Coosawhatchie River – Jasper County, South Carolina

Named for the Coosa Indians who once inhabited its banks, the Coosawhatchie River (pronounced KOO-suh-HATCH-ee) is a tidal river which originates near the towns of Allendale and Fairfax. It flows southeast until it joins the Broad River and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Coosa tribe was a subtribe of the Cusabo, which loosely translates as Coosawatchie River people. Unfortunately, the Cusabo and its subtribes are now extinct. During the late 1600s and early 1700s, they suffered attacks by both colonists and the fierce Yuchi tribe. The enslavement of Indians was also officially sanctioned during this time, and many Cusabo were sold to plantations in the West Indies. By 1750 the Cusabo no longer existed as a distinct tribe, and it is commonly believed that its members merged with the Catawbas or the Creek of Georgia.

Altogether, the Coosawhatchie River flows through four South Carolina counties: Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, and Beaufort. The areas surrounding the river were home to several Civil War and American Revolution battles, including the Battle of Coosawhatchie in 1779.

Many thanks to Lamar Nix for sharing this photo he took during a low tide sunrise in 2010.