Jarman Gap
Jarman Gap is located in Virginia
Jarman Gap
Location in Virginia
Elevation2,172 ft (662 m)[1]
Traversed by SR 611 (Jarmans Gap Road)
LocationAlbemarle / Augusta counties, Virginia, United States
RangeBlue Ridge Mountains
Coordinates38°05′52″N 78°46′51″W / 38.09778°N 78.78083°W / 38.09778; -78.78083

Jarman Gap (also Jarman's Gap or Jarmans Gap) is a wind gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the counties of Albemarle and Augusta, Virginia.

Geography

Jarman Gap is located approximately 6.7 miles (10.8 km) northeast of Waynesboro, Virginia and 16.7 miles (26.9 km) west-northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia at an elevation of 2,172 feet (662 m).[1][2]

History

Jarman Gap, known as Wood's Gap in its early history, was a major early crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The gap was originally a buffalo trail and a Native American path, and is the site of the earliest settlement in the area. Michael Woods was the first European to settle in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Albemarle County, having traveled down the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania in 1734.[3] Woods and his family crossed the Blue Ridge using what is today known as Jarman Gap, and settled on a 2,006-acre plot registered in 1737 called "Mountain Plains" on the eastern slope of the gap. This gap became known as Wood's Gap after the family, and was renamed as Jarman Gap around 1800, when Thomas Jarman bought the property.[3] Jarman Gap was also crossed by the historic Three Notch'd Road, a colonial era road in use by the 1730s. The portion of the Three Notch'd Road over then Wood's Gap was constructed by Michael Woods from west to east beginning in 1737.[4] During the American Civil War, Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson moved troops over Jarman Gap in 1862.[5] Today, Rockfish Gap, 6.3 miles (10.1 km) southwest of Jarman Gap, serves as the main crossing of the Blue Ridge from Albemarle County to Augusta County via U.S. Route 250, Interstate 64, and the CSX Transportation rail line.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jarman Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Google (December 30, 2012). "Jarman Gap" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Jarman Gap, www.visitcharlottesville.org, 2012, retrieved December 30, 2012
  4. ^ Pawlett, Nathaniel; Newlon, Howard Jr. (1976), The Route of the Three Notch'd Road (PDF), Charlottesville, Virginia: Virginia Highway & Transportation Research Council, pp. 10–11, retrieved December 30, 2012
  5. ^ Wayland, John (1969), History of Shenandoah County, Virginia, Genealogical Publishing Com, p. 670, ISBN 9780806380117, retrieved December 30, 2012
  6. ^ Logue, Victoria and Frank; Blouin, Nicole (2010), Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Menasha Ridge Press, ISBN 9780897329095, retrieved December 30, 2012
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