View source for Yadkin River

{{distinguish|South Yadkin River}}
{{Redirect|Yadkin Valley|the North Carolina wine region|Yadkin Valley AVA}}
{{Use American English|date = January 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = January 2020}}
{{short description|River in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Yadkin River
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| image              = Yadkin River Elkin.jpg
| image_size         = 300px
| image_caption      = The Yadkin River at [[Elkin, North Carolina]], in 2011.
| image_alt          = 
| map                = Peedeerivermap.png
| map_size           = 300px
| map_caption        = The Yadkin River is the northernmost part of the Pee Dee Drainage Basin.
| map_alt            = 
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| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[North Carolina]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
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<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = 
| width_min          = 
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = 
| source1_location   = [[Watauga County, North Carolina|Watauga County]] near [[Blowing Rock, North Carolina|Blowing Rock]]
| source1_coordinates= {{Coord|36.115418|-81.637941|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = [[Confluence]] with the [[Uwharrie River]], forming the [[Pee Dee River]]
| mouth_location     = {{convert|4|mi|km}} southeast of Badin
| mouth_coordinates  = {{Coord|35.380697|-80.059775|display=inline}}
| mouth_elevation    = 
| progression        = Yadkin River → [[Pee Dee River]] → [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| river_system       = [[Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin]]
| basin_size         = 
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| basin_population   = 
| tributaries_left   = 
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| waterbodies        = [[W. Kerr Scott Reservoir]], [[High Rock Lake]], [[Tuckertown Reservoir]], [[Badin Lake]], [[Falls Reservoir]]
| waterfalls         = 
| bridges            = 
| ports              = 
| custom_label       = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]]
| custom_data        = 1024415<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1024415}}</ref>
| extra              = 
}}
The '''Yadkin River''' is one of the longest rivers in the US state of [[North Carolina]], flowing {{convert|215|mi}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/| title=The National Map| publisher=U.S. Geological Survey| access-date=Feb 14, 2011}}</ref>  It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the [[Blue Ridge Parkway|Blue Ridge Parkway's]] Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by [[dams]] for water, power, and [[flood control]].  The river becomes the [[Pee Dee River]] at the confluence of the [[Uwharrie River]] south of the community of [[Badin, North Carolina|Badin]] and east of the town of [[Albemarle, North Carolina|Albemarle]].  The river then flows into [[South Carolina]] near [[Cheraw, South Carolina|Cheraw]], which is at the [[Atlantic Seaboard fall line|Fall Line]]. The entirety of the Yadkin River and the Great Pee Dee River is part of the [[Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin]].

==Etymology==
The meaning of the word Yadkin, derived from ''Yattken'', or ''Yattkin'', a [[Siouan languages|Siouan]] Indian word, is unknown. In Siouan terminology it may mean "big tree" or "place of big trees."<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Yadkin County, North Carolina |website=Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce |url=http://www.yadkinchamber.org/history-of-yadkin-county-north-carolina.html |access-date=12 February 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201744/http://www.yadkinchamber.org/history-of-yadkin-county-north-carolina.html }}</ref>

Alternate names include:<ref name=gnis/>
:Adkin River
:Atkin River
:Big Yadkin River
:Reatkin River
:Sapona River
:Yatkin River

[[Yadkin County, North Carolina]], and its county seat, the town of [[Yadkinville]], are named after the river.

==History==
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Yadkin basin was inhabited by Siouan-speaking tribes.  The [[Cheraw|Saura]] and [[Tutelo]] tribes are mentioned in historic records of the area.  Before the [[American Revolution|Revolutionary War]], colonial settlers of primarily [[Scots-Irish American|Scots-Irish]], [[Germany|German]], and [[England|English]] extraction migrated into the Yadkin basin from [[Virginia]] and [[Pennsylvania]] using the [[Great Wagon Road]] and the [[Carolina Road]].  Notably, these included [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] colonists from [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]] who occupied the 100,000-acre [[Wachovia, North Carolina|Wachovia]] tract following its purchase in 1753 (See also [[Old Salem]]).

