The James Creek Canal

The James Creek Canal

View of the James Creek CanalJames Creek was a tributary of the Anacostia River in the southwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., once known as St. James' Creek and perhaps named after local landowner James Greenleaf.It arose from several springs just south of Capitol Hill. Its course ran through land owned by James Greenleaf, roughly parallel to the route of present-day Delaware Avenue, SW, emptying into a cove along the Anacostia River at present-day 1st Street SW, between Greenleaf Point to the west and Buzzard Point to the east. South of I Street SW, it flowed through an area of tidal marshes.