YORK, river of Virginia, formed by two main branches, Pamunky and Matapony rivers. Mata pony river has the extreme source on the eastern border of Orange county, near the Rapid Ann, about twenty-five miles westward from Fredericks burg, but the most numerous of its constituent creeks are in Spottsylvania. These creeks unite within and traverse Carolina, and thence forming a boundary between King William and King and Queen, unites with the Pamunky to form York river, after a comparative southeastern course of 80 miles. The valley of the Mattapony lies between those of the Rappahannoc and Pamunky, is tra versed by N. Lat. 38° and the meridian of W. C.
Pamunky, river of Virginia, and the principal constituent of York river. The Pamunky is formed by Pamunky proper and North Anna. The latter rises in Orange, the northern part of Louisa and in Spottsylvania counties, and flowing thence south-eastward, unites with the Pamunky, between Caroline and Hanover counties.
The Pamunky rises in the South West Mountain, on the border between Albemarle and Louisa; drains the southern and central part of Louisa, and traversing Hanover, joins the North Anna. Below their junction the united waters, known by the name of Pamunky, preserves the original course south-eastward about 45 miles comparative course, but perhaps double that distance by the bends to its junction with Mattapony to form York river.
The entire comparative length of Pamunky by either branch is about 90 miles. The broadest part of the valley hut little exceeds 30, and is only about 15 miles mean width, and area 1300 square miles, lying between those of James and Chicka hominy on the right, and Mattapony on the left.
Below the union of its constituent streams, York river is rather a bay, varying from two to three miles in width, extending to the S.E. 27 miles, and thence E. 12 miles, into Chesapeake between York and Gloucester counties. Below the junction of Pa munky and Mattapony rivers, York bay does not receive a tributary above the size of a small creek. It admits ships of any size, to or near the Great Bend at York town, but shallows above, so as to admit only coasting vessels.
Including all its confluents, the valley of York river lies between those of James and Rappahannoc. The greatest length 130 miles, from the mouth of York river, to the extreme source of North Anna river in South West Mountain, but, if taken with this extent, the mean width would not exceed 20 miles, and at the utmost breadth only about 45 miles, the area 2600 square miles. Extending in Lat. from 37° 15' to 16', and in Long. from 0° 41' E. to 1° 22' W. from W. C.