Near Radford in Pulaski County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The New River

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 2, 2011

1. The New River Marker

Inscription. Not “new” at all, the New River, the second oldest in the world, is more than 320 million years old. Only the Nile is older. The river received its original English name, Wood's River, perhaps from Colonel Abraham Wood who explored the area in 1654, from the 1671 expedition on which he sent Thomas Batte and Robert Hallom, or from Thomas Wood (possibly his son) who died on the 1671 trip. The name New derives from New Brittaine or New Virginia, for the western territory of the Carolinas and Virginia where the river begins, as mentioned after 1651 in official London reports.

Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1654.

Location. 37° 8.415′ N, 80° 34.601′ W. Marker is near Radford, Virginia, in Pulaski County. It is at the intersection of Lee Highway (U.S. 11) and Hazel Hollow Road (Virginia Route 626), on the right when traveling

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north on Lee Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Radford VA 24141, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia,

in the Blue Ridge Highlands,

and in the New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Montgomery County / Pulaski County (within shouting distance of this marker); Radford War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); High Water Mark (approx. 0.4 miles away); Native American Village Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tree of Defense (approx. 0.4 miles away); Green Ash Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); Freedom Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); Service Tree

Lee Hwy (facing east) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 2, 2011

2. Lee Hwy (facing east)

(approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Radford.

Also see . . .
1. New River. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (Submitted on April 4, 2011.)

2. New River Trail State Park. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (Submitted on April 4, 2011.)

Lee Hwy (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 2, 2011

3. Lee Hwy (facing west)

Nearby New River RR Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 2, 2011

4. Nearby New River RR Bridge

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,069 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 4, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.