Hyco River facts for kids

The Hyco River is a cool waterway that flows through parts of North Carolina and Virginia in the United States. It's like a smaller stream that feeds into a bigger one! The Hyco River is a tributary of the Dan River, which then flows into the even larger Roanoke River. Think of it as a family of rivers, all connected.

Quick facts for kids Hyco River
Show map of Virginia Show map of the United States Location of Hyco River mouth
Other name(s)	Tributary to Dan River
Country	United States
State	North Carolina Virginia
County	Person (NC) Halifax (VA)
Physical characteristics
Main source	confluence of Hyco Creek and South Hyco Creek Hyco Lake 410 ft (120 m) 36°28′59″N 079°05′44″W / 36.48306°N 79.09556°W / 36.48306; -79.09556
River mouth	Dan River John H. Kerr Reservoir about 3 east-southeast of South Boston, Virginia 300 ft (91 m) 36°41′02″N 078°43′55″W / 36.68389°N 78.73194°W / 36.68389; -78.73194
Length	33.55 mi (53.99 km)
Basin features
Progression	northeast
River system	Roanoke River
Basin size	429.09 square miles (1,111.3 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Hyco Creek Cane Creek Powells Creek Coleman Creek Halfway Creek Hudson Branch Terrell Branch Hilly Creek Right: South Hyco Creek Sargents Creek Ghent Creek Storys Creek Castle Creek Bowes Branch Mayo Creek Dry Creek Bluewing Creek Larkin Branch Pensions Branch Flat Branch Morris Branch
Waterbodies	Hyco Lake After Bay Reservoir John H. Kerr Reservoir
Bridges	Woodsdale Road, Bethel Hill Road, US 501, E Hyco Road, Kingwoods Road, Buckshoal Road, US 58

Where the Hyco River Flows

The Hyco River starts in Person County, North Carolina. It actually begins where two smaller streams, Hyco Creek and South Hyco Creek, join together.

Hyco Lake

Right at the beginning of the Hyco River, there's a large body of water called Hyco Lake. This lake was formed when a dam was built across the river. Lakes like Hyco Lake are often used for fun activities like boating and fishing!

Journey to the Dan River

After leaving Hyco Lake, the river flows through different areas. It passes near Allensville, North Carolina, which is a small community. The river then continues its journey north into Virginia. In Virginia, it flows through places like Alton, Virginia and Cluster Springs, Virginia. Finally, the Hyco River meets up with the Dan River. The Dan River then flows into the John H. Kerr Reservoir, which is a very large lake.

Other Names for the River

Over time, rivers can sometimes be known by different names. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) keeps track of these names. For the Hyco River, some of its older names include Hicootomony Creek, Hy Coyee River, Hyco Creek, and Hyco-o-tee River. It's interesting how names can change over history!