643:. The Blackwater River was an exception. It flowed south to Albemarle Sound. The Blackwater's headwaters were close to the main settlements along the James River (some within three miles). By the early 18th century, Virginians were living along the upper Blackwater River and using the river for travel and transportation. The political authority of Virginia was centered on Chesapeake Bay. Most of the other rivers used for travel in Virginia at the time emptied into the bay, which helped Virginia's government control the colony's affairs. The settlers using the Blackwater River, however, were drawn away from Chesapeake Bay to the relatively lawless settlements of Albemarle Bay. This played a role in the emerging "southside" society, as the region "south of the James River" became known. As early as 1713 a place called South Quay six and a half miles downriver from Franklin was becoming an important trade port. By 1777 South Quay was known as the leading interior port to the Tidewater area. Large warehouses were storing tobacco, pork and other goods for export and import. The South Quay venture eventually also became a shipyard and built two ships, the
628:
larger, non-Tributary tribes, in light of their own dwindling numbers, besides that "Such large Tracts of Land are of noe benefit nor use unto them". However, King
William and Queen Mary wanted the moratorium on patents extended, and in 1691, another order was given demanding all settlers south of the river to return north. By 1706, the Blackwater boundary law was revoked and settlements south of the river or west of the line became legal.
491:, with trees up to 800 years old. The largest known water tupelo in the United States, according to the National Register of Big Trees, is in Isle of Wight County. It stands 95 feet (29 m) tall with a circumference of 406 inches (10.3 m). Another stand of old-growth bald cypress and tupelo forest, known as Dendron Swamp, was recently designated a Natural Area Preserve by the Virginia Department of Conservation of Recreation.
540:
131:
22:
140:
527:
Blackwater then joins with the
Nottoway to form the Chowan at the Virginia-North Carolina state line. On any one trip you can see whitetail deer, numerous waterfowl, raccoons, squirrels and many unique reptile and amphibian species, not to mention a healthy fish population swimming under the water's surface.
363:
swamp forests. The upper
Blackwater River is called Blackwater Swamp. In this region of Virginia, many streams are called "swamps" but still function like streams in being long and linear, with water moving from one end to the other and laid out in a normal stream tributary network. In contrast, some
452:
About nine miles (14 km) south of
Franklin, on the border between Virginia and North Carolina, the Blackwater River is joined by the Nottoway River, forming the Chowan River, which continues south to Albemarle Sound. The boundary between Virginia and North Carolina runs west from the Atlantic
530:
The dark, tannin stained waters of the
Blackwater River host runs of striped bass, river herring (alewives and blueback), American and hickory shad in the spring. Angling for redbreast sunfish ("red throats" or "red robins") is also quite good in the spring. The river also hosts largemouth bass,
627:
According to a petition by the colonial government of
Virginia made to the King, dated May 1, 1688, the Tributary Indians, who still legally owned the land west of the line, allegedly asked for settlers to move into their territory. The reason for the request was said to be fear of invasion by
526:
The
Blackwater originates as a coastal plain swamp in Prince George County. It flows east through braided channels of bald cypress and tupelo in Surry County. The river then turns south into Southampton County where several boat ramps are accessible for anglers, hunters and boaters alike. The
383:. Settlements in the Blackwater's drainage basin were founded very early in Virginia's history. As a result, the Blackwater River became one of the early migration routes southward from the James River into the region then called Southside Virginia, and beyond into the Albemarle District of
514:
is endemic to the flatwoods ecosystem and the
Blackwater River is the northern range of this woodpecker. Many species of reptiles and amphibians depend on the long leaf pine ecosystem. The Blackwater River is one of the few locations in Virginia that has over thirty species of amphibians.
531:
bluegill, crappie, flier, and chain pickerel populations. Bowfin and gar are common in the lower main stem. Angling for bowfin provides a great opportunity to catch many hard-fighting fish in a short amount of time. The possibility also exists to land a trophy bowfin over ten pounds.