On May 9, 1771, when marching to join Governor [[William Tryon]]'s army at the [[Battle of Alamance]], a colonial force was intercepted along the Yadkin in [[Rowan County, North Carolina|Rowan County]] by a larger force of [[Regulator Movement|Regulators]] formed under Captain [[Benjamin Merrill]]. Realizing their forces were outnumbered, Tryon's men fell back to [[Salisbury, North Carolina|Salisbury]], and were unable to join the governor until after the battle at [[Great Alamance Creek|Alamance]] was fought.<ref name="RevBapt.">[http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/mckstmerreg.htm#baptists ''Captain Benjamin Merrell & The Regulators of Colonial North Carolina''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206183835/http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/mckstmerreg.htm#baptists |date=February 6, 2017 }}; [via "History of the Liberty Baptist Association, by Elder Henry Sheets, Edwards & Broughton of Raleigh, N.C, (1907)"]; TAMU; accessed Aug 2018</ref>

In 1859 the NC Supreme court noted "it is certain that the Yadkin river is capable of private ownership and that some parts of the riverbed have been granted to private individuals."<ref>{{cite court |litigants=State v. Glen |vol=52 |reporter=N.C. |opinion=321 |pinpoint=252 |date=1859 |url=https://casetext.com/case/state-v-glen-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831035731/https://casetext.com/case/state-v-glen-1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 31, 2019 }}</ref> The court determined that the owners of the dam across the Yadkin could not have his property taken without just compensation.

==Use==
The river is extensively used for recreation. Fishing consists mostly of [[Centrarchidae|sunfish]], [[catfish]], [[largemouth bass]] and [[white bass]] in the spring and early summer. [[Canoe]]ing and [[raft]]ing are also possible. A portion of the river flows through [[Pilot Mountain State Park]]. [[Morrow Mountain State Park]] and the [[Uwharrie National Forest]] are along the banks of the river where the river's name changes to the [[Pee Dee River]].{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

===State trail===
In 1985, the [[General Assembly of North Carolina|NC General Assembly]] established the '''Yadkin River State Trail''' as a [[paddle trail]] which follows the river for {{convert|163|mi|km}}.<ref name=ParkSize />  The paddle trail is a part of the North Carolina State Trails System, which is a section of the [[North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation|NC Division of Parks and Recreation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Yadkin River State Trail |website=NC Trails |publisher=North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation |url=https://trails.nc.gov/state-trails/yadkin-river-state-trail |access-date=31 August 2019 }}</ref>  A system of launch points and [[camping]] locations were created along the river for the trail.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yadkin River State Trail – Access Sites |website=NC Trails |publisher=North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation |url=https://trails.nc.gov/state-trails/yadkin-river-state-trail/access-sites |access-date=31 August 2019 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Principal [[tributary|tributaries]] of the Yadkin include the [[Reddies River|Reddies]], [[Roaring River (North Carolina)|Roaring]], [[Mitchell River (North Carolina)|Mitchell]], [[Fisher River (North Carolina)|Fisher]], [[Ararat River|Ararat]] and [[South Yadkin River|South Yadkin]] Rivers.<ref>{{cite book |date=2001 |title=North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer |edition=5th |location=Yarmouth, ME |publisher=[[DeLorme]] |isbn=0-89933-277-3 |oclc=883984093 }}</ref>{{page needed|date=October 2017}}

==Water supply==
Water supplies for many communities in North and South Carolina are taken from the Yadkin-Pee Dee and during drought years the division of the water is a contentious issue.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} The Mitchell River was impacted in the 1980s by massive runoff of sediment from land clearing at the Olde Beau development. Numerous citations from the NC EPA were issued against developer Earl Slick but the development proceeded. 

