Eagle Rock, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Eagle Rock is an unincorporated community
in Botetourt County
, Virginia
, United States
, located on the James River
between Iron Gate and Buchanan, Virginia
.
and the kilns for making lime. Limestone was transported across the river via a tram system and then burned in the kilns to make lime. Old quarries and locally known Quarry Hill are located on either side of US 220.
) and the Craig Valley Line, which ran to Surber Station and on to New Castle, Virginia
.
. These headwaters, called the Upper James, provide places for canoeing and freshwater fishing. A 16 miles (25.7 km) stretch of the James River between Eagle Rock and Springwood is the only part of the James River that has been designated a Virginia Scenic River.
The James River is renowned for its smallmouth fishing. The 45 miles (72.4 km) stretch that winds its way through Botetourt is becoming a popular muskie site in Virginia. The river also offers rock bass, bream, and catfish fishing. For those wishing to fish from a canoe,raft,or flat-bottom boat, there is a public boat ramp at Horshoe Bend on route 43 east (downstream) of Eagle Rock and another in the town of Buchanan. Between the ramps,there is a parking area and a decent take-out below the bridge at Springwood. Carrying boat and gear up a 30-40 yard slope is required when you take out there.
Remnants of the James River and Kanawha Canal can still be found today. The stone locks are old bridge abutments represent an important part of the county's history. Plans brought the canal to Buchanan before the Civil War and the coming of the railroad curbed traffic on the system before it was eventually abandoned. The JR&KC was to link Richmond
with the Mississippi River
via the James River, and an overland route to the Greenbrier River in West Virginia
. That would have tied the canal to the Kanawha, then the Ohio River
and the Mississippi.
Craigs Creek, which starts in neighboring Craig County
, provides its own recreational opportunities. There are many private camps and cabins on the creek which passes through Jefferson National Forest and private land on its way to the James River at Eagle Rock. Most of the year, it can be canoed and fished, but there are no designated public access points.
Several trout streams in the Jefferson and George Washington National Forests provide rainbow, brook and brown trout fishing. Jennings Creek, North Creek and Middle Creek in the northeastern part of the county are stocked each spring, along with Roaring Run in the northern part of the county. One section of North Creek is a special regulation stream. Native trout inhabit other mountain streams.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Botetourt County
Botetourt County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located on the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
between Iron Gate and Buchanan, Virginia
Buchanan, Virginia
Buchanan is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Buchanan is located at ....
.
Geography
Eagle Rock is located at 37.640686°N 79.801156°W (37.640686, -79.801156). Its elevation is 971 feet (296 m).History
Eagle Rock is famous for having the last lock of the James River and Kanawha CanalJames River and Kanawha Canal
The James River and Kanawha Canal was a canal in Virginia, which was built to facilitate shipments of passengers and freight by water between the western counties of Virginia and the coast....
and the kilns for making lime. Limestone was transported across the river via a tram system and then burned in the kilns to make lime. Old quarries and locally known Quarry Hill are located on either side of US 220.
Rail history
At the end of the canal system, transportation was done by rail. Eagle Rock was the point of convergence of the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad (soon to be known as the C&O, and later CSX CorporationCSX Corporation
CSX Corporation was formed in 1980 by the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries and eventually merged the various railroads owned by those predecessors into a single line that became known as CSX Transportation. Based in Richmond, Virginia, USA after the merger, in 2003...
) and the Craig Valley Line, which ran to Surber Station and on to New Castle, Virginia
New Castle, Virginia
New Castle is the only town in Craig County, Virginia, United States. The population was 153 at the 2010 census...
.
Fishing & boating in Eagle Rock
The Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers converge in northern Botetourt County to form Virginia's largest river, the James RiverJames River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
. These headwaters, called the Upper James, provide places for canoeing and freshwater fishing. A 16 miles (25.7 km) stretch of the James River between Eagle Rock and Springwood is the only part of the James River that has been designated a Virginia Scenic River.
The James River is renowned for its smallmouth fishing. The 45 miles (72.4 km) stretch that winds its way through Botetourt is becoming a popular muskie site in Virginia. The river also offers rock bass, bream, and catfish fishing. For those wishing to fish from a canoe,raft,or flat-bottom boat, there is a public boat ramp at Horshoe Bend on route 43 east (downstream) of Eagle Rock and another in the town of Buchanan. Between the ramps,there is a parking area and a decent take-out below the bridge at Springwood. Carrying boat and gear up a 30-40 yard slope is required when you take out there.
Remnants of the James River and Kanawha Canal can still be found today. The stone locks are old bridge abutments represent an important part of the county's history. Plans brought the canal to Buchanan before the Civil War and the coming of the railroad curbed traffic on the system before it was eventually abandoned. The JR&KC was to link Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
with the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
via the James River, and an overland route to the Greenbrier River in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. That would have tied the canal to the Kanawha, then the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
and the Mississippi.
Craigs Creek, which starts in neighboring Craig County
Craig County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,091 people, 2,060 households, and 1,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, provides its own recreational opportunities. There are many private camps and cabins on the creek which passes through Jefferson National Forest and private land on its way to the James River at Eagle Rock. Most of the year, it can be canoed and fished, but there are no designated public access points.
Several trout streams in the Jefferson and George Washington National Forests provide rainbow, brook and brown trout fishing. Jennings Creek, North Creek and Middle Creek in the northeastern part of the county are stocked each spring, along with Roaring Run in the northern part of the county. One section of North Creek is a special regulation stream. Native trout inhabit other mountain streams.
Notable residents
- William Hanes AyresWilliam Hanes AyresWilliam Hanes Ayres was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio.-Biography:...
(1916–2000), U.S. Congressman from OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, was born in Eagle Rock.
External links
- Down Home in Eagle Rock by Anita J. Firebaugh, Cooperative Living magazine, February 2000
- Eagle Rock Myspace