Where Is Jamestown? Tracing the Birthplace of American History

Nestled along the tide-sculpted banks of Virginia’s James River, Jamestown stands as the first permanent English settlement in North America, a foundational chapter in the story of American civilization. Founded in 1607, this modest outpost—just a few miles north of modern-day Williamsburg—marks the beginning of over three centuries of colonial expansion, cultural transformation, and enduring legacy. Its location, chosen for strategic and logistical reasons, shaped the trajectory of early U.S.

development in ways still visible today.

The Strategic Location That Built a Nation