James River, river in central Virginia, U.S., formed by the junction of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers and cutting across the Great Appalachian Valley in northern Botetourt county. The James River is Virginia’s largest river, flowing across the entire state. It is 340 miles long and is fed by 15,000 miles of tributaries. It flows in an easterly direction, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains through a series of gorges near Lynchburg and continuing past Richmond, which marks the fall line and head of tidewater, 105 miles (169 km) above its mouth. The river then meanders in a southeasterly direction to enter Hampton Roads through an estuary 5 miles (8 km) wide at Newport News after a course of 340 miles (550 km). As the James River flows through one of the gorges in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it drops in the Balcony Falls and again in a 3-mile (5-km) series of rapids (a total drop of 84 feet [26 meters]) above Richmond, where the river has been impounded by the Boshers Dam. The James river Largest tributaries are Appomattox River, Chickahominy River, Cowpasture River, Hardware River, Jackson River, Maury River, Rivanna River, Tye River. The Appomattox and Chickahominy rivers are the chief tributaries.
The river gets its name from James I, the 17th century monarch who reigned over two distinct kingdoms simultaneously. From 1567 to 1625, James ruled as King of Scotland (as James VI), as well as King of England and Ireland. The river earned this distinctive nickname in 2007 for its historic and economic relevance. The James is known as America’s “founding river” because it was the site of the first permanent English colony at Jamestown in 1607, and home to Virginia’s first colonial capital at Williamsburg. Indigenous people lived in Virginia for 16,000 years before colonists arrived. The tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy settled in villages near the James, and the river served as a transportation corridor for Native Americans and early colonists. The James River was the site of critical battles in the Revolution and the Civil War. During the American Civil War, Union troops used the James in their attempt to capture Richmond and dug the Dutch Gap Canal during their siege. As a waterway, it enabled the growth and development of Virginia, the home of eight – including four of the first five – US presidents.
The James River watershed encompasses approximately 10,000 square miles which makes up almost 25% of the state and serves roughly 3 million residents. It is home to one-third of all Virginians who live in its 39 counties and 19 cities and towns, and touches the lives of more Virginians than any other feature in the landscape. Residents of the watershed rely on the James for drinking water, commerce and recreation. it is comprised of three sections. The Upper James River starts at the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers in Botetourt County and travels through the mountains to Lynchburg. Its watershed lies in the Blue Ridge and the Valley and Ridge regions of Virginia, which includes the Cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, and a small area of Roanoke; Counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland, Rockbridge; and small areas of Giles and Montgomery.
The Middle James River travels from Lynchburg and ends at the fall line in Richmond. Its watershed lies within the Piedmont region of Virginia, which includes the Cities of Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Richmond; Counties of Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover Henrico, Nelson, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Nottoway, and a small area of Louisa.
The Lower James River runs from the fall line in Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed lies in the Coastal Plain region of Virginia, which includes the Cities of Colonial Heights, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg; Counties of Charles City, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, James City, New Kent, Prince George, Suffolk, and Surry.
The James River served as the primary mode of transport for settlers from the 17th until the early 20th century. The river powered local industries like flour-milling, tobacco production, shipbuilding, and even hydroelectric power generation.
Due to its potential for generating mechanical power for rotating machinery such as grist mills, hydroelectric power, and as a water route for trade, many dams have been built across the James River since the time of European settlement of the region. While most of these dams have been removed or failed, several dams still exist along the upper course of the river. The tallest dam is the Reusens Dam, which also has the greatest hydroelectric nameplate capacity and the greatest reservoir capacity. At 1,617 feet, the longest dam is the Cushaw Hydroelectric Project due to the highly angled path the dam takes across the river. While not identified in the National Inventory of Dams, a very low head weir structure is found below Bosher Dam in Richmond on either side of Williams Island. Known as the “Z-Dam” for its zigzag course on the south side of the island, the current structure was built in 1932 and serves to direct water into Richmond’s water treatment facility on the north bank. The less than 5 feet tall dam does not serve any power or navigation purpose.
In addition to supporting a third of Virginia communities, the James River is also home to bald eagles, great blue herons, and a variety of songbirds. Beavers and their nifty dams are also a common sight in these waters. Some of Virginia’s oldest plantations also overlook the James including: Shirley, Berkeley, Westover, Evelynton, Edgewood, Piney Grove, Carter’s Grove, and Sherwood Forest.
No matter the season, the James River always hosts a crowd of fishing enthusiasts. Blue catfish is a prized catch in these waters, with giants growing as heavy as 70 to 100 pounds. Large-mouth and striped bass are favorites, as well. For laidback activities, the calmer sections and the banks of the James offer guests of all ages opportunities for picnicking, camping, swimming, and “tubing” – a leisurely cruise along the waterway on inflated tubes.
