Occoquan

Although Native Americans have lived along the banks of the Occoquan for thousands of years, John Smith was the first European to visit the area, arriving at the river's mouth in 1608. Here he encountered the Dogue Indians, from whose language the river and town take their names. With the coming of settlers, Occoquan's location at the meeting of the Tidewater and Piedmont made it ideal for water—related industry and commerce. By the end of the 18th century, it boasted one of the first autom...