The Nottoway River is a river 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 sove ...
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 ...
and northeastern
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
that is 155 miles (249 kilometers) in length. The river begins in
Prince Edward County and merges with the
Blackwater River
A blackwater river is a type of river with a slow-moving channel flowing through forested swamps or wetlands. As vegetation decays, tannins leach into the water, making a transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling black tea ...
to form the
Chowan River in North Carolina. The river is part of the Chowan River system, which empties into the
Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound () is a large estuary on the coast of North Carolina in the United States located at the confluence of a group of rivers, including the Chowan and Roanoke. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Currituck Banks, a bar ...
in North Carolina.
Course
The Nottoway River rises in a dense forest outside of Scholfield, an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in
Prince Edward County. The Nottoway serves as the boundary of Prince Edward and
Lunenburg counties, then
Nottoway and Lunenburg counties. The river serves as the boundaries for many counties such as
Brunswick,
Dinwiddie,
Sussex, where it makes a northeastern jump, and
Greensville County. The river then courses southeast into
Southampton County. The Nottoway River reaches
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
9.53 miles (15.3 km) south of
Franklin, Virginia
Franklin is the southwesternmost independent city in Hampton Roads, Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,180. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Franklin with Southampton County for statisti ...
. The river only briefly enters North Carolina for a mere 1,455 feet (443 meters) where the river ends at the confluence of the Blackwater & Nottoway Rivers, creating the
Chowan River in
Hertford County,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
.
Fishing
The Nottoway River is known for its abundance of
bass,
catfish
Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive ...
, and
bluegill, along with the river's multiple
boat ramps across multiple counties.
Cities and towns
Cities and towns along the river include:
*
Courtland, Virginia
*
Stony Creek, Virginia
See also
*
List of rivers of the Americas
*
List of Virginia rivers
*
Cactus Hill
External links
*
Albemarle-Chowan Watershed Roundtable
References
Rivers of North Carolina
Rivers of Virginia
Rivers of Southampton County, Virginia
Tributaries of Albemarle Sound
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