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Broad River (Carolinas)

{{short description|River in North and South Carolina, United States}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Broad River

| name_native =

| name_native_lang =

| name_other =

| name_etymology =

| image = Broad_River.jpg

| image_caption = The Broad River near Blacksburg, South Carolina

| map = Santeerivermap.png

| map_size = 300px

| map_caption = Map of the Santee River watershed showing the Broad River.

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_size = 300px

| pushpin_map_caption =

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 6

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = United States

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = North Carolina, South Carolina

| subdivision_type3 =

| subdivision_name3 =

| subdivision_type4 =

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| subdivision_type5 =

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| length = {{convert|150|mi|km|abbr=on}}

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max =

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

| depth_max =

| discharge1_location= Congaree River, Columbia, South Carolina

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg =

| discharge1_max =

| source1 =

| source1_location = Black Mountain, Buncombe County, North Carolina

| source1_coordinates=

| source1_elevation = {{convert|2890|ft|abbr=on}}

| mouth = Congaree River

| mouth_location = Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

| mouth_coordinates =

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|128|ft|abbr=on}}

| progression = Broad → Congaree → Santee → Atlantic Ocean

| river_system = Broad River

| basin_size =

| tributaries_left = Little River, Green River

| tributaries_right = Pacolet River, Enoree River

| custom_label =

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}}

The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles (240 km) long,Houghton Mifflin Company (1997). The Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Geography. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. {{ISBN|0-395-86448-8}} in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.DeLorme (1998). South Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. {{ISBN|0-89933-237-4}}

Course

The Broad River originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains of eastern Buncombe County, North Carolina[http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/B/B10503-broad-river.html Columbia Gazetteer of North America entry for Broad River] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051003235636/http://reference.allrefer.com/gazetteer/B/B10503-broad-river.html |date=2005-10-03 }} and flows generally south-southeastwardly, through or along the boundaries of Rutherford, Polk and Cleveland Counties in North Carolina;DeLorme (2001). North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. {{ISBN|0-89933-277-3}} and Cherokee, York, Union, Chester, Fairfield, Newberry and Richland Counties in South Carolina. In North Carolina, the river is dammed to form Lake Lure; in South Carolina it passes through the Sumter National Forest and the communities of Cherokee Falls and Lockhart before joining the Saluda River to form the Congaree River in the city of Columbia.

Principal tributaries of the Broad River include the Green, Second Broad and First Broad Rivers in North Carolina ; and the Bowens, Pacolet, Sandy, Tyger, Enoree and Little Rivers in South Carolina.

Dams

This is an incomplete list of dams starting at Lake Lure and moving downstream

North Carolina

South Carolina

Crossings

The Broad River is crossed several times by many highways (Note: this list at times may be incomplete)

North Carolina

  • Rutherford County
  • {{jct|state=NC|US|64|US-Alt|74|dab2=Asheville–Forest City}}
  • {{jct|state=NC|NC|108|name1=Tryon Road}}
  • Grays Road
  • Union Road
  • {{jct|state=NC|US|74}}
  • Poors Ford Road
  • Big Island Road
  • Jack McKinney Road
  • {{jct|state=NC|US|221}}
  • {{jct|country=USA|US-Alt|221|dab1=Chesnee–Rutherfordton}}
  • Cleveland County
  • {{jct|state=NC|NC|150|name1=Gaffney Road}}

South Carolina

  • Gaffney/Cherokee County
  • {{jct|state=SC|SC|18|name1=Shelby Highway}}
  • {{jct|state=SC|I|85}}
  • {{jct|state=SC|US|29|name1=Cherokee Avenue}}
  • {{jct|state=SC|SC|211|name1=Hickory Grove Road}}
  • Chester and Union Counties
  • {{jct|state=SC|SC|9|SC|49|name2=Pinkney Road}} in Lockhart
  • {{jct|state=SC|SC|72|SC|215}} in Carlisle
  • Fairfield and Newberry Counties
  • {{jct|state=SC|SC|34|name1=Newberry Road}}
  • {{jct|state=SC|SC|213|name1=Parr Road}} in Peak
  • Columbia
  • {{jct|state=SC|I|20}}
  • {{jct|state=SC|US|176|name1=Broad River Road}}
  • {{jct|state=SC|I|126}}

Variant names

According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Broad River has also been known as{{Gnis|1251826|Broad River}}

  • Eswa Huppeday
  • Eswawpuddenah
  • Line River
  • Main Broad River
  • Eswan Happedaw

It was also known in colonial times as the English Broad River to distinguish it from the French Broad River which also originates in western North Carolina, but flows northwest.

The present name is descriptive of the river's width.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19350623&id=d0YsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tcoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3793,4546622&hl=en | title=Names of Union Streams Have Interesting History | newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal | date=22 June 1935 | accessdate=22 April 2015 | author=Lake, William C. | pages=A1}}

The portion of the river upstream of Lake Lure, near Chimney Rock, is commonly known as the Rocky Broad River by locals.{{Cite web |title=American Whitewater |url=https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1120/main |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=www.americanwhitewater.org |language=en}} In 2024, the river experienced severe flooding during Hurricane Helene, which caused severe damage to surrounding communities.

See also

References

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|34.007356|-81.059137|type:river_region:US-SC|display=title}}

Category:Rivers of North Carolina

Category:Rivers of South Carolina

Category:Geography of Columbia, South Carolina