Little River (Eno River tributary)

Little River Tributary to Eno River
Location of Little River mouth Show map of North Carolina Little River (Eno River tributary) (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Durham
Physical characteristics
Source	confluence of North and South Forks of Little River
• location	about 3 miles north of Durham, North Carolina[1]
• coordinates	36°09′05″N 078°56′30″W / 36.15139°N 78.94167°W / 36.15139; -78.94167[2]
• elevation	420 ft (130 m)[3]
Mouth	Eno River
• location	Durham, North Carolina[1]
• coordinates	36°04′19″N 078°50′39″W / 36.07194°N 78.84417°W / 36.07194; -78.84417[2]
• elevation	255 ft (78 m)[3]
Length	12.83 mi (20.65 km)[4]
Basin size	104.88 square miles (271.6 km2)[5]
Discharge
• location	Durham, North Carolina
• average	107.74 cu ft/s (3.051 m3/s) at mouth with Eno River[5]
Basin features
Progression	Eno River → Neuse River → Pamlico Sound → Atlantic Ocean
River system	Neuse River
Tributaries
• left	North Fork Little River Mountain Creek
• right	South Fork Little River Cabin Branch
Waterbodies	Little River Reservoir

Little River is a 12.83 mi (20.65 km) long tributary to the Eno River in Durham County, North Carolina. Little River along with the Flat River are the major tributaries to the Eno River before it enters Falls Lake.

Both the North Fork of Little River and the South Fork begin in northern Orange County, North Carolina near Hurdle Mills Road. The South and North Forks come together in a confluence near Guess Road and South Lowell Road in northern Durham County. 5.5 miles southeast of the confluence, the Little River is dammed to form the Little River Reservoir, a drinking water source for the City of Durham. The damming of the river in 1983 flooded a significant portion of the historic community of Orange Factory.^[6]

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Little River was a popular swimming hole and meeting place for Durham's gay residents.^[7] On April 13th, 1981, Chris Lee Richardson and Guy Charles Obsahr killed Ronald “Sonny” Kenneth Antonevitch, whom they suspected of being gay, by clubbing him to death while holding his head under water.^[7] Antonevitch's murder was a catalyst for the LGBTQ rights movement in North Carolina.^[7]

References