Saura Tribe Native Americans

Native Americans Along The Dan River – Indians in the Dan Valley

The Dan River is named for an early Saura chief, Danapha. The Saura tribe already had villages in The Dan River Basin before the English began settling Virginia in the early 1600’s. There were a number of Indian towns located on the Dan River and its tributaries, the Smith and Mayo Rivers.

At the mouth of Goblintown Creek on Smith River in Patrick and Franklin Counties was a village, which is now under the waters of Philpott Lake. On the north side of the river, at the mouth of Nicholas or Jamison’s Creek was one of the largest Indian villages in the area.

On the Dan River were the historic Saura villages of Upper Saura Town (Stokes County) and Lower Saura Town (Rockingham County). Upper Saura Town , the Mayo River Village site, and the Philpott Archaeological Site were all located on the Tutelo-Saura Path, an Indian trail running from the Valley of Virginia to the Carolina Piedmont. The Native Americans living in the Fairy Stone State Park and Philpott Reservoir area when the English first came were the Saura (Cheraw) Indians.

There are few historical references to the Saura people. References do appear in English records. John Lederer reported visiting Saura villages along the Yadkin River, Catawba River, and Dan River in 1670.

Upper Saura Town & Lower Saura Town

In 1728, William Byrd conducted an expedition to survey the North Carolina and Virginia boundary, and reported finding two Saura villages on the Dan River, known as Lower Saura Town and Upper Saura Town. The towns had been abandoned by the time of Byrd’s visit.

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This is a view of the Dan River as seen from the bridge of highway US-311 in southeastern Stokes County. This bridge is about midway between the towns of Madison and Walnut Cove. The historical marker for the Upper Saura Town is located near the western end of the bridge and on the south shoulder of the highway.

Several miles down river is the Lower Saura Town, also on the Dan River and near the present city of Eden. The historical marker is located about 1/2 mile south of the river on highway NC-14 at the intersection of Town Creek Road.

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(The photographs are courtesy of Buck Woods)

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The Dan River Basin was home to the Saura Indians
Saura–Wikipedia

Saura Tribe Native Americans

The Dan Valley

The Dan Valley/Dan River Basin is not an overly large area. Actually it is comprised of about 3300 square miles. The basin is about twice the size of Yosemite National Park in California. The area is somewhat mountainous, lots of rolling hills and has an abundant water supply with many rivers and lakes. The terrain is wooded and dotted by small farms.

The valley is populated by folks of German, Irish and Scotch decent. Generally the residents are hard working, patriotic and loyal to each other.

Over the years the residents have made a living off of the land. Most have been, and a lot still are, small farmers. Farming is a tough way to make a living so as the population grows the younger folks tend to commute to the surrounding cities for jobs.

The Dan Valley lies between four large metropolitan areas of North Carolina and Virginia. In North Carolina it is the Piedmont Triad … composed of Greensboro,Winston Salem and High Point … and the Research Triangle which is composed of Raleigh,Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary. In Virginia there is the Roanoke/Salem area and the Richmond area. These metro areas have a combined population in excess of 5 million people.

In the middle of all of this is the Dan Valley/Dan River Basin with a few thousand hard working folks who would like to join their neighbors in the 21st century. Maybe you should look at this area as a place to locate your business and a place to raise your family.

Danville, Va is the largest city in the Dan Valley. Other towns are Martinsville, Va, South Boston, Va, Madison, NC, and Eden, NC. For years, the largest industries were agriculture, furniture and textiles. Today the employment situation is in transition.

Recommended Links

Dan River Basin Cities

Here is a list of towns that are in the Dan River Basin.

Chatham, Va
Collinsville, Va
Danbury, NC
Danville, Va
Eden, NC
Halifax, Va
Madison, NC
Martinsville, Va
Mayodan, NC
Meadows of Dan, Va
Milton, NC
Reidsville, NC
Roxboro, NC
South Boston, Va
Stoneville, NC
Stuart, Va
Walnut Cove, NC
Wentworth, NC
Yanceyville, NC

Dan River Basin Cities

September 19, 2024

Blizzard 2014

The blizzard of 2014….Yeah, I know …This is old news now, because it is over, but It was exciting while it lasted and will be talked about for years.

