Why Jamestown Settlers Moved Upriver to Henricus (1610)

The original 1607 fort on Jamestown Island proved deadly. Leaders relocated 12 miles upstream to Henricus for survival.

1. Disease

Marshy island bred malaria, typhoid, dysentery. Mortality >50% in early summers.

2. Powhatan Attacks

Proximity to Werowocomoco invited raids. Upriver offered buffer and better defensibility.

3. Expansion Needs

Island too small for agriculture, livestock, and new arrivals. Henricus had arable terraces.

4. Water Quality

Island wells brackish; tidal saltwater intrusion. Upriver freshwater reliable.

5. Strategic Control

Overlooked river traffic; could monitor trade and threats.

Outcome

Henricus became the colony’s second capital, hosted the first college (Henricus College, 1619), and pioneered tobacco cultivation—securing Virginia’s economic future.