns west , forming the southern boundary of Mason County with Menard and Cass counties . It joins the Illinois River from the east just north of Beardstown . </P>
where does the sangamon river start and end
where does the sangamon river start and end
southeast of Bloomington - Normal , Illinois north of Beardstown
southeast of Bloomington - Normal , Illinois north of Beardstown