Northeast Cape Fear River Tributary to Cape Fear River
Map of the Cape Fear River drainage basin showing the Northeast Cape Fear River
Location of Northeast Cape Fear River mouth Show map of North Carolina Northeast Cape Fear River (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Duplin Lenoir New Hanover Pender Wayne
Physical characteristics
Source	divide between Northeast Cape Fear River and Goshen Swamp
• location	about 1 mile southeast of Mount Olive, North Carolina
• coordinates	35°10′19″N 078°02′36″W / 35.17194°N 78.04333°W / 35.17194; -78.04333[1]
• elevation	146 ft (45 m)[2]
Mouth	Cape Fear River
• location	Wilmington, North Carolina
• coordinates	34°14′28″N 077°57′14″W / 34.24111°N 77.95389°W / 34.24111; -77.95389[1]
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)[2]
Length	131.25 mi (211.23 km)[3]
Basin size	1,714.70 square miles (4,441.1 km2)[4]
Discharge
• location	Cape Fear River
• average	2,090.03 cu ft/s (59.183 m3/s) at mouth with Cape Fear River[4]
Basin features
Progression	Cape Fear River → Atlantic Ocean[3]
River system	Cape Fear River
Tributaries
• left	Poley Branch Jumping Run Great Branch Matthews Creek Burn Coat Creek White Oak Branch Tandam Branch Jump and Run Branch Limestone Creek Muddy Creek Cypress Creek Holly Shelter Creek Ashes Creek Lillington Creek Harrisons Creek Island Creek Ness Creek Smith Creek
• right	Rattlesnake Branch Polly Run Creek Mire Branch Beaverdam Branch Horsepen Branch Sandy Run Camp Branch Housland Branch Goshen Swamp Grey Run Welch Branch Dark Branch Grove Creek Stocking Head Creek Island Creek Oakie Branch Rockfish Creek Washington Creek Lewis Creek Watermelon Run Burgaw Creek Cypress Creek McIntire Creek Pike Creek Old Creek Turkey Creek Long Creek Cowpen Branch Tonys Creek Lagoon Creek

Northeast Cape Fear River is a 131.2 mi (211.1 km) long 5th order tributary to the Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina.

According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as:^[1]

• North East River
• Northeast Fork

Northeast Cape Fear River rises about 1 mile southeast of Mount Olive, North Carolina in Wayne County and about 10 mi (16 km) south of Goldsboro and then flows south to the Cape Fear River at Wilmington, North Carolina.^[2] On its course it flows past Albertson, Hallsville, and Chinquapin. In Pender County near the Atlantic coast, it passes along the west side of Angola Swamp and Holly Shelter Swamp. It joins the Cape Fear River on the north end of Wilmington, forming an estuary that emerges at Cape Fear. The lower 50 mi (80 km) of the river is tidal.

Northeast Cape Fear River drains 1,714.70 square miles (4,441.1 km²) of area, receives about 53.8 in/year of precipitation, and has a wetness index of 593.72 and is about 19% forested.^[4]

The river and its valley are home to a variety of interesting and uncommon flora and fauna, including the palmetto, cypress, alligator, pileated woodpecker, venus flytrap, and bowfin.

• Isabelle S. Holmes Bridge (US 74/NC 133)
• Dan Cameron Bridge (I-140)
• Frank H. Kenan Bridge (I-40)
• Northeast Cape Fear Bridge (US 117/NC 133)

• Goshen Swamp
• List of North Carolina rivers

• USGS Water Gauge near Chinquapin, North Carolina
• USGS Water Gauge near Burgaw, North Carolina