The river flows from Person County to combine with the Eno river to flow into the Neuse River. The river is the namesake for the township called Flat River, which has the highest census total of the 9 communities in Person County because it is mostly a combination of Hurdle Mills and Timberlake through which the river passes.
The river originates in Person County and flows into the Neuse River after merging with the Eno River. The town named Flat River, located along this river, has the highest population among the nine communities within Person County because it is largely composed of Hurdle Mills and Timberlake, which are both situated near the river.