Reddies River
Encyclopedia
The Reddies River is a tributary
of the Yadkin River
in northwestern North Carolina
in the United States
. Via the Yadkin it is part of the watershed
of the Pee Dee River
, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean
. According to the Geographic Names Information System
, it has also been known historically as "Reddis River."
The Reddies River and its headwater tributaries (its North, Middle and South Forks ) all flow for their entire lengths in Wilkes County
. Below the confluence of its principal tributaries, the Reddies River flows generally southeastwardly to its confluence with the Yadkin River at North Wilkesboro
. The Reddies River is known for its excellent trout
fishing. In North Wilkesboro the Reddies River is dammed, and the small lake created by the dam supplies most of the town's water needs. A trail built for bikers, joggers, and walkers by the town of North Wilkesboro crosses over the Reddies River at its mouth where it joins the Yadkin River
. A bridge, 156 feet in length, allows bikers, joggers and walkers to cross.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the headwaters of the Reddies River was a prime area for the timber
industry. Due to the difficulty of getting the timber out of the narrow valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains
, a large flume
was built to carry the timber to the town of North Wilkesboro. At one time the flume, which followed the course of the Reddies River, was over 19 miles long and crossed the river no less than a dozen times. The flume suffered heavy damage in the great flood of 1916; it was dismantled shortly after the flood.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Yadkin River
Yadkin River
The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing . It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee...
in northwestern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Yadkin it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Pee Dee River
Pee Dee River
The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in North Carolina and South Carolina. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course above the mouth of the Uwharrie River is known as the Yadkin River. It is extensively dammed for flood...
, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. According to the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
, it has also been known historically as "Reddis River."
The Reddies River and its headwater tributaries (its North, Middle and South Forks ) all flow for their entire lengths in Wilkes County
Wilkes County, North Carolina
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 2000 U.S. Census listed the county's population at 65,632; the 2010 U.S. Census listed the population at 69,340...
. Below the confluence of its principal tributaries, the Reddies River flows generally southeastwardly to its confluence with the Yadkin River at North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was approximately 4,116 at the 2000 census and is now 4,245 as of the 2010 census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, which continues to have a major presence in...
. The Reddies River is known for its excellent trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fishing. In North Wilkesboro the Reddies River is dammed, and the small lake created by the dam supplies most of the town's water needs. A trail built for bikers, joggers, and walkers by the town of North Wilkesboro crosses over the Reddies River at its mouth where it joins the Yadkin River
Yadkin River
The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing . It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee...
. A bridge, 156 feet in length, allows bikers, joggers and walkers to cross.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the headwaters of the Reddies River was a prime area for the timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
industry. Due to the difficulty of getting the timber out of the narrow valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, a large flume
Flume
A flume is an open artificial water channel, in the form of a gravity chute, that leads water from a diversion dam or weir completely aside a natural flow. Often, the flume is an elevated box structure that follows the natural contours of the land. These have been extensively used in hydraulic...
was built to carry the timber to the town of North Wilkesboro. At one time the flume, which followed the course of the Reddies River, was over 19 miles long and crossed the river no less than a dozen times. The flume suffered heavy damage in the great flood of 1916; it was dismantled shortly after the flood.
