River in North Carolina, United States
Haw RiverTributary to Cape Fear River
Map of the Cape Fear drainage basin showing Haw River
Etymology Eastern Sioux for piedmont or foothill Native name sak'yápha: (Catawba ) Country United States State North Carolina Region Forsyth County, North Carolina , Guilford County, North Carolina , Alamance County, North Carolina , Chatham County, North Carolina , Orange County, North Carolina Cities Haw River, North Carolina , Swepsonville, North Carolina Source • location Near Kernersville , Forsyth County , North Carolina , United States • coordinates 36°9′46″N 80°1′59.09″W / 36.16278°N 80.0330806°W / 36.16278; -80.0330806 • elevation 1,007 ft (307 m)
Mouth Cape Fear River • location
Chatham County , North Carolina , United States • coordinates
35°35′46.2″N 79°3′9.1″W / 35.596167°N 79.052528°W / 35.596167; -79.052528 • elevation
154 ft (47 m) Length 110 mi (180 km) Basin size 1,707 sq mi (4,420 km2 ) Discharge • location Cape Fear River • average 1,727.41 cu ft/s (48.915 m3 /s) at mouth with Cape Fear River River[ 1]
Tributaries • left Rock Branch , Troublesome Creek , Little Troublesome Creek , Giles Creek , Stony Creek , Boyds Creek , Back Creek , Haw Creek , Meadow Creek , Motes Creek , Cane Creek , Collins Creek , Terrells Creek , Wilkinson Creek , Pokeberry Creek , New Hope River , Shaddox Creek • right Mears Fork , Benaja Creek , Candy Creek , Rose Creek (NC) , Reedy Fork , Travis Creek , Service Creek , Great Alamance Creek , Varnals Creek , Marys Creek , Cane Creek (NC) , Big Branch , Terrell Creek (NC) , Dry Creek , Brooks Creek , Haven Creek , Roberson Creek , Stinking Creek
The Haw River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River , approximately 110 mi (177 km) long, that is entirely contained in north central North Carolina in the United States . It was first documented as the "Hau River" by John Lawson , an English botanist, in his 1709 book "A New Voyage to Carolina." The name is shortened from Saxapahaw, from the Catawban /sak'yápha:/ , "piedmont, foothill", from /sak/ , "hill", plus /yápha:/ , "step".[ 2] The river gives its name to a small town that formed on its banks.