| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
It is formed at West Point, approximately 40 mi (64 km) east of Richmond, by the confluence of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers. It drains into the Chespeake towards the southeast, entering the bay approximately 5 mi (8 km) east of Yorktown, which sits alongs its southern shore. U.S. Highway 17 crosses the estuary from Yorktown to Gloucester Point.
The peninsula formed by the York and the James River just to the south became the scene of the end campaign of the American Revolutionary War in October 1781Events January 5 American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold. January 30 Articles of Confederation ratified by 13th state, Maryland. January William Pitt the Younger, later Prime Minister, enters. The BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain was created by the merger of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England in 1707 (see Act of Union 1707). A single parliament and government, based in Westminster in London, ran the entire kingdom. They had shared a monarch si Army under Cornwallis at Yorktown found itself cornered by the Americans under George WashingtonGeorge Washington ( February 22, 1732 December 14, 1799), also called Father of his Country 1 was an American general and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War ( 1775 1783) and later the first President of the Unite on land by the FrenchThe French Republic or France ( French: Republique francaise or France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. fleet at sea. The ensuing American victory at the Battle of YorktownLord Cornwallis at Yorktown by John Trumbull, painted 1797. The Battle of Yorktown ( 1781) was the final decisive battle of the American Revolutionary War fought between George Washington leading the American forces, General Rochambeau with an allied Fren forced the surrender of Cornwallis and the end of the war in the east. During the American Civil War, the same area became the theater of the Peninsular Campaign of 1862Events January-March January 10 End of term for John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Amasa Leland Stanford. January 30 The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched. February 1 Julia Ward Howe's " Battle Hy.
The York River was formerly known as the Pamaunk River by the Indians.
York River State Park is located along the southern shore northwest of Yorktown.