473:— its waters are clear, dark, acidic, low in nutrients, and tannin stained. Several environmental factors cause the blackwater condition. The many forested wetlands along the river include Streamhead Pocosins and Bald Cypress and Tupelo Swamps.
566:
460:
of the
Blackwater River contains a portion of three cities and five counties of Virginia: the cities of Franklin, Petersburg, and Suffolk, and the counties of Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex.
556:
Canoe access can be found off of Rt. 619 (Burdette), Rt. 189 (S. Quay), and Rt. 620 (Broadwater Br.), but beware of vehicle parking restrictions. If you are putting in at Rt. 620 speak with landowner across the street.
453:
Ocean, striking the
Blackwater River about a half mile (1 km) north of the confluence with the Nottoway River. From there the state line follows the Blackwater River south to the confluence, then continues west.
698:, which borders Southampton County and Isle of Wight County. Unlike the marshy areas upstream, at these points the river's channel is limited, and flood stages can be reached very quickly. This occurred during
442:. While canoes and other small boats plied the Blackwater upstream of Franklin in colonial times (and still do today), in the steamboat era, navigation was restricted to the river downstream of Franklin.
682:, when heavy rainfall occurs throughout the area, severe flooding occasionally occurs at several points as the large volume of water flows downstream. Critical points of such flooding have been near
882:
Kennedy, Philip Pendleton."The Blackwater Chronicle: a narrative of an expedition into the land of Canaan in Randolph County, Virginia" Morgantown : West Virginia University Press, 2002. Web.
639:
made land transport difficult, especially when moving goods. Migration and settlement patterns thus tended to follow the rivers, most of which flowed from the west and emptied into
502:. The forests were once common in southeastern Virginia, but today are restricted, in Virginia, to a few small sites on the east side of the Blackwater River. Near the town of
982:
977:
608:
By the late 17th century, some settlers from Virginia were crossing the Blackwater-Ft. Henry-Monacan town boundary, and settling in territory of Indian tribes such as the
972:
962:
775:
Near the headwaters of the Meherrin, Nottoway, and Blackwater Rivers, Piney Grove Preserve harbors the northernmost population of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
569:
The portion of the 1646 Treaty line running from the James River southeast to "Yapim" on the Blackwater remained the legal frontier for colonists for the next 60 years.
987:
423:
called Warwick Swamp, Otterdam Swamp, Coppahaunk Swamp, and Cypress Swamp. In southern Surry County, the Blackwater River turns south and forms the border between
967:
759:
487:. Most were logged, thus old-growth examples are rare. The Blackwater River Preserve protects one of the oldest bald cypress and tupelo swamp forests in the
39:
912:
803:
897:
593:
lands at the lower Blackwater River (or Blackwater Swamp) up to its head at "Yapim" (modern Franklin), and thence in a directly straight line to the "
616:. The government of Virginia repeatedly ordered such people to return northeast of this line, and would not allow the land beyond to be surveyed for
379:. It was one of the few rivers of colonial Virginia that did not empty into Chesapeake Bay yet lay close to the colony's oldest settlements on the
997:
266:
590:
992:
651:, that helped defend the coast from the British fleet in 1777/78. On July 16, 1781, English Lieutenant Colonel Dundas was dispatched by
86:
952:
58:
597:
town" (Mowhemencho, at the eastern tip of Powhatan County). Native Americans were only allowed to cross this line at the newly built
480:, including the rare type called streamhead pocosin. The only two streamhead pocosins known in Virginia are on the Blackwater River.
957:
892:
547:
Recreational opportunities are limited to some bridge crossings, state boat ramps, and canoe access areas. No permits are required.
211:
105:
927:
65:
789:
Our Living Resources: A Report to the Nation on the Distribution, Abundance, and Health of U.S. Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems
574:
666:-occupied territory and Confederate Virginia. The boundary was not well defended, allowing thousands of "contrabands" (as the
670:
were called during the war) the chance to flee east out of Southampton County, across the Blackwater River and into freedom.
507:
424:
408:
197:
43:
72:
605:
now is, and they had to display a special badge, without which they could be killed on the spot, or after 1662, arrested.
