Roanoke River vs. Chesapeake Bay watersheds
Source: National Atlas
Farmers living in the Roanoke River watershed lacked a direct water connection to the Chesapeake Bay, since the Roanoke River flowed into Albemarle-Pamlico Sound rather than the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately for the Roanoke River farmers, no large seaport developed at the mouth of the Roanoke River. Only shallow inlets between the barrier islands connected the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean.
As a result, Southside Virginia farmers were at a competitive disadvantage compared to those in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. However, , once the Roanoke River was made navigable and the Dismal Swamp Canal was constructed, Southside farmers could transport their products to Norfolk - providing access to the Caribbean and European markets.
The Roanoke Navigation Company, chartered in 1804 by the General Assembly, cleared obstacles from the river and made it easier for farmers to ship lumber, tobacco, corn, and other agricultural products to market. Navigation improvements were made from Weldon, at the Fall Line on the Roanoke River (near the Virginia/North Carolina border), up to the mouth of the Pigg River near modern-day Smith Mountain Lake. (The Dan River was improved upstream to Madison, North Carolina.) 1
The Roanoke River has a different name in the middle. A portion of the Roanoke River, from the confluence of the Roanoke River and Back Creek to the mouth of the Dan River, is known as the Staunton River. When place names were assigned by the early explorers and colonists, there was no Board of Geographic Names to reconcile differences and establish an "official" name.
In most cases, the settlers in a region would start to use one place name, and the others names would be discarded. The New River was also named Woods River at times, but today all other Virginia rivers "stay the course" and do not revert to a previous name after reaching the mouth of the river at a confluence. However, a stretch of the Roanoke River downstream of Smith Mountain Lake and upstream of Buggs Island Lake has retained its designation as the Staunton River, while the "Roanoke River" reappears after the confluence of the Staunton River and the Dan River. It's confusing, but that's the way it is.
 highway sign south of Altavista |
 riverfront park in Altavista |
NOTE: The document states that the Dan River was improved to Meade rather than Madison. However, the USGS Geographic Names Information System does not list a "Meade" in North Carolina. One possibility is that Meade was an earlier place name for the town on the banks of the Dan River (see current map and 1895 map). However, Dr. William Trout reports, If it was Henry Howe's "Historical Collections of Virginia," 1845, reprinted 1969, then on page 429 it says "The [Dan] river is navigable for batteaux carrying from 7,000 to 10,000 pounds as far up as Madison, North Carolina." ...I think it was a misprint in an early publication, and it has been repeated ever since. I don't think Madison was ever called Meade. Perhaps there was some confusion with Meadesville (also Meadville) the head of batteau navigation on the Banister at that time.
Dan Shaw suggested The author was familiar with Meadville, VA, where George Washington crossed the Bannister River on his way back home on his 1791 Southern Tour. I can only guess she wrote the wrong name and no one ever caught it.
Thanks to Dan Shaw, Henry and Sarah Mitchell, and Bill Trout of the Virginia Canals & Navigations Society for this clarification.