Richmond, Virginia is known as the River City because of the James River, a 340-mile-long waterway that passes through the city on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The river has been a lifeline for human settlement since long before British colonists founded Jamestown, at the mouth of the James, in 1607.
Mapping the James River is something that has been done before. You can interact with the James River Parks on their website, and even see the trails you can walk on. Given the layers of mapping of the James, it was difficult to figure out what we could add. The place has been mapped, but Read more about MAPPING THE JAMES[…]
Hop along the rocks at Belle Isle on a warm April day, and you will find a variety of different people taking advantage of all the leisure and recreational activities that the James has to offer. College kids lay out to escape the stresses of exams, families bring their kids to the water after work, Read more about Recreation and Conservation: A Give and Take Relationship[…]
When choosing a place to establish roots, humans and other species look for similar qualities in their homes. The earliest settlers chose what is now Richmond because of its prime location along the James, and many animals thrive off of having the riparian zone near as well. In a perfect world where humans harmoniously shared Read more about Fluctuating Friendships: Humans and Animals Share Space on the James[…]
WHEN YOU LIVE in a place known as “The River City,” there is bound to be some connection between the flowing waters and the local businesses. In just a few short conversations, it is apparent how much the James supports Richmond, not only through leisure, but through economic stimulation. “Richmond is very, very unique,” Travis Read more about REPAYING THE RIVER[…]
By Hunter Ross SPEND A FEW HOURS walking the banks of the James River, as I recently have, and you will easily see the degradation humans have caused. Local college students nonchalantly throw their empties onto the banks, cigarette butts are strewn over rocks, and the water is noticeably polluted in many places. This pattern of disrespecting Read more about EXPLOITATION AND DESTRUCTION: A Brief History of the James[…]
THE JAMES RIVER IS A KEY to understanding Richmond, Virginia. It runs through the city and defines Richmond’s identity: It connects us recreationally, commercially, and personally to the natural world. Through the practice of slow journalism, we’ve sought to understand these connections between the city and the river, and to tell the story of the Read more about UR AND THE JAMES: A LOVE STORY[…]