Emory River facts for kids
The Emory River is a river in Tennessee, USA. It flows through the Cumberland Plateau, a large mountain area. The river is about 46 miles (74 km) long. It starts near Frozen Head State Park and ends when it joins the Clinch River in Kingston, Tennessee.
Quick facts for kids Emory River |
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The Emory River near Oakdale, Tennessee
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The Emory/Obed drainage basin
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | below Fork Mountain, near Frozen Head State Park in Morgan County 2,450 ft (750 m) 36°09′25″N 84°26′47″W / 36.15694°N 84.44639°W |
| River mouth | Clinch River at Kingston, Tennessee 741 ft (226 m) 35°53′15″N 84°29′29″W / 35.88750°N 84.49139°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 872 sq mi (2,260 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Journey of the Emory River
The Emory River begins on the slopes of Fork Mountain. It flows through a valley near Bird Mountain. This mountain is a well-known part of Frozen Head State Park in Morgan County.
In the past, the area around the river had a lot of strip mining for coal. This mining sometimes caused water pollution in the stream. The river first flows west and goes under U.S. Highway 27.
Then, it turns more to the southwest. A Norfolk Southern Railway line runs next to it for a while. The Emory River meets the Obed River in the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area. This is a large area managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for wildlife.
The railroad continues to follow the river. The Emory River then enters Roane County near Harriman. The water near Harriman becomes slower. This is because of the backwaters from Watts Bar Lake. Watts Bar Lake is a large reservoir on the Tennessee River. The Little Emory River also slows down near where it joins the Emory.
The Emory River flows into the Clinch River at the Kingston Fossil Plant. This power plant was built during World War II. It helped make electricity for plants that created materials for the first atomic bomb. These plants were located nearby in Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In 2008, an event at the Kingston Power Plant caused pollution in the Emory River and nearby areas.
What's in a Name?
The Emory River got its name from an early traveler. His name was William Emery. He drowned while swimming across the river. Old records sometimes called it "William Emeries River."
The Native American name for the Emory River was "Babahatchie." This name means "babbling waters." It describes the sound of the river as it flows.
