Blennerhassett Island
Encyclopedia
Blennerhasset Island, an island
on the Ohio River
below the mouth of the Little Kanawha River
, is located near Parkersburg
in Wood County
, West Virginia
, USA.
Historically, Blennerhassett Island was an Indian settlement, first known as Backus Island for Elijah Backus who purchased it in 1792. Now it is named for Harman Blennerhassett
, a figure in the Aaron Burr
treason conspiracy, who purchased the north end of the island in 1798. The island is the site of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
, the location of Blennerhassett House, where Burr and Blennerhassett are alleged to have plotted treason
against the United States
, the so-called Burr Conspiracy
.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
below the mouth of the Little Kanawha River
Little Kanawha River
The Little Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, 169 mi long, in western West Virginia in the United States. Via the Ohio, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,320 mi² on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
, is located near Parkersburg
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
in Wood County
Wood County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 240 people per square mile . There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA.
Historically, Blennerhassett Island was an Indian settlement, first known as Backus Island for Elijah Backus who purchased it in 1792. Now it is named for Harman Blennerhassett
Harman Blennerhassett
Harman Blennerhassett was an Irish-American lawyer, born in Castle Conway in County Kerry, Ireland to Conway Blennerhassett and Elizabeth Lacy. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1790 was called to the Irish bar...
, a figure in the Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
treason conspiracy, who purchased the north end of the island in 1798. The island is the site of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is a state park located on Blennerhassett Island, a small island in the Ohio River, located in Wood County, West Virginia, USA. The property was the site of a Palladian mansion owned by Harman Blennerhassett, a participant in some of the alleged...
, the location of Blennerhassett House, where Burr and Blennerhassett are alleged to have plotted treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the so-called Burr Conspiracy
Burr conspiracy
The Burr conspiracy in the beginning of the 19th century was a suspected treasonous cabal of planters, politicians, and army officers led by former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. According to the accusations against him, Burr’s goal was to create an independent nation in the center of North...
.
See also
- Blennerhassett Island BridgeBlennerhassett Island BridgeBlennerhassett Island Bridge opened to traffic June 13, 2008. The bridge is a Network Arch Bridge constructed at a cost of $120 million over the Ohio River between Belpre, Ohio and Parkersburg, West Virginia. Construction of the bridge was completed by the Walsh Construction Company of Chicago.The...
- List of islands of West Virginia
- List of West Virginia state parks