Transylvania County Library logo

Little River Township, located in southeastern Transylvania
County, is bordered by Boyd, Brevard and Dunn’s Rock townships, as well as
Henderson County and South Carolina. 

Most of the creeks and streams within the township feed
into the Little River before entering the French Broad River.  The Little River actually originates in the
Dunn’s Rock Township, crosses beneath Hwy 276 near the Sequoyah Woods
subdivision and then runs on the west side of the highway.  It does not cross back to the east until
beyond the intersection of Cascade Lake Road with Hwy 276 behind the Cedar Mountain
Fire Department.

The Little River valley provides land for both crops and grazing.

The Little River runs through DuPont State Recreational
Forest where it tumbles over Bridal Veil Falls, High Falls, Triple Falls and
Hooker Falls.  Along the way it picks up
the waters of numerous creeks including Reasonover, Grassy and Hooker.

Further downstream, near the confluence with Merrill
Creek the former Cascade Power Company dam forms the base of Cascade Lake.  From Cascade Lake until it reaches the French
Broad River the Little River meanders through a wide valley.

Hogs gave the Little River area its nickname of Hogtown.

The Little River Turnpike connected Crab Creek Road in the
valley to the Jones Gap Road, which led into South Carolina.  It was a major route for drovers taking hogs
and other livestock to market during the 1800s. 
Near the intersection of present day Crab Creek and Cascade Lake roads, drovers
could pen their stock overnight leading to the area becoming known as Hogtown.

Early settlers were attracted to the fertile lands around
the French Broad and Little rivers.  They
grew corn, grain, hay and vegetables. 
Chickens, hogs and cattle were the typical livestock.  The Little River Community Club scrapbooks,
covering the years of 1952-1995, show the continued importance of agriculture
to the Little River community during the mid-to-late 1900s. 

Gladiolus being loaded at the Thomas Farm in Little River.

In 1952 there were eight dairies and seven farms that
raised cattle, three with chickens and two with turkeys in the Little River
community.  The main crops included corn,
hay and tobacco.  There were also apple
orchards and tree farms.  By the 1960s
millions of gladiolus were being grown on the Thomas farm.  The farm also had packing sheds where flowers and
bulbs were packaged to ship to market.

Sixteen of the Little River Community Club scrapbooks can
be viewed online at digitalnc.org.

Photographs and information for this column are provided
by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. 
Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more
about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information,
comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.

search our catalog

search our events

search our website

search our catalog

search our events

search our website

(828) 884-3151

212 S Gaston St, Brevard, NC 28712