Meherrin River

The Meherrin River is a 143.37 mi (230.73 km) long 6th order tributary to the Chowan River that joins in Hertford County, North Carolina.

Meherrin River Tributary to Chowan River
The Meherrin at Emporia, Virginia
Chowan River Watershed
Location of Meherrin River mouth Show map of North Carolina Meherrin River (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location
Country	United States
State	Virginia North Carolina
County	Hertford (NC) Northampton (NC) Southampton (VA) Greensville (VA) Brunswick (VA) Mecklenburg (VA) Lunenburg (VA)
City	Emporia, Virginia Murfreesboro, NC
Physical characteristics
Source	confluence of South Meherrin River and North Meherrin River
• location	Reekes Mill, Virginia
• coordinates	36°49′11″N 078°16′32″W[1]
• elevation	258 ft (79 m)[2]
Mouth	Chowan River
• location	about 0.5 miles north of Chowan Beach, North Carolina
• coordinates	36°25′54″N 076°56′53″W[1]
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)[3]
Length	143.37 mi (230.73 km)[4]
Basin size	1,601.05 square miles (4,146.7 km2)[5]
Discharge
• location	Chowan River
• average	1,565.82 cu ft/s (44.339 m3/s) at mouth with Chowan River[5]
Basin features
Progression	Chowan River → Albemarle Sound[4]
River system	Chowan River
Tributaries
• left	North Meherrin River, Mason Creek, Crooked Creek, Flat Rock Creek, Stony Creek, Aaron Creek, Shining Creek, Briery Branch, Flat Branch, Saddletree Creek, Totaro Creek, Great Creek, Robinson Creek, Reedy Creek, Greensville Creek, Metcalf Branch, Caney Branch, Big Branch, Buckhorn Swamp, Burnt Reeds Swamp
• right	South Meherrin River, Buckhorn Creek, Piney Creek, Mountain Creek, Smith Creek, Taylors Creek, Evans Creek, Genito Creek, Hays Creek, Allen Creek, Coldwater Creek, Big Branch, Brandy Creek, Lightfoot Creek, Millpond Creek, Douglas Run, Falling Run, Fountains Creek, Cypress Creek, Kirbys Creek, Worrell Mill Swamp, Potecasi Creek
Bridges	Oral Oaks Road, North Whittles Mill Road, Craig Mill Road, VA 138, Dixie Bridge Road, I-85, US 1, US 58, Robinson Ferry Road, Meherrin Beach Road, VA 46, Iron Bridge Road, Western Mill Road, I-95, Main Street, Hicksford Avenue, Little Texas Road, NC 186, Branches Bridge Road, NC 35, Boones Bridge Road, US 258,

Gholson Bridge, spanning Meherrin River at SR 715, Brunswick County, Virginia

A twenty-foot-high dam on the river creates a reservoir in Emporia.^{[citation needed]} For most of its length, the Meherrin is not large enough for commercial traffic. It widens somewhat between Murfreesboro, North Carolina and the Chowan. Prior to the American Civil War, this section of the river was a significant trading route for Northeastern North Carolina.

The river was named after the Meherrin Indians, whose territory was along it.^{[citation needed]}

Variant names

According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as:^[1]

• Maherine River
• Maherrin River
• Mehearin River
• Meherin River
• Pochike River
• Wayanock
• Woodford River

Course

The Meherrin River is formed at the confluence of the South Meherrin River and North Meherrin River at Reekes Mill, Virginia, and then flows southeasterly into North Carolina to join the Chowan River about 0.5 miles north of Chowan Beach in Hertford County, North Carolina.^[3]

Watershed

The Meherrin River drains 1,601.05 square miles (4,146.7 km²) of area, receives about 46.3 in/year of precipitation, has a wetness index of 495.22, and is about 46% forested.^[5]

See also

• List of rivers of Virginia