The York River is a navigable estuary, approximately 40 mi (64 km) long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. It ranges in width from 1 mi (1.6 km) at its head to 2.5 mi (4 km) near its mouth on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed drains an area of the coastal plain of Virginia north and east of Richmond. Enormously important in U.S. history, it was the scene of early settlements of the Virginia Colony and played a significant role in both the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing numerous ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits and services. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Senators John Warner (R) George Allen (R) Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. ... In geography, a coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. ... This article is about the city in Virginia. ... The 1609 charter for the Virginia colony from sea to sea The Virginia Colony refers to the English colony in North America that existed during the 17th and 18th centuries before the American Revolution. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen North American colonies. ... The American Civil War was fought in North America from 1861 until 1865 between the United States of America – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ...

Description

It is formed at West Point, approximately 40 mi (64 km) east of Richmond, by the confluence of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers. It drains into the Chespeake towards the southeast, entering the bay approximately 5 mi (8 km) east of Yorktown, which sits alongs its southern shore. U.S. Highway 17 crosses the estuary from Yorktown to Gloucester Point. West Point is the name of a military academy in New York. ... The Mattaponi River is a tributary of the York River estuary in eastern Virginia in the United States. ... Yorktown is a census-designated place located in York County, Virginia. ... MAJOR JUNCTIONS JUNCTION POSTMILE {{{junction}}} Legend BROWSE STATE HWYS {{{browse}}} United States Highway 17 is a north-south United States highway. ... Gloucester Point is a census-designated place located in Gloucester County, Virginia. ...

The peninsula formed by the York and the James River just to the south became the scene of the end campaign of the American Revolutionary War in October 1781. The British Army under Cornwallis at Yorktown found itself cornered by the Americans under George Washington on land by the French fleet at sea. The ensuing American victory at the Battle of Yorktown forced the surrender of Cornwallis and the end of the war in the east. During the American Civil War, the same area became the theater of the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. A peninsula is a geographical formation consisting of an extension of land from a larger body, surrounded by water on three sides. ... The James River in the U.S. state of Virginia is 547. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (December 31, 1738-October 5, 1805) was a British general and colonial governor. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) was an American planter, political figure, and military leader. ... The Battle of Yorktown (1781) was a victory by a combined American and French force led by General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau over a British army commanded by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. ... Map of the events of the campaign. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The York River was formerly known as the Pamaunk River by the Native Americans, and was originally named Charles River by the colonists of the Virginia Company in the 17th century. Native Americans is a term which has several different common meanings and scope, according to regional use and context. ... The 1606 grants by James I to the London and Plymouth companies. ...

York River State Park is located along the southern shore northwest of Yorktown.

See also

• List of Virginia rivers

This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Virginia, as listed in The Hornbook of Virginia History (1994 edition). ...

External links

• York River State Park
• York River Watershed