The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Cumberland River

CUMBERLAND RIVER, a stream which rises in the Cumberland mountains near the S. E. boundary of Kentucky, flows W. and S. W., and enters Tennessee between Jackson and Overton counties. After a circuit of nearly 250 m. through the middle of Tennessee, it makes a bend to the N. W., recrosses the Kentucky border about 10 m. from the Tennessee river, and runs nearly parallel with that stream until it joins the Ohio at Smithland. Its whole course is estimated at over 600 m. At high water it is navigable by steamboats to Nashville, 200 m. from its mouth, and by small boats for nearly 500 m. Not far from Williamsburg, Ky., it has a remarkable vertical fall of 60 ft. It drains an area of about 17,000 sq. m.