What is the name of the first permanent English colony in America, located in Virginia?

• A. Plymouth
• B. Roanoke
• C. Jamestown
• D. Williamsburg

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying which English settlement first established a lasting presence in Virginia. Jamestown, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company, was the first English colony in that region to endure as a permanent settlement. It survived early hardships—difficult conditions, famine, and conflicts—thanks to timely supplies, new leadership, and the economic stability that came from growing tobacco. This endurance set Jamestown apart from earlier attempts like Roanoke, which disappeared, and from later places like Plymouth in Massachusetts or Williamsburg, which came at different times and locations and did not represent the first permanent Virginia colony. Jamestown’s location along the James River also helped with transportation and sustainment, cementing its role as the first lasting English colony in Virginia.