Broad River (Carolinas)

The Broad River originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains of eastern Buncombe County, North Carolina and flows generally south-southeastwardly, through or along the boundaries of Rutherford, Polk and Cleveland Counties in North Carolina; 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 • Lake Lure • Cliffside Steam Station (Duke Energy) on the Border of Rutherford and Cleveland Counties. South Carolina • Gaston Shoals Dam (Gaffney) • Cherokee Falls • Ninety Nine Islands Dam adjacent to the abandoned Cherokee Nuclear Power Plant • Dam and canal at Lockhart • Neal Shoals Dam • Parr Shoals Dam forming Parr Reservoir • Columbia Canal and Dam in Columbia ==Crossings==

The Broad River is crossed several times by many highways (Note: this list at times may be incomplete) North Carolina • Rutherford County • (Local traffic only as of ) • • Grays Road • Union Road • • Poors Ford Road • Big Island Road • Jack McKinney Road • • • Cleveland County • South Carolina • Gaffney/Cherokee County • • • • • Chester and Union Counties • in Lockhart • in Carlisle • Fairfield and Newberry Counties • • in Peak • Columbia • • • ==Variant names==

According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Broad River has also been known as • 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. The portion of the river upstream of Lake Lure, near Chimney Rock, is commonly known as the Rocky Broad River by locals. In 2024, the river experienced severe flooding during Hurricane Helene, which caused major damage to surrounding communities. ==See also==