Jamestown Island facts for kids
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Jamestown Island is a special place in Virginia. It's a large island, about 1,561-acre (632 ha; 2.439 sq mi) big, located in the James River. Much of the island is covered by wetlands, like swamps and marshes. It's connected to the mainland by a road called the Colonial Parkway.
History of Jamestown Island
Before English settlers arrived, the area around Jamestown Island was home to the Paspahegh people. They were part of the Virginia Algonquians.
In May 1607, English colonists chose this spot to build James Fort. This became the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. At that time, the area was a peninsula, not a full island.
The chief of the Powhatan people was also named Powhatan. He was the father of Pocahontas. After Chief Powhatan died in 1618, his brother, Opechancanough, became the new leader. Conflicts with the English settlers grew. Opechancanough led big attacks in 1622 and 1644. The English fought back strongly, and both the settlement and the tribe suffered greatly.
Jamestown continued until 1699. After an event called Bacon's Rebellion in 1677, the settlement was eventually abandoned. The capital of the colony moved to a new place called Williamsburg.
Why Jamestown Island is Important Today
By the early 1900s, the narrow strip of land connecting Jamestown to the mainland had worn away. This made it a true island.
Today, most of Jamestown Island is part of the Colonial National Historical Park. This includes Historic Jamestown, where the original fort was located. In 1996, a group called Jamestown Rediscovery found the remains of James Fort. Since then, archaeologists have made many exciting discoveries. These findings teach us a lot about the first English settlers and their lives.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Jamestown para niños