Cones Lake is a reservoir located immediately upstream of where the Yadkin River begins, marking it one of the initial sources of the Yadkin River.

===Lakes created by dams along the Yadkin/Pee Dee River===
There are many reservoirs created by damming the Yadkin and Pee Dee rivers within the bounds of North Carolina, and are listed from upstream to downstream:
*[[W. Kerr Scott Reservoir]]
*[[High Rock Lake]]
*[[Tuckertown Reservoir]]
*[[Badin Lake]]
*[[Falls Reservoir]]
*[[Lake Tillery]]
*[[Blewitt Falls Lake]]

All but W. Kerr Scott generate hydroelectric power, and High Rock, Tuckertown, Badin, and Falls were managed by [[Alcoa]] under contract with the US Government, under oversight by the [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]] (FERC).  The contract with FERC expired in April 2008,<ref>{{cite web |title=Yadkin Division: Relicensing Overview |website=Alcoa Power Generating Inc. |url=http://www.alcoa.com/yadkin/en/info_page/relicensing_overview.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110040816/http://www.alcoa.com/yadkin/en/info_page/relicensing_overview.asp }}</ref> and was under review after the N.C. Division of Water Quality revoked their water-quality certificate that the company needs to continue operating its power-generating dams along the river.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Editorial Staff--> |date=December 10, 2010 |title=State should control Yadkin River dams |newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal |department=Opinion |publisher=World Media Enterprises Inc |url=http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2010/dec/10/state-should-control-yadkin-river-dams-ar-604482/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926171930/http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2010/dec/10/state-should-control-yadkin-river-dams-ar-604482/ }}</ref>  The former governor of North Carolina, [[Bev Perdue]], and other North Carolina politicians<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff--> |date=December 8, 2010 |title=NC Senator calls for EPA investigation into Alcoa |website=News 14 Carolina |publisher=TWEAN Newschannel of Raleigh, LLC |url=http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/633834/nc-senator-calls-for-epa-investigation-into-alcoa |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719065033/http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/633834/nc-senator-calls-for-epa-investigation-into-alcoa }}</ref> made it a priority to recapture the Yadkin River water rights, but this has been denied.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.salisburypost.com/2019/01/24/north-carolinas-fight-for-yadkin-dams-control-of-river-fizzling-out/|title=North Carolina’s fight for Yadkin dams, control of river fizzling out|last=Dalesio|first=Emery|work=Salisbury Post|agency=Associated Press|date=January 24, 2019|access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> On September 22, 2016, Alcoa received a license to operate until March 31, 2055, a period 12 years shorter than desired. The license requires a minimum water level and a swimming beach for High Rock Lake. The terms of the license will now apply to Cube Hydro Carolinas, which bought the hydroelectric power operations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.salisburypost.com/2016/09/23/alcoa-receives-long-term-federal-license-for-yadkin-dams/|title=Alcoa receives long-term federal license for Yadkin dams|last=Bergeron|first=Josh|work=Salisbury Post|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref>

