Animals living near the river include black bears, beavers, river otters, turtles, salamanders, and a variety of songbirds and raptors. For much of the twentieth century the river was environmentally threatened, but through several public and private initiatives it has recovered and become an important natural and recreational area. The French Broad River drains large portions of the Pisgah National Forest and the Cherokee National Forest before entering the state of Tennessee. The Cherokee Indian traveled along the warpath, which crosses the French Broad river into Northview at River Road and traded with the whites. "The French Broad River is a meandering river, which typically form in relatively flat landscapes. They spill from a 50-foot waterfall called Courthouse Falls at the terminus of Courthouse Creek near Balsam Grove. The river trail presents an opportunity to open up access to these rivers so more people can enjoy them, and realize what a precious resource they are. August 20, 2019 | 5 minute read. One of two rivers in theUnited States that flows north, the French Bro… Asheville, North Carolina — As a trio of kids on inner tubes quietly floated down the French Broad River outside Rosman, North Carolina, a nearby snorkeler broke the river’s surface, disturbing the quiet with a quick clearing of water from his snorkel. The French called the river the Agiqua, borrowing one of the Cherokee names. Wilma Dykeman wrote the book The French Broad (1955) about the river. River in North Carolina and Tennessee, United States, This article is about the river west of the Eastern Continental Divide (ECD) in western North Carolina. The Cherokees had several names for river, including Tah-kee-os-tee or “racing waters,” as well as Poe-li-co, Agiqua, and Zillicoah. The headwaters of the French Broad River spill from a 50-foot waterfall in Transylvania County. This 17-mile Byway starts north of Asheville at I-26 at Exit 19. This is where its North and West Forks merge, beginning its long and north-easterly journey to the Gulf of Mexico. In spring 1955, praise flowed like the French Broad River itself for Wilma Dykeman ’s debut book, The French Broad. We offer a very relaxing and enjoyable vacation for families in our own beautiful dude ranch. French Broad River History & Geography Based on dating of rocks through the course of the river, the French Broad is believed to be one of the oldest rivers in the world. Near Sevierville, at Kodak, the French Broad River receives the flow of the Little Pigeon River, which drains much of the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains. Letter from Jennie Vineyard to N. A. The nearby Broad River was originally named the "English Broad River". At an estimated age of 260–325 million years, the river originated in the Paleozoic Era, predating primitive reptiles, dinosaurs, and mammalian life. While we are unable to perform research for you, we are happy to guide you toward resources. Headwaters Outfitters proudly acknowledges the birth of the French Broad River right at our property, dubbed by the locals as “The Forks of the River.”. The evolution of brachiopods. The Cherokee had different names for different sections of the river, including “Poelico, Agiqua (broad) in the mountains, Tahkeeosteh (racing waters) from Asheville down, and Zillicoah above Asheville.” French settlers borrowed the name Agiqua, while nearby English settlers called it the French Broad to distinguish it from the other broad river in Western North Carolina, the English Broad (now simply known as Broad River). Neuse and Governor Caswell Memorial, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=French_Broad_River&oldid=993114921, Rivers of Buncombe County, North Carolina, Rivers of Henderson County, North Carolina, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Riverdale, Tennessee, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) above the mouth(mean for water years 1945–1983), Barnard Road in Barnard (put-in for Section 9 of the French Broad, a Class III-IV whitewater run that is the most frequently paddled section of the river), Several golf cart path bridges over the Cain Islands, This page was last edited on 8 December 2020, at 21:32. History, M.A. Its confluence with the Holston River forms the Tennessee River at a place known as "Forks of the River", at the eastern edge of present-day Knoxville. Known as Court House Falls, the waterfall rushes into a creek that feeds the North Fork, which joins the West Fork near Rosman and eventually the Middle and East forks to form the French Broad. The greenways meander along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, from Biltmore Village north to the edge of Woodfin. The French Broad is older than the mountains in which it now finds itself. In the 1890s, citizens of the rapidly growing town of Asheville turned to the French Broad as the solution for a stinky issue: trash disposal. Its meandering course indicates that it predates even the Appalachian Mountains, through which it flows. The project was organized by RiverLink, an organization that promotes the French Broad Watershed as a place to live, learn, work, and play. French Broad River History. It existed before a huge landmass crashed into the eastern shores of the main body of land that is now North America. In Buncombe County, the river flows through the city of Asheville, where it receives the water of the Swannanoa River. The entire watershed consists of over 4,000 miles of streams and rivers that feed into the French Broad River. