Black River (North Carolina)
The Black River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 50 mi (80 km) long, in southeastern North Carolina in the United States.
| Black River Tributary to Cape Fear River | |
|---|---|
Location of Black River mouth | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Counties | Bladen Pender Sampson |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | confluence of Six Runs Creek and Great Coharie Creek |
| • location | about 3 NW of Clear Run, North Carolina |
| • coordinates | 34°47′23″N 078°18′45″W |
| • elevation | 44 ft (13 m) |
| Mouth | Cape Fear River |
• location | Wilmington, North Carolina |
• coordinates | 34°19′55″N 078°01′57″W |
• elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Length | 53.1 mi (85.5 km) |
| Basin size | 1,417.37 square miles (3,671.0 km2) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Wilmington, North Carolina |
| • average | 1,609.9 cu ft/s (45.59 m3/s) at mouth with Cape Fear River |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Cape Fear River → Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Cape Fear River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Six Runs Creek Clear Run Big Run Canty Mill Creek Wildcat Creek Kings Branch Haw Mill Creek Colvins Creek Moores Creek Bear Branch Cane Creek Cross Way Creek Machine Creek |
| • right | Great Coharie Creek Devane Branch Keith Branch South River Rowan Creek Colly Creek Lyon Creek Line Creek |
It is formed in southern Sampson County, approximately 15 mi. (24 km) south of Clinton, by confluence of two creeks: Great Coharie Creek and Six Runs Creek. It flows SSE, receiving the South River approximately 30 mi (48 km) south of Clinton. It flows southeast through Pender County, past the Moores Creek National Battlefield, and joins the Cape Fear approximately 10 mi (16 km) northwest of Wilmington, near the broadening of the Cape Fear into a tidal estuary.
The river is known for having a wide variety of fish species, ranging from several types of sunfish and catfish, as well as largemouth bass. Ancient bald cypress trees in excess of 2600 years old were discovered along the river in 2019.