The Virginia Company and the Settlement of Jamestown

Where did the Virginia Company settle?

Answer: Jamestown island

The Settlement of Jamestown

The Virginia Company established the first permanent English settlement in North America on Jamestown Island in 1607. This settlement, located in Virginia, paved the way for future colonization efforts in the region.

The Virginia Company, a joint-stock company chartered by King James I, was founded to establish colonies in the New World. In 1606, the company sent three ships, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery, with settlers to establish a colony in Virginia. The settlers arrived at the chosen site on Jamestown Island along the James River on May 14, 1607.

Life in Jamestown was harsh, with many settlers succumbing to disease, famine, and conflicts with Native Americans. However, the colony persevered and eventually grew with the introduction of tobacco cultivation, which became a profitable cash crop for the colonists.

Jamestown served as the capital of the Virginia colony for over 80 years before it was eventually abandoned. Today, the site is a National Historic Landmark and part of Colonial National Historical Park, where visitors can learn about the early history of English colonization in America.