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean. When the collison took place, over thousands of years in duration and millions of years ago, the land slowly buckled and began the formation of the Appalachian Chain. Following the river in the mid 1800’s was a drover’s road called the Buncombe Turnpike. The Cherokee people, the historic Indigenous Americans who occupied this area at the time of European encounter, referred to the river by different names: Poelico and Agiqua ("broad") in the mountains of the headwaters; Zillicoah upriver of the confluence at present-day Asheville; and Tahkeeosteh (racing waters) from Asheville downriver. Initiated as a project during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Douglas Dam was completed in the 1940s on the lower French Broad by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to provide electricity and flood control. The main sight in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate, a giant mansion with landscaped gardens built in 1889 by the Vanderbilt family. It drains large portions of the Pisgah National Forest and the Cherokee National Forest. Here To Help. In the past few decades, scheduled clean ups, increased regulations, and the additions of greenways, hiking trails, and bike paths have restored much of the French Broad River. While many efforts have been made in recent years to ensure the river’s cleanliness, its water quality still varies, especially after large rain events. Mussel returns to French Broad River after 100-year absence. A system of launch point sites was created along the river to support the trail. After passing through the mountain resort of Hot Springs in the Bald Mountains, the river enters Cocke County, Tennessee. Simply click the Contact Us link in the menu. Sourced near Rosman, NC, in Transylvania County, flowing north to converge with the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. The primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve goals within our mission. Dykeman’s book and the national environmental movement of the following decades inspired renewed local interest in the river. In summer, especially, the Cherokees camped on the river island (Seven Islands, Johnson Island, Bryant Island and Cain Island). In fact, the French Broad is the only river basin that’s home to the distinctive Eastern spiny softshell turtle. From there it flows northeast through the Appalachian Mountains into Henderson, and Buncombe counties. The book brought public attention to concerns about the polluted condition of parts of the river. The French Broad is one of the oldest rivers in the world, dating anywhere from 260-325 million years old. USGS 03451500 FRENCH BROAD RIVER AT ASHEVILLE, NC. Since human settlement, the river has been called a variety of names. The mighty French Broad River has seen it all. The waterfall feeds into a creek that becomes the North Fork, which joins the West Fork west of Rosman. Take U.S. 25/70 toward Marshall and turn left at the first stoplight onto Monticello Road. We have sent thousands of tubers down the river, who all come back with big smiles after a few hours of sitting back in the relaxing water. The French Broad River is believed to be one of the oldest in the world because it cuts through ancient rocks in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. At the height of its production in the 1980s. Approximately 33 miles (53 km) of the river in Cocke County, starting at the North Carolina border and extending downstream to the place where it flows into Douglas Lake, are designated as a Class III, Partially Developed River. U.S. Geological Survey. River Tubing: A History One of French Broad Outfitter’s favorite things to do is to go tubing. Rosman, NC. Upstream from Asheville, the waters breached or destroyed all th… The French Broad River where it flows near Paint Rock, N.C. On the third day, he walks even more slowly than the last, and when he gets to a certain bend in the river where the water collects in a deep pool, he finds himself unwilling to move from the spot. The French Broad River is accessible year round from many points along its 218 miles. Portions of the river are today protected the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. Tags: fishing, French Broad River, local sports, outdoor recreation, Western North Carolina (WNC), View AshevilleHomesforSale’s profile on Facebook, View BeverlyHanksAssociatesREALTORS’s profile on Google+, 7 Sweet Shops to Help You Win Valentine’s Day, Help Us Choose the Best Fireplace in WNC: Round 2, French Broad River Recreation & Pollution. He pitches his tent well before dusk and sits by … The river winds and tumbles for miles through the wild wooded mountains of the Cherokee National Forest and the dispersed community of Del Rio. Over the next several decades, the ancient river became increasingly polluted with modern garbage—everything from household waste to industrial runoff. The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles long, in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. The portion of the French Broad River in Tennessee was designated as a state scenic river by the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. A Natural Pathway Through the Mountains. Dude Ranch in Tennessee Our Dude Ranch vacation includes various exciting activities that doesn’t involve phones or any electronics. The company closed a number of years ago. Will Yeiser and David Byers officially launched the French Broad River Academy in June, 2009. French Broad River in Madison County. The French Broad is the third oldest river in the world, older than the mountains from which it flows. The river discharges an average of 7,878 cubic square feet per second (223.1 m3/s) into the Tennessee River. NC. It damaged or washed away railroad tracks and demolished all three bridges across the river in Asheville. Featured existing and upcoming parks and greenways include the French Broad River Park and Greenway System, Carrier Park, and Karen Cragnolin Park. County. Average January Water Temperature: 45°F (7°C), Average August Water Temperature: 72°F (22°C). French and Cherokee History The river was named the French Broad to distinguish it from North Carolina’s other Broad River and because the territory into which it drained was held by the French. Combining regional and cultural history with … The following is a partial list of crossings of the French Broad from Brevard to the confluence with the Tennessee River. ", "Researchers Find Evidence of Geological 'Facelift' in the Appalachians", "Size of the North Carolina State Parks System", Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, List of North Carolina State Natural Areas, C.S.S. The headwaters of the French Broad River are near the town of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, just northwest of the Eastern Continental Divide near the northwest border of South Carolina. The French Broad River has a North Carolina watershed of 2,830 square miles; its total length in North Carolina is about 70 miles. Sharp, 14 Apr 1868 South of Rosman, the stream is joined by the Middle and East forks to form the French Broad River. Will Yeiser at French Broad River Academy’s first campus in Asheville’s River Arts District in August 2009. Giant insects. