North Toe River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Toe River
Bridge over the North Toe River in Newland
Location of the mouth of North Toe River in North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Avery, Mitchell, Yancey
Physical characteristics
Main source	Sugar Gap Sugar Mountain, North Carolina 4,350 ft (1,330 m) 36°07′47″N 81°53′13″W / 36.12972°N 81.88694°W / 36.12972; -81.88694
River mouth	Nolichucky River Huntdale, North Carolina 2,021 ft (616 m) 36°01′44″N 82°19′37″W / 36.02889°N 82.32694°W / 36.02889; -82.32694
Length	73.6 mi (118.4 km)
Basin features
Progression	North Toe → Nolichucky → French Broad → Tennessee → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico
River system	French Broad River
Basin size	1,146.22 square miles (2,968.7 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Kentucky Creek, Cow Camp Creek, Haw Branch, Row Branch, Squirrel Creek, Plumtree Creek, Pancake Branch, Clear Creek, Threemile Creek, Brushy Creek, Laurel Creek, Harris Creek, White Oak Branch, Rose Creek, Cathis Creek, Grassy Creek, English Creek, Big Branch, Wolf Branch, South Toe River, Chestnut Branch, Brush Creek, Pigpen Creek, Jacks Creek, Bee Branch, McKinney Branch, Cane River Right: Hickorynut Branch, Whiteoak Creek, Banjo Branch,Fall Branch, Horse Branch, Gooseneck Branch, Birchfield Creek, Race Path Branch, Whitaker Branch, Roaring Creek, Powdermill Creek, Doublehead Creek, Henson Creek, Justice Creek, Puatt Creek, Jones Creek, Little Laurel Branch, Bill Davenport Branch, Jake Creek, Beaver Creek, Pine Branch, Little Bear Creek, Lily Branch, Gouge Branch, Sink Hole Creek, Rose Creek, Cane Creek, Whitson Branch, Big Rock Creek, Raccoon Creek, Warrick Branch, Brummett Creek, Pigeonroost Creek, Cooper Branch, Rebels Creek

The North Toe River is the headwaters of the Nolichucky River and a tributary in the French Broad River basin. From its source at Sugar Gap, between Bald Mountain and Sugar Mountain, it flows 73.6 miles (118.4 km) westerly through Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.

History

The earliest inhabitants in the Toe River valley area were both the Catawba and Cherokee Indians; though neither lived in the area permanently, it is believed both tribes used the area as a hunting ground. In 1540, the first European to the area was the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Evidence of his visit includes Spanish mining at the Sink Hole, Clarissa, and Horse Stomp mines in Mitchell County. In the late 1560s, Spanish explorer Juan Pardo also visited the area in an attempt to establish a land route to Zacatecas in present-day Mexico. In the 18th century, English, Scotch-Irish, and German settlers came to the area.

Pollution

With Spruce Pine being the dividing line, the river upstream is considered in good health with a few tributaries impacted related to agricultural and development runoff. Downstream, the river has been impacted by legal and illegal wastewater discharges from mining operations in the area. In 2018, Quartz Corp. illegally discharged hundreds of gallons of hydrofluoric acid into the North Toe River causing a fish kill.