907:
947:
913:
https://web.archive.org/web/20110720010249/http://www.cecer.army.mil/techreports/Tra_peat.wpd/Tra_peat-04.htm#P199_14402
667:
624:
asked Governor Howard for permission to grant some land south of the Blackwater River. The governor denied the request.
428:
942:
679:
582:
54:
431:. It collects tributaries called Terrapin Swamp, Antioch Swamp, Seacock Swamp, Corrowaugh Swamp, and Kingsale Swamp.
898:
https://web.archive.org/web/20060806164111/http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia/preserves/
833:
715:
663:
32:
810:
746:
734:
902:
518:
The many old forests and wetlands along the Blackwater River have made it popular for recreational canoeing.
511:
416:
553:
A new double-lane boat ramp with paved parking will be open in the City of Franklin in the spring of 2007.
550:
Boat ramps can be found at Routes 611 (Joyner's Bridge Rd) and 603 off Route 258 in Isle of Wight County.
488:
484:
412:
380:
312:
598:
376:
79:
809:(Report). The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond, Virginia. p. 121. Archived from
602:
404:
392:
384:
308:
311:
for about 105 miles (170 km) through the Inner Coastal Plain region of Virginia (part of the
893:
https://web.archive.org/web/20060718182754/http://www.nature.org/pressroom/ip/about/virginia.html
695:
659:
621:
439:
435:
928:
https://web.archive.org/web/20050908111946/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/lordcornell/iwhr/va/iwc.htm
371:
The Blackwater River was a transportation route in the 17th and 18th centuries, connecting the
787:
655:
to destroy South Quay, ending the commercial activity of what today is called Old South Quay.
446:
691:
470:
340:
699:
613:
594:
324:
922:
445:
South of Franklin, the Blackwater River forms the border between Southampton County and
403:
The Blackwater River originates in several swamps within, or just south of, the city of
687:
683:
640:
503:
457:
388:
372:
344:
328:
316:
908:
https://web.archive.org/web/20060716050052/http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh/dendron.htm
581:
confederation, a peace treaty was agreed to by the leaders of the two sides (Governor
539:
130:
936:
495:
360:
158:
631:
Transportation in early colonial Virginia was usually done by water. The many wide
356:
320:
252:
678:
Because the Blackwater River drains a large area of southern Virginia east of the
917:
703:
586:
420:
411:, where it is called Blackwater Swamp. It then forms part of the border between
352:
247:
21:
652:
617:
609:
494:
Another rare type of forest found along the Blackwater River is a type called
327:. The Blackwater-Nottoway confluence forms the boundary between Virginia and
281:
268:
226:
213:
144:
The Blackwater River is the northernmost of the Albemarle Sound river system.
747:
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Blackwater River
735:
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Blackwater Swamp
632:
499:
139:
903:
https://web.archive.org/web/20060810172405/http://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/
578:
304:
168:
565:
636:
477:
365:
792:. Government Printing Office. 1995. pp. 129–. GGKEY:GNNDT92267Q.
343:. Its water is clear, dark, slightly acidic, and tannin stained. Its
538:
348:
706:
storm dumped 10 inches (25 cm) of rain on the region.
662:, the Blackwater River was for a time the dividing line between
483:
Bald Cypress and Tupelo Swamps occur along many streams of the
364:
of the region's wetlands are not streams, such as the bog-like
15:
861:, Vol. I, p. 684. Greensboro, N.C.: Charles L. Van Noppen.
760:"Virginia: Southeastern Virginia: Southern Rivers Program"
874:, Vol. V, p. 250. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme.
368:
found on the higher land between swamp-stream drainages.
804:
Virginia's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
419:, where its name becomes Blackwater River. It collects
923:
http://www.virginiaplaces.org/regions/14southside.html
702:
in 1999, and again in October 2006, after an unnamed
543:
Boy Scouts canoeing on the Blackwater River, Virginia
589:). The treaty set the boundary between Virginia and
848:, p. 456. Cleveland: The Burrow Brothers Company.
