The Smith Fork Creek is a large
stream that flows through
Middle
Middle or The Middle may refer to:
* Centre (geometry), the point equally distant from the outer limits.
Places
* Middle (sheading), a subdivision of the Isle of Man
* Middle Bay (disambiguation)
* Middle Brook (disambiguation)
* Middle Creek (d ...
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to ...
in the United States, draining much of the southwestern Upper Cumberland region.
It is a major tributary of the
Caney Fork River
The Caney Fork River is a river that flows through central Tennessee in the United States, draining a substantial portion of the southwestern Cumberland Plateau and southeastern Highland Rim regions. It is a major tributary of the Cumberland Rive ...
, and is part of the Cumberland,
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
and
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Mis ...
basins. The creek is approximately long, and its watershed covers parts of four counties as a subset of the Caney Fork watershed.
The small towns and communities of
Statesville,
Auburntown,
Gassaway,
Liberty
Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom.
In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...
,
Dowelltown,
Temperance Hall, and
Lancaster Lancaster may refer to:
Lands and titles
*The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire
*Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies
*Duke of Lancaster
*Earl of Lancaster
*House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty
...
are drained by the creek, which empties into the Caney Fork southeast of
Gordonsville.
Geography
The Smith Fork rises in
Wilson County about southwest of Statesville at the confluence of the smaller Knight Creek and Sunset Creek along Greenvale Road.
The stream flows directly through the town of Statesville, following
Highway 267 toward
DeKalb County DeKalb County may refer to one of several counties in the United States, all of which were named for Baron Johan DeKalb:
* DeKalb County, Alabama
* DeKalb County, Georgia
* DeKalb County, Illinois
* DeKalb County, Indiana
* DeKalb County, Missou ...
. Before crossing into DeKalb County, Smith Fork picks up Saunders Fork, a major tributary, which drains much of northwestern
Cannon County
Cannon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,506. Its county seat is Woodbury. Cannon County is part of the Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Sta ...
, including Auburntown. The creek then slowly meanders northeast through western DeKalb County, picking up the
Clear Fork Creek in Liberty and Dry Creek in Dowelltown. After passing through Temperance Hall, the creek enters
Smith County and passes on the west side of Lancaster. The Smith Fork then empties into the Caney Fork River under a railroad bridge along the
Nashville and Eastern Railroad
The Nashville and Eastern Railroad is a shortline railroad which administers of track between Nashville and Monterey, Tennessee, of which are currently operational. The company is based in Lebanon, Tennessee.
The Nashville and Eastern was for ...
, a place known as Seabowisha.
An urban legend exists that Smith Fork Creek is the longest creek in the world at and that a stream must be at least long to be called a river.
However, the creek is not nearly long; it is less than half that long. Furthermore, many streams shorter than are called rivers.
See also
*
Center Hill Lake
Center Hill Lake is a reservoir in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is located in Middle Tennessee near Smithville. Created by means of a dam constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1948, the lake has a dual purpose: electricity prod ...
*
List of rivers of Tennessee
This is a list of rivers of the U.S. state of Tennessee:
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name. All rivers in Tennessee ultimately flow to the Gulf of Mex ...
References
External links
Caney Fork River Water Quality Management PlanCaney Fork Watershed Association
{{authority control
Rivers of DeKalb County, Tennessee
Rivers of Smith County, Tennessee
Rivers of Wilson County, Tennessee
Tributaries of the Cumberland River
Rivers of Tennessee