It seems that Stokes County received some of the largest accumulations of snow in North Carolina. All of the ingredients fell into place at the proper time for this to happen. The result was the largest snow fall that the State of North Carolina has seen in a long time.

The roads became slick in a very short period of time. Although everyone knew that a storm was about to happen, the rapidity with which it happened caught folks in awkward situations. There were many stories of long stressful drives from work to home. I have heard folks say that the trip from Greensboro to Madison took 3 or 4 hours……. the drive home to Pine Hall from work in Winston-Salem took 4 hours….and the stories go on.

Fortunately, time was burned but I haven’t heard of anyone who suffered physical harm.

Lets all have a cup of hot chocolate and toast the Blizzard 2014

September 1, 2024

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a controversial topic that has been debated in Stokes County and across the state. Here’s an update on the current situation:

Background: In 2011, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law allowing for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas through hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state. Stokes County, located in the western part of the state, is believed to have significant shale gas reserves, particularly in the Marcellus Shale formation.

Fracking activities in Stokes County: While there have been some exploratory drilling operations in Stokes County, no large-scale commercial fracking operations have been conducted in the county so far. However, several companies have obtained permits to drill exploratory wells and conduct seismic surveys to assess the area’s potential for shale gas production.

Environmental concerns: Fracking has raised concerns about potential environmental impacts, including:

Water pollution: Fracking requires large amounts of water, which can contaminate aquifers and surface water sources.
Air pollution: Fracking operations can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants into the air.
Traffic and noise: Increased truck traffic and noise from drilling operations can disrupt local communities.
Land use changes: Fracking can lead to land use changes, such as increased industrialization and decreased agricultural land use.

Community opposition: Many residents in Stokes County have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of fracking on their community and environment. Some have organized to protest fracking operations and push for stricter regulations.

Current status: While there are no active fracking operations in Stokes County at present, there are ongoing efforts to develop shale gas resources in the region. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for regulating fracking activities in the state.

In 2020, the DEQ proposed new rules to improve oil and gas regulations, including increased monitoring of groundwater and air quality, as well as stricter requirements for well casing and cementing. However, some critics argue that these regulations do not go far enough to address environmental concerns.

As with any industrial activity, it’s essential for residents, policymakers, and regulators to carefully weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks and take steps to minimize negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

Bob’s Restaurant

Bob’s Restaurant
124 S Market St, Madison, NC 27025

Business Hours:
Monday-Friday:4:00 am till 8:00 pm
Saturday:4:00 am till 2:00 pm
Closed Sunday

Home cooking. Great hotdogs and hambugers. Old fashion grille. Great service.

Come dine with us at Bob’s Restaurant for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. We are known for our country style breakfast, real home cooked meals and homemade desserts. Once you walk in the door, it’s like stepping back in time to an old time diner atmosphere, decorated with walls full of antiques and memorabilia. Please feel free to sit in our rocking chairs in front of our restaurant to relax while you smell the aroma of our fresh cooked meals. You can dine in or take out.

This is a direct link to Bob’s Restaurant

Support your local business.

Our website does not receive compensation for placing this post about Bob’s Restaurant.

Bob’s Restaurant

May 7, 2024

Tag: Stokes County

Saura Tribe Native Americans

Native Americans Along The Dan River – Indians in the Dan Valley

(The photographs are courtesy of Buck Woods)

Saura Tribe Native Americans

The Dan Valley

Dan River Basin Cities

Dan River Basin Cities

Blizzard 2014

Update On Fracking In Stokes County

Bob’s Restaurant

This is a direct link to Bob’s Restaurant

Bob’s Restaurant