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Fork French Broad River, North Carolina Rivers: Facts, Legend, and Lore, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Fork French Broad River, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: French Broad River, Introduction to the Upper Tennessee River Basin, "Answer Man: Is the French Broad one of the world's oldest rivers? The French Broad, a Tennessee State Scenic River, has a rich history and compelling variety along its course through Cocke County. They fished, hunted and made baskets of river cane, which was plentiful. Notable Features: One of the five oldest rivers in the world. The French Broad flows through a number of wilderness areas, each with its own unique microclimate and wildlife. The high elevations of the surrounding mountains mean that mountain rain is a regular occurrence through the French Broad River Valley. Much of the French Broad is appropriate for wading and swimming, but swimmers should be cautious of fast-moving currents and eddies. In Cocke County, the river passes through the community of Del Rio, and receives the waters of both the Pigeon and the Nolichucky rivers northwest of Cocke's county seat, Newport. The history of the French Broad in western North Carolina chronicles the waterway as industrial magnet and industrial dump, a route for trade and tourists, a home for rare aquatic species, and haven for generations of fishers, paddlers, and swimmers. Based on dating of rocks through the course of the river, the French Broad is believed to be one of the oldest rivers in the world. For the similarly named river in western North Carolina east of the ECD, see. The flood destroyed hundreds of homes in the area and engulfed industrial plants, warehouses, and businesses along the French Broad. After flowing through a wide gap in Bays Mountain, it enters Knox County. Before you jump into the river, review the water quality near you. Historic Dandridge bears the distinction of being the only town in the United States name after Martha Dandridge Washington, wife of our first President, George Washington. Visit Dandridge, Tennessee’s second oldest town, and stroll down the sidewalks through history! More than 10 species of rare fish and three rare mussels are found in the French Broad River, including the federally endangered Appalachian elktoe mussel. The French Broad River Company was started and owned by Bob Livingston who admits to being a total"duck freak. The river flows through the counties of Transylvania, Buncombe, Henderson, and Madison in North Carolina, and Cocke, Jefferson, Sevier, and Knox in Tennessee. The company made in excess of 15.000 duck, goose and swan decoys per year. Tennessee designated their portion as a “state scenic river” in 1968. The river provides a natural pathway through the mountains. Ultimately, the waters of the French Broad river end up in the Gulf of Mexico, via the Tennessee, the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers. See Article History. It is one of the larger TVA developments on a tributary of the Tennessee River. Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. The fast-flowing tributaries of the French Broad are also ideal for several species of trout, bass, bluegill, and crappie. French Broad: 260 to 325 Tennessee River: Dissects the Appalachian Mountains, formed by the Alleghenian orogeny, 320–340 ma. Riverside Park, a popular amusement park and gathering place on the French Broad, also perished under the floodwaters. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River. Outdoor enthusiasts seeking to explore the western parts of Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests will find National Geographic's Trails Illustrated map of French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers a complete guide to the area. However, the current topographic relief of the Southern Appalachians is relatively new, making it virtually impossible to estimate the age of the river. Its meandering course indicates that it predates even the Appalachian Mountains, through which it flows. In Asheville, a variety of launch points are accessible from city parks. This would suggest the French Broad existed … [8] However, the current topographic relief of the Southern Appalachians is relatively new, making it virtually impossible to estimate the age of the river.[9]. French Broad Outpost Ranch is the best Dude Ranch in Tennessee for a memorable Tennessee vacations for families. The river enters the slack waters of Douglas Lake, which was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority's Douglas Dam in Sevier County, approximately 32 miles (51 km) upstream from the river's mouth. Stackhouse & Runion Communities Rafters on the French Broad River catch a glimpse of the Victorian house as they drift by and hikers on the Laurel River Trail may walk past remnants of the foundations of buildings and railroad trestles from the Runion community which grew … WCU 2008 “From Asheville to the Tennessee line, the Southern Railway follow the tortuous windings of the French Broad River, crossing it from bank to bank several times.” ~From “With Pen and Camera thro’ the Land of the Sky, 1904.” Early in the 19th century railroads were being built throughout the expanding United States. Knoxville has always been the major regional market town … History. The foot path allowed people to move animals and goods from the flatter lands … The river headwaters are in Rosman NC, and it’s fed by water from 8 total counties in NC, for a total of 2,830 square miles. Basin Size: 5,124 square miles (13,270 sq km). French Broad Overview NC Scenic Byway: Drive NC Highway 251 to three riverside parks. [10] The river is considered to roughly mark the eastern boundary of the Cherokee homelands in this region, which included areas of present-day northwestern South Carolina, northeastern Georgia, and southeastern Tennessee. … The New, Susquehanna, French Broad are the only significant rivers that fully dissect the Appalachian core; the Hudson River is … PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION. In 1783, thirteen years before Tennessee became a state, the first permanent settlers were attracted to the Dandridge area by the French Broad River and a good spring, around which the town was laid out. 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