South Quay State Forest
| South Quay State Forest | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources) | |
Location of South Quay South Quay State Forest (the United States) | |
| Location | Suffolk, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 36°37′20″N 76°53′20″W / 36.6222222°N 76.8888888888889°W |
| Area | 266 acres (108 ha) |
| Governing body | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
South Quay State Forest[a] is a state forest in Suffolk, Virginia, in the South Quay Sandhills Natural Area Preserve. The forest is not open to the public. [1] In 2013, the property was purchased by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation from International Paper for preservation.[2] The forest is home to the only longleaf pine sandhill community in Virginia. [3]
History
South Quay is named after a wharf in the nearby Blackwater River. The forest's first depiction dates back to a map made by Theodore de Bry in 1590, depicting the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers flowing into the Chowan river. The forest gained notoriety in the Revolutionary War as a port and shipyard. Two vessels were built at South Quay under Patrick Henry to defend North Carolina. The port was of a few left open for use when most ports were under blockade by the British. Thomas Jefferson was keen on keeping the port open for its remoteness.[1]
See also
Notes
- ^ Quay is pronounced as "Key".
References
- ^ a b "South Quay State Forest". Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ^ "South Quay forest sold to state". The Suffolk News-Herald. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ^ "2,855 acres protected as natural area preserve in Suffolk, Va". www.dcr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-20.