258:
246:
203:
191:
183:
174:
164:
154:
149:
123:
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
834:A Study of Virginia Indians and Jamestown, ch. 4
469:The Blackwater River is, as its name implies, a
918:http://sciway3.net/clark/gill/vaheadright.html
395:differs somewhat from that of colonial times.
8:
859:History of North Carolina: From 1584 to 1783
573:In 1646, after two years of war between the
872:Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain
983:Bodies of water of Sussex County, Virginia
978:Bodies of water of Surry County, Virginia
355:is mostly forested and swampy, including
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
973:Rivers of Prince George County, Virginia
963:Rivers of Isle of Wight County, Virginia
564:
727:
307:flows from its source near the city of
988:Rivers of Southampton County, Virginia
120:
968:Bodies of water of Poquoson, Virginia
438:lies on its west bank at the river's
7:
44:adding citations to reliable sources
846:The Navy of the American Revolution
14:
844:Paullin, Charles Oscar (1906).
506:, one stand is protected by the
476:The Blackwater is known for its
138:
129:
118:River in Virginia, United States
55:"Blackwater River" Virginia
20:
391:). Today's usual definition of
339:The Blackwater River is a true
31:needs additional citations for
998:Tributaries of Albemarle Sound
857:Ashe, Samuel A'Court (1908).
766:. The Nature Conservancy. 2016
508:Blackwater Ecological Preserve
260: • coordinates
205: • coordinates
1:
407:. It flows southeast through
175:Physical characteristics
315:). The Blackwater joins the
993:Rivers of Suffolk, Virginia
749:; retrieved April 20, 2007.
737:; retrieved April 20, 2007.
680:Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line
193: • location
1014:
716:List of rivers of Virginia
561:Colonial and later history
953:Borders of North Carolina
870:Beatson, Robert (1804).
601:on the Appomattox, where
242:
179:
137:
128:
958:Rivers of North Carolina
512:Red-cockaded woodpecker
570:
544:
485:Atlantic Coastal Plain
313:Atlantic Coastal Plain
568:
542:
535:Canoeing and kayaking
377:Albemarle Settlements
375:settlements with the
323:, which empties into
282:36.54389°N 76.91611°W
227:37.18028°N 77.38167°W
425:Isle of Wight County
409:Prince George County
309:Petersburg, Virginia
198:Prince George County
40:improve this article
948:Borders of Virginia
287:36.54389; -76.91611
278: /
232:37.18028; -77.38167
223: /
943:Rivers of Virginia
660:American Civil War
622:House of Burgesses
571:
545:
440:head of navigation
429:Southampton County
297:
296:
116:
115:
108:
90:
1005:
875:
868:
862:
855:
849:
842:
836:
831:
825:
824:
822:
821:
815:
808:
800:
794:
793:
784:
778:
777:
772:
771:
756:
750:
744:
738:
732:
692:independent city
583:William Berkeley
471:blackwater river
341:blackwater river
303:of southeastern
301:Blackwater River
293:
292:
290:
289:
288:
283:
279:
276:
275:
274:
271:
238:
237:
235:
234:
233:
228:
224:
221:
220:
219:
216:
206:
194:
142:
133:
124:Blackwater River
121:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
1013:
1012:
1008:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1003:
1002:
933:
932:
889:
879:
878:
869:
865:
856:
852:
843:
839:
832:
828:
819:
817:
813:
806:
802:
801:
797:
786:
785:
781:
769:
767:
758:
757:
753:
745:
741:
733:
729:
724:
712:
700:Hurricane Floyd
676:
620:. In 1685, the
575:Virginia colony
563:
537:
524:
498:and Mixed Pine
467:
465:Natural history
401:
337:
325:Albemarle Sound
286:
284:
280:
277:
272:
269:
267:
265:
264:
261:
231:
229:
225:
222:
217:
214:
212:
210:
209:
204:
192:
145:
119:
112:
