Smith River

… rises in W Virginia and flows NE to a point approx. 3 mi. N of the North Carolina-Virginia state line, where it turns S and flows SE into N Rockingham County. It enters Dan River at Eden. Called Irvin River by William Byrd in 1728 and appears as Irvine River on the Moseley map, 1733. Named for Alexander Irvine, professor of mathematics at the College of William and Mary and a member of Byrd's survey party of the North Carolina-Virginia line. Over time came to be known as Smith River for hunters Gideon and Daniel Smith, who settled on the upper waters of the river. Appears as Smith River on the Price map, 1808.