Jamestown

american-history · colonial · virginia

First permanent English colony. Jamestown was established on May 14, 1607, by the Virginia Company of London. It became the first place where English settlers successfully built a lasting community in America.

Rough and unhealthy location. The settlers chose a river island to hide from Spanish ships, but the land was full of mosquitoes, had no fresh drinking water, and was already home to the Paspahegh people. These problems made life extremely difficult.

The Starving Time. During the winter of 1609 to 1610, the colony nearly died out. Of the 214 original settlers, only 60 survived because food was so scarce. Historians call this terrible period the Starving Time.

Tobacco saved the colony. In 1612, the settlers began growing West Indies tobacco, which became hugely popular in England. This valuable crop created wealth and turned Jamestown into a thriving colony.