The James River, which spans the entire width of the state of Virginia, begins in the mountains of Virginia where the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers come together in Botetourt County. The headwaters of the James River are in the Blue Ridge and Valley and Ridge regions of Virginia and include part of the city of Roanoke. The Upper James River encompasses about 2,000 square miles of mountainous territory that ends near Lynchburg, Virginia, where the topography transitions into the Piedmont region. The Upper James is relatively rural and forested compared to the other regions of the river, although it still includes agriculture and small cities. (Based on James River Buffer Program and American Rivers.)