101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1011:
1009:
1001:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
935:
934:
931:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
888:
887:External links
885:
884:
883:
877:
876:
863:
850:
837:
826:
795:
779:
751:
739:
726:
725:
723:
720:
719:
718:
711:
708:
688:U.S. Route 460
675:
672:
641:Chesapeake Bay
562:
559:
536:
533:
523:
520:
504:Zuni, Virginia
466:
463:
400:
397:
389:North Carolina
373:Chesapeake Bay
351:. The river's
347:contains many
345:drainage basin
336:
333:
329:North Carolina
317:Nottoway River
295:
294:
262:
259:
256:
255:
250:
244:
243:
240:
239:
207:
201:
200:
195:
189:
188:
185:
181:
180:
177:
176:
172:
171:
166:
162:
161:
156:
152:
151:
147:
146:
143:
135:
134:
126:
125:
117:
114:
113:
28:
26:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1010:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
940:
938:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
890:
886:
881:
880:
873:
867:
864:
860:
854:
851:
847:
841:
838:
835:
830:
827:
816:on 2016-02-22
812:
805:
799:
796:
791:
790:
783:
780:
776:
765:
761:
755:
752:
748:
743:
740:
736:
731:
728:
721:
717:
714:
713:
709:
707:
705:
701:
697:
693:
690:, and in the
689:
685:
681:
673:
671:
669:
665:
661:
656:
654:
650:
646:
642:
638:
634:
629:
625:
623:
619:
615:
611:
606:
604:
600:
596:
592:
588:
584:
580:
576:
567:
560:
558:
554:
551:
548:
541:
534:
532:
528:
521:
519:
516:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
496:Longleaf Pine
492:
490:
486:
481:
479:
474:
472:
464:
462:
459:
454:
450:
448:
443:
441:
437:
432:
430:
426:
422:
418:
417:Sussex County
414:
410:
406:
398:
396:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
374:
369:
367:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
334:
332:
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
291:
263:
257:
254:
251:
249:
245:
241:
236:
208:
202:
199:
196:
190:
186:
182:
178:
173:
170:
167:
163:
160:
159:United States
157:
153:
148:
141:
136:
132:
127:
122:
110:
107:
99:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
871:
866:
858:
853:
845:
840:
829:
818:. Retrieved
811:the original
798:
788:
782:
774:
768:. Retrieved
763:
754:
742:
730:
677:
657:
648:
644:
630:
626:
607:
572:
555:
552:
549:
546:
529:
525:
517:
493:
482:
475:
468:
455:
451:
444:
434:The city of
433:
413:Surry County
402:
370:
357:bald cypress
338:
321:Chowan River
319:to form the
300:
298:
253:Chowan River
102:
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
704:Nor'-Easter
658:During the
618:land grants
587:Necotowance
421:tributaries
381:James River
353:flood plain
285: /
230: /
96:August 2024
937:Categories
820:2016-02-15
770:2016-02-15
764:nature.org
722:References
653:Cornwallis
649:Washington
610:Appomattoc
603:Petersburg
599:Fort Henry
585:and Chief
405:Petersburg
273:76°54′58″W
270:36°32′38″N
218:77°22′54″W
215:37°10′49″N
66:newspapers
633:estuaries
500:Flatwoods
458:watershed
393:Southside
710:See also
696:Franklin
674:Flooding
647:and the
637:wetlands
614:Nottoway
612:and the
579:Powhatan
577:and the
478:pocosins
436:Franklin
385:Carolina
366:pocosins
335:Overview
305:Virginia
169:Virginia
150:Location
645:Caswell
595:Monacan
522:Fishing
447:Suffolk
387:(later
155:Country
80:scholar
686:along
668:slaves
591:Indian
510:. The
399:Course
361:tupelo
349:swamps
187:
184:Source
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
814:(PDF)
807:(PDF)
664:Union
489:South
248:Mouth
165:State
87:JSTOR
73:books
684:Zuni
635:and
456:The
427:and
415:and
359:and
299:The
59:news
694:of
42:by
939::
773:.
762:.
449:.
331:.
823:.
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
