Pollution in the north fork was the source of dispute in Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc.

A local legend says the river got its name for its "tiger-like" current.

The Tyger River starts as three forks in Spartanburg County, in upstate South Carolina, the north, middle, and south Tyger Rivers.

The rivers flow generally southeastward until joining near Woodruff.

This point is the tri-point between Newberry, Union, and Fairfield Counties.