Tyger River
Etymology
There are several theories to how the river got its name. A local legend says the river got its name for its "tiger-like" current. Another legend states that it was named after a French explorer named Tygert. One legend states that a wild cat and bear fought on the riverbank, with the wild cat winning. The Cherokee called the river Amoyescheck.
According to the Geographic Names Information System, variant names for the river include A Moyes Chek, Tiger River, and Tygar River.
Course
The Tyger River starts as three forks in Spartanburg County, in upstate South Carolina, the north, middle, and south Tyger Rivers. The rivers flow generally southeastward until joining near Woodruff. The river continues flowing southeast until becoming the border for Union and Newberry Counties, while flowing 26 miles through Sumter National Forest. The river continues until joining the Broad River north of the Parr Reservoir. This point is the tri-point between Newberry, Union, and Fairfield Counties.
Via the Broad River, the Tyger River is part of the Santee River Basin.
Crossings
Spartanburg County
SC 14 - Crosses South River
SC 357 - Crosses South and Middle forks
SC 290 (E Poinsett Street Extension) - Crosses South Fork
I-85 - Crosses all 3 forks
SC 296 (Reidville Road)
US 221 - Crosses North and South Forks
Union County
SC 49 (Cross Keys Hwy)
US 176 (Whitmire Hwy)
SC 72 (Carsile Whitmire Hwy)
See also
References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tyger River
- ^ Lake, William C. (22 June 1935). "Names of Union Streams Have Interesting History". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. pp. A1. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ "Tyger River". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2020-09-19.