The Pacolet River flows easterly from Hendersonville just north of the NC-SC border and parallel to the border before it takes a south easterly direction into SC where it merges and becomes the Broad River. There is a South Pacolet River in SC which is a tributary of the main Pacolet River. There seems to be a unique weather area and must have been favorable to early settlers to include the FRENCHs. There is still a need to identify the French Broad River and the reason for its name. Best regards, Hugh