Craney Island (Virginia)

Craney Island is a point of land in the independent city of Portsmouth in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the United States. The location, formerly in Norfolk County, is near the mouth of the Elizabeth River opposite Lambert's Point on Hampton Roads. It is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The name "Craney Island" was derived from the fact that the early English settlers on the Elizabeth River in the 17th century were impressed with the great number of what they mistakenly believed to be cranes that inhabited it. Hence the name "Crayne" or "Craney Point." The birds the settlers thought were cranes were actually white and blue herons, still fairly common birds in the Hampton Roads region.

Near the entrance to the navigational channel of the Elizabeth River, Craney Island proved to be of strategic significance during the War of 1812, and the American Civil War.

During the War of 1812, U.S. defensive emplacements on Craney Island had a seven-gun fortification and was manned by 580 Regulars and militia in addition to 150 sailors and marines from the USS Constellation. On June 22, 1813, the Battle of Craney Island took place. 81 British troops were killed of their 1300 total, with no American losses of the 730 man force. The victory at Craney Island saved Norfolk and Portsmouth from being captured and pillaged by the enemy.

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