Dan River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dan River
View of the Dan River, Danville, Virginia
Show map of Virginia Show map of the United States Location of the mouth of Dan River
Other name(s)	Tributary to Roanoke River
Country	United States
States	Virginia North Carolina
Counties (Virginia)	Floyd Halifax Mecklenburg Patrick Pittsylvania
Counties (North Carolina)	Caswell Rockingham Stokes
Physical characteristics
Main source	divide between Dan River, Smith River and New River about 2 miles northeast of Rock Castle Gap 3,170 ft (970 m) 36°46′41″N 080°21′54″W / 36.77806°N 80.36500°W / 36.77806; -80.36500
River mouth	John H. Kerr Reservoir (Roanoke River) Stanton River State Park 300 ft (91 m) 36°39′22″N 078°35′55″W / 36.65611°N 78.59861°W / 36.65611; -78.59861
Length	214 mi (344 km)
Basin features
Progression	generally east
River system	Roanoke River
Basin size	3,300 square miles (8,500 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Ivy Creek Roaring Creek Coxes Branch Lickskillet Branch Little Dan River Peters Creek Bonds Branch Newman Branch Seven Island Creek Snow Creek Blackies Branch Reed Creek Beaver Island Creek Mayo River Buffalo Creek Matrimony Creek Smith River Covenant Branch Cascade Creek Trotters Creek Childress Creek Sandy River Fall Creek Barkers Branch Hances Branch Coy Creek Cane Creek Mineral Springs Branch Sandy Creek Wolfe Creek Barker Creek Double Creek Byrds Branch Toby Creek Little Toby Creek Birch Creek Miry Creek Pond Branch Poplar Creek Reedy Creek Banister River Peter Creek Right: Quaker Field Branch Toggle Creek Mill Creek Round Meadow Squall Creek Squirrel Creek Fall Creek Big Branch Big Creek Double Creek Cascade Creek Indian Creek Scott Branch Town Fork Creek Belews Creek Hogans Creek Jacobs Creek Massy Creek Roach Creek Fishing Creek Town Creek Rock Creek White Oak Creek Williamson Creek Wolf Island Creek Jackson Branch Pumpkin Creek Hogans Creek Moon Creek Rattlesnake Creek Little Rattlesnake Creek Country Line Creek Winns Creek Powells Creek Chalmers Creek Locust Creek Lawsons Creek Perrin Creek Grassy Creek Hyco River Aarons Creek
Waterbodies	Cockrum Millpond John H. Kerr Reservoir

The Dan River is a river that flows for about 214 miles (344 km) through the states of North Carolina and Virginia in the United States. It starts in Patrick County, Virginia. The river then crosses into Stokes County, North Carolina, and continues into Rockingham County, North Carolina.

It flows back into Virginia, passing through Pittsylvania County, Virginia, before re-entering North Carolina near the border of Caswell County, North Carolina. Finally, it returns to southern Virginia (briefly Pittsylvania County, then Halifax County, Virginia) and ends its journey in Kerr Reservoir, which is part of the Roanoke River.

What's in a Name?

The name "Dan River" was first written down in 1728. This happened during an expedition to map the border of Virginia. The person who recorded it, William Byrd II, didn't explain why it was called "Dan." Another name for this river is "South Branch Roanoke River."

Environmental Cleanup Efforts

In 2014, some materials from a power plant entered the river. This led to a big cleanup project. The cleanup cost around $300 million. This effort helped to restore the river's health.

Dan River District

"Dan River" is also the name of a political area in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. A small part of the river forms the boundary between Pittsylvania County and the city of Danville, Virginia.