Pacolet River facts for kids
The Pacolet River is a cool river, about 50 miles (80 km) long, located in northwestern South Carolina. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger one called the Broad River. One of its starting points also comes from a small part of western North Carolina.
The Pacolet River is part of a larger water system that includes the Broad and Congaree rivers. All these rivers eventually flow into the Santee River, which then empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes, you might see the river's name spelled as "Pacolate River." There's also another Pacolet River in Florida, but this article is about the one in the Carolinas!
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Where Does the Pacolet River Start?
The Pacolet River actually begins when two smaller rivers, its "north" and "south" forks, join together. Think of them as two branches coming together to form a main trunk.
North Pacolet River's Journey
The North Pacolet River starts way up in the Blue Ridge Mountains in southeastern Henderson County, North Carolina. It flows east into Polk County. Then, it passes close to the town of Tryon before turning southeast into northern Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
South Pacolet River's Journey
The South Pacolet River begins in northeastern Greenville County, South Carolina. It flows east into northern Spartanburg County. Along its way, it goes past the town of Campobello. Here, a dam creates a lake called William C. Bowen Lake.
The Main River's Path
The two forks of the Pacolet River meet up about 10 miles (16 km) north-northeast of Spartanburg. From there, the main Pacolet River generally flows southeast. It travels through or along the edges of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties.
The river also flows through Lake Blalock and past the town of Pacolet. Finally, it joins the Broad River where Cherokee and Union Counties meet, about 4 miles (6 km) north of the town of Lockhart.
Lawsons Fork Creek
In Spartanburg County, another stream called Lawsons Fork Creek flows into the Pacolet River. This creek stays entirely within Spartanburg County and even passes through the city of Spartanburg itself. It has also been known as "Lawsons Fork of the Pacolet River."
