Length 92 km Country United States of America | Mouth Wilson Lake | |
- location Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States - location near Killen in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States Source Lawrence County, Tennessee | ||
Shoal Creek (originally called the Sycamore River) is a 56.9 mile long river from its East point or 67.6 miles long from the North point on the Little Shoal Creek north of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The stream rises in northern Lawrence County, Tennessee, and enters the Tennessee River in Lauderdale County, Alabama, where its lower reaches are impounded in the backwater of Wilson Dam.
Map of Shoal Creek, Alabama, USA
Historically, Shoal Creek /(Sycamore River) was an important source of water power for the cotton industry in Lawrence County. Among the early users of the stream's water power was David Crockett, who settled near the creek bank in 1817 and started a powder mill, grist mill and distillery. After these operations were destroyed by a flood in September 1821, Crockett left the area and moved to West Tennessee. This history is commemorated by David Crockett State Park.
On July 13, 1998, flash flooding on Shoal Creek caused two deaths and led to the temporary loss of water supply and sewage treatment in Lawrenceburg. The flooding occurred after about 9 inches (230 mm) of rain fell in just 4 hours, resulting in what was estimated to be a 100-year flood.