The Jackson River is a major tributary of the
James River
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesapea ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, flowing .
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
, accessed April 1, 2011 The James River is formed by the confluence of the Jackson River and the
Cowpasture River
The Cowpasture River is a chief tributary of the James River in western Virginia in the United States. It is long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011
Cours ...
.
Course
The Jackson River rises in
Highland County, Virginia
Highland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,232. Its county seat is Monterey. Known as "Virginia's Switzerland" or "Virginia's Little Switzerland", Highland County is the lea ...
, near the border of
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
. It flows south between Back Creek Mountain and Jack Mountain, entering
Bath County, where it continues to flow south. The Jackson River is impounded by
Gathright Dam in
Alleghany County, creating
Lake Moomaw. From the dam, Jackson River flows south and then east through Alleghany County, through the city of
Covington and the town of
Clifton Forge
Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the greater Roanoke Region. The population was 3,555 at the 2020 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jac ...
, before joining with the Cowpasture River to create the James River.
The river is named for the first white settler on its banks,
William Jackson, who received a grant of from
King George II in 1750. Jackson was possibly an acquaintance of Alexander Dunlap, the first white settler on the
Calfpasture River.
See also
*
List of Virginia rivers
This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Virginia.
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries, arranged in the order of their confluence from mouth to source, indented under each larger stream's nam ...
References
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Tributaries of the James River
Rivers of Virginia
Rivers of Bath County, Virginia
Rivers of Highland County, Virginia
Rivers of Alleghany County, Virginia