James River (Virginia)

The James River in the U.S. state of Virginia is 547.160 km (340 miles) long and drains a watershed comprising 26,000 km² (10,000 square miles), an area with a population of 2.6 million people (2000). The James River forms in the Allegheny Mountains, near Iron Gate from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers, and flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

Related Topics:
U.S. state - Virginia - Watershed - Allegheny Mountains - Iron Gate - Confluence - Cowpasture - Jackson River - Chesapeake Bay

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The earliest permanent English settlement in the Americas was in 1607 at Jamestown, along the banks of the James River; Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is at its fall line. Navigation of the river played an important role in early Virginia commerce and the settlement of the interior. Produce from the Piedmont and Great Valley regions traveled down the river to seaports at Richmond through such port towns as Lynchburg, Scottsville, Columbia and Buchanan. The James River was considered as a route for transport of produce from the Ohio Valley, and the James River and Kanawha Canal was built for this purpose.

Related Topics:
English settlement in the Americas - 1607 - Jamestown - Richmond - Fall line - Piedmont - Great Valley - Lynchburg - Scottsville - Columbia - Buchanan - Ohio Valley - James River and Kanawha Canal

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The Native Americans called the James River the Powhatan River.

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During the American Civil War, the XVIII Corps and X Corps of the Union Army merged to form the Army of the James, named after the river. During the war the army took part in many battles and military operations along the river.

Related Topics:
American Civil War - XVIII Corps - X Corps - Union Army - Army of the James

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