Yadkin River

… rises in S Watauga County near Blowing Rock and flows SE into Caldwell County, where it turns NE to flow through Wilkes County and along the Surry-Yadkin, Yadkin-Forsyth, Davie-Forsyth, Davie-Davidson, Davidson-Rowan, and a part of the Montgomery-Stanly county lines. It is then joined by the Uwharrie River in forming the Pee Dee River. Called Sapona River by John Lawson in 1709. Appears as "Sapona or Yadkin River" on the Moseley map, 1733. The Sapona Indians lived in the area, but the origin or meaning of Yadkin is uncertain. It was also spelled Yatkin, Atkin, Reatkin, and other ways in the eighteenth century.