| Broad River | |
|---|---|
 The Broad River nearBlacksburg, South Carolina | |
 Map of theSantee River watershed showing the Broad River. | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina,South Carolina |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Black Mountain,Buncombe County,North Carolina |
| • elevation | 2,890 ft (880 m) |
| Mouth | Congaree River |
• location | Columbia,Richland County,South Carolina |
• elevation | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Length | 150 mi (240 km) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Congaree River,Columbia, South Carolina |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Broad →Congaree →Santee →Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Broad River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Little River,Green River |
| • right | Pacolet River,Enoree River |
TheBroad River is a principaltributary of theCongaree River, about 150 miles (240 km) long,[1] in westernNorth Carolina and northernSouth Carolina in theUnited States. Via the Congaree, it is part of thewatershed of theSantee River, which flows to theAtlantic Ocean.[2]
The Broad River originates in theBlue Ridge Mountains of easternBuncombe County, North Carolina[3] and flows generally south-southeastwardly, through or along the boundaries ofRutherford,Polk andCleveland Counties in North Carolina;[4] andCherokee,York,Union,Chester,Fairfield,Newberry andRichland Counties in South Carolina.[2] In North Carolina, the river isdammed to formLake Lure;[4] in South Carolina it passes through theSumter National Forest and the communities ofCherokee Falls andLockhart before joining theSaluda River to form theCongaree River in the city ofColumbia.[2]
Principal tributaries of the Broad River include theGreen,Second Broad andFirst Broad Rivers in North Carolina ; and theBowens,[4]Pacolet,Sandy,Tyger,Enoree andLittle Rivers in South Carolina.[2]
This is an incomplete list of dams starting atLake Lure and moving downstream
North Carolina
South Carolina
The Broad River is crossed several times by many highways (Note: this list at times may be incomplete)
North Carolina
US 64 /US 74 Alt.
NC 108 (Tryon Road)US 74
US 221US 221 Alt.
NC 150 (Gaffney Road)South Carolina
According to theGeographic Names Information System, the Broad River has also been known as[5]
It was also known in colonial times as the English Broad River to distinguish it from theFrench Broad River which also originates in western North Carolina, but flows northwest.
The present name is descriptive of the river's width.[6]
The portion of the river upstream of Lake Lure, nearChimney Rock, is commonly known as the Rocky Broad River by locals.[7] In 2024, the river experienced severe flooding duringHurricane Helene, which caused severe damage to surrounding communities.
34°00′26″N81°03′33″W / 34.007356°N 81.059137°W /34.007356; -81.059137
