The early settlers built their homes where ever they could find natural resources^G. One of the most important natural resources to the settlers was water. The first English settlers traveled to Virginia by ship. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean and sailed into the Chesapeake Bay. Once the settlers reached the Chesapeake Bay they decided to do some more exploring. Eventually they found a river. The settlers decided to name this river after their King, James. This is how the James River got its name. The settlers finally chose to create a colony on the banks of the James River. They named their settlement Jamestown. The settlers chose this location very carefully. They chose Jamestown because it had water on three sides of it. The water acted as a shield. It protected them from enemies that might attack by land. The water was also very deep around Jamestown. This made it easy for their large ships to get close to the land.

Transportation

The settlers used the oceans and rivers for transportation. There are many rivers in Virginia. Some of the most important rivers are the Potomac, the James, the York, and the Rappahannock. All of these rivers flow into the Chesapeake Bay. These rivers are deep and wide, and slow moving. Because of this the rivers are easy to travel on. The settlers sailed these rivers as they explored Virginia. Cities often form around centers of transportation. The waterways were the main way to travel in the 1600's. Roads were scarce and tough to travel on. As Virginia grew and more people came to settle there,they needed an effective way to travel the seas. In the late 1600's and the early 1700's the ferryboat was a popular way to travel. Towns grew up around ferry crossings. Once again, the water helped Virginia to grow.

Fishing

Transportation and protection are not the only things that Virginia's waterways provided for the settlers. Virginia's location on the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake make a great spot for fishing. Early settlers ate the fish that they caught in the waters surrounding Virginia. As the cities in Virginia grew, so did the fishing industry^G. Fishing is one of the main industries in Virginia. Many Virginians make their living by selling the fish and shellfish that they catch. The fishing industry has helped the cities grow and prosper. The fish that Virginians catch is processed^G in factories located close to the Chesapeake Bay. The location of the processing plants is very important to Virginia's fishing industry. Being so close to the bay allows for the quick processing of the seafood and thus reduces the risk of spoilage. Below is a picture of some fishermen catching crabs in the Chesapeake Bay.