MEHERRIN RIVER

The 'Meherrin River' begins in central Virginia about 50 miles northwest of Emporia. It flows roughly east-southeast into North Carolina, where it joins the larger Chowan River. A twenty foot high dam on the river creates a reservoir in Emporia. For most of its length, the Meherrin is not large enough for commercial traffic. It widens somewhat between Murfreesboro, North Carolina and the Chowan. Prior to the Civil War, this section of the river was a significant trading route for Northeastern North Carolina.
The river's name refers to the Meherrin Indians.