==List of crossings==
*[[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]]
**Many minor crossings of the Upper Yadkin
**Multiple Crossings of {{Jct|state=NC|NC|268}} (Yadkin River Road)
**Grandin Road
*[[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes County]]
**{{Jct|state=NC|NC|268}} in [[Ferguson, North Carolina|Ferguson]]
**Browns Ford Road below the [[W. Kerr Scott Dam]]
**{{jct|country=USA|US|421}} in [[Wilkesboro, North Carolina|Wilkesboro]]
**Curtis Bridge Road in Wilkesboro
**Wilkesboro Avenue ({{Jct|state=NC|NC|18}}) in Wilkesboro
**[[Special routes of U.S. Route 421#North Wilkesboro business loop|US 421 Business]]
**Red White and Blue Road in [[Roaring River, North Carolina|Roaring River]]
**Clingman Road in [[Ronda, North Carolina|Ronda]]
*[[Surry County, North Carolina|Surry County]] and [[Yadkin County, North Carolina|Yadkin County]]
**South Bridge Street and South Gwyn Avenue ([[Special routes of U.S. Route 21#Elkin business loop|US 21 Business]] connecting [[Elkin, North Carolina|Elkin]] and [[Jonesville, North Carolina|Jonesville]])
**{{jct|country=USA|I|77}}
**{{jct|country=USA|US|601}} in [[Crutchfield, North Carolina|Crutchfield]]
**Rockford Road / Richmond Hill Church Road in [[Rockford, North Carolina|Rockford]]
**Siloam Road in [[Siloam, North Carolina|Siloam]]
*[[Yadkin County, North Carolina|Yadkin County]] and [[Forsyth County, North Carolina|Forsyth County]]
**{{Jct|state=NC|NC|67}} in [[Donnaha, North Carolina|Donnaha]] (Reynolda Road)
**Old US 421 (Yadkinville Road)
**{{jct|country=USA|US|421}}
**Shallowford Road
*[[Davie County, North Carolina|Davie County]] and [[Forsyth County, North Carolina|Forsyth County]]
**{{jct|country=USA|I|40}} between [[Bermuda Run, North Carolina|Bermuda Run]] and [[Clemmons, North Carolina|Clemmons]]
**{{jct|country=USA|US|158}} between Bermuda Run and Clemmons
**[[Norfolk Southern Railway]] between [[Advance, North Carolina|Advance]] and Clemmons
*[[Davie County, North Carolina|Davie County]] and [[Davidson County, North Carolina|Davidson County]]
**{{jct|country=USA|US|64}}
*[[Rowan County, North Carolina|Rowan County]] and [[Davidson County, North Carolina|Davidson County]]
**The [[Yadkin River Bridges]] at Trading Ford near [[Spencer, North Carolina|Spencer]]
***[[Wil-Cox Bridge]]
***{{jct|country=USA|US|70}}/{{jct|country=USA|US|29}}/{{jct|state=NC|NC|150}}
***[[North Carolina Railroad]] / Norfolk Southern Railway
***{{jct|country=USA|I|85}}
**[[Bringle Ferry Bridge]]
**{{Jct|state=NC|NC|8}}/{{Jct|state=NC|NC|49}}
*[[Stanly County, North Carolina|Stanly County]] and [[Montgomery County, North Carolina|Montgomery County]]
**[[Winston-Salem Southbound Railway]] in [[Whitney, North Carolina|Whitney]]
**A service bridge at the [[Narrows Dam and Power Plant Complex]]

==See also==
*[[List of North Carolina rivers]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=ParkSize>
{{cite web
 |url         = https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/north-carolina-state-parks-system-size-01.01.2019.xlsx
 |title       = Size of the North Carolina State Parks System
 |date        = January 1, 2019
 |publisher   = North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
 |format      = XLS
 |access-date  = July 21, 2019
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20190721220647/https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/north-carolina-state-parks-system-size-01.01.2019.xlsx
 |archive-date = July 21, 2019
}}
</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org Yadkin Riverkeeper]
*[https://trails.nc.gov/state-trails/yadkin-river-state-trail Yadkin River State Trail], official website for the state paddle trail.
*[http://www.alcoa.com/yadkin/en/home.asp General information about many of the dam projects on the river]
*{{GNIS|1024415|Yadkin River}}
*[http://sogweb.sog.unc.edu/Water/index.php/Yadkin_River Yadkin River entry on Water Wiki]

{{coord|35|22|51|N|80|3|35|W|display=title}}

{{Protected areas of North Carolina}}
{{Piedmont Triad}}


{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rivers of Caldwell County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rivers of Wilkes County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rivers of Davidson County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:State parks of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rivers of Surry County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rivers of Davie County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Water trails]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Pee Dee River]]
[[Category:North Carolina placenames of Native American origin]]

[[no:Yadkin (elv)]]