Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Kiskiak Indians

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 20, 2013

1. Kiskiak Indians Marker

Inscription. Algonquin-speaking people occupied eastern Virginia when the English landed at Jamestown in 1607. The Kiskiak, one of their chiefdoms allied under the principal chiefdom of Powhatan, was located near here on the banks of Indian Field Creek. John Smith estimated that the Kiskiak village included “around 40-50 fighting men.” Although primarily located about 15 miles from Jamestown, the Kiskiak ranged across the Peninsula and up and down the south bank of the York River, known to them by the name Pamunkey.

Encroachment on Indian lands by a growing number of land-hungry European newcomers resulted in conflict as settlement pressed north and west from Jamestown. After participating in the Indian uprising of 1622 and ensuing retaliatory acts by the settlers, the Kiskiak abandoned the area in 1629. They moved to the Piankatank River region, leaving their village and the surrounding vicinity that would eventually become York County.

A Map of Virginia, John Smith, 1624. Image courtesy of Library of Congress.

Erected 2010 by York County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1607.

Location. 37° 14.311′ N, 76°

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30.475′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It can be reached from the intersection of Water Street and Buckner Street, on the right when traveling west. Located along Yorktown's Riverwalk. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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: Virginia Institute of Marine Science (here, next to this marker); The Historic Freight Shed (within shouting distance of this marker); Lafayette’s Tour (within shouting distance of this marker); Heavy Artillery at Yorktown (within shouting distance of this marker); Wars & Yorktown (within shouting distance of this marker); Converging on Yorktown (within shouting distance of this marker); Replica Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); The York River (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Yorktown's Riverwalk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 20, 2013

2. Yorktown's Riverwalk

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,056 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.