The South Yadkin River is a 75 mi (121 km) long river that flows through Alexander, Davie, Iredell, Rowan, and Wilkes counties of North Carolina. The mouth is located north of High Rock Lake, where the South Yadkin River meets the Yadkin River. Major cities along the course of the South Yadkin River include, Statesville in Iredell County and Cooleemee in Davie County. The South Yadkin River forms the border of Davie and Rowan counties. High Rock Lake begins at the confluence of the South Yadkin River and the similarly named and larger Yadkin River.

Alexander County is a county established in the U.S. state of North Carolina in 1847. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,444. Its county seat is Taylorsville. Alexander County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.