Powhite Creek
Encyclopedia
Powhite Creek is an 8 miles (12.9 km) stream
rising near the unincorporated community of Bon Air
in Chesterfield County
and flowing into the independent city
of Richmond
in central Virginia
. The creek empties into the James River
in the region of the fall line
, where the rapids of the James are located upstream from the head of navigation.
The name is usually pronounced "POW-hite," in the same manner as you pronounce "Powhatan
" and "Powder", although it is alternatively pronounced "Po-white." References to Powhite Creek are included in the Vestry Book of Henrico Parish, Virginia
, 1730-1773, and in Chesterfield County records of the latter time period. It is mentioned in land records as early as 1687, according to research on the Bratcher family (Margaret Bradshaw). The creek was (probably) named by Native Americans
who were in the area long before settlers arrived in the Virginia Colony in the early 17th century.
The nearby Powhite Parkway of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority
(RMA) was named for the creek. The toll road
(Virginia State Route 76) crosses over the creek and under the Norfolk Southern Railway
near the former unincorporated town of Granite
. About a mile north, the toll road crosses the river on a bridge just downstream from the mouth of the creek.
There is also a Powhite Creek in Hanover County, Virginia
. It was the site of the Battle of Gaines' Mill
during the American Civil War
.
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
rising near the unincorporated community of Bon Air
Bon Air, Virginia
Bon Air is a census-designated place in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. The population was 16,366 at the 2010 census. The community is considered a suburb of the independent city of Richmond in the Richmond-Petersburg region, and shares a post office with Richmond...
in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
and flowing into the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of 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...
in central 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...
. The creek empties into the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
in the region of the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, where the rapids of the James are located upstream from the head of navigation.
The name is usually pronounced "POW-hite," in the same manner as you pronounce "Powhatan
Powhatan
The Powhatan is the name of a Virginia Indian confederation of tribes. It is estimated that there were about 14,000–21,000 of these native Powhatan people in eastern Virginia when the English settled Jamestown in 1607...
" and "Powder", although it is alternatively pronounced "Po-white." References to Powhite Creek are included in the Vestry Book of Henrico Parish, Virginia
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 1730-1773, and in Chesterfield County records of the latter time period. It is mentioned in land records as early as 1687, according to research on the Bratcher family (Margaret Bradshaw). The creek was (probably) named by Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who were in the area long before settlers arrived in the Virginia Colony in the early 17th century.
The nearby Powhite Parkway of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority
Richmond Metropolitan Authority
The Richmond Metropolitan Authority is an independent authority and political subdivision which serves the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1966, the RMA was originally tasked with building and maintaining a toll expressway system for the...
(RMA) was named for the creek. The toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
(Virginia State Route 76) crosses over the creek and under the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
near the former unincorporated town of Granite
Granite, Virginia
Granite was an unincorporated town in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It was originally located along the Richmond and Danville Railroad five miles west of Manchester and about a mile south of the rapids of the James River along Powhite Creek....
. About a mile north, the toll road crosses the river on a bridge just downstream from the mouth of the creek.
There is also a Powhite Creek in Hanover County, Virginia
Hanover County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 86,320 people, 31,121 households, and 24,461 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 32,196 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
. It was the site of the Battle of Gaines' Mill
Battle of Gaines' Mill
The Battle of Gaines's Mill, sometimes known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.