Hampton, Virginia

Hampton is an independent city in Virginia, United States. The population was 137,148 at the 2020 census, making it the seventh-most populous city in Virginia. It is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, which includes more than 1.8 million people and is the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the United States.

Hampton's history began at Old Point Comfort, where English explorers led by Christopher Newport landed in 1607 to found Jamestown. After the American Civil War, Hampton University was created to educate newly freed African Americans and local Native Americans. In the 20th century, important places such as Langley Air Force Base, NASA's Langley Research Center, and the Virginia Air and Space Center were established there.

Since 1952, Hampton has grown to include areas like the former Elizabeth City County and the town of Phoebus. The city has many interesting places to visit, such as a NASCAR short track, the oldest Anglican parish in the Americas (1610), and a special historical fort called Fort Monroe. Hampton is also famous for its beautiful waterfront and beaches.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Hampton, Virginia.

Indigenous Americans lived in what is now Hampton long ago, before 10,000 BCE. In the early 1600s, the Tidewater region was home to the Powhatan peoples, who called the land Tsenacommacah. The Powhatan Chiefdom included over 30 tribes and about 25,000 people before English settlers arrived.

In December 1606, three ships left England, led by Captain Christopher Newport, to explore North America. They first landed at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay at a place named Cape Henry. They soon found Old Point Comfort to be a good defensive spot where the Hampton Roads waterway begins, formed by the confluence of several rivers including the James River.

On May 14, 1607, they built the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia, about 25 miles inland. Near the entrance to Hampton River, they created a small town called Hampton in 1610. Hampton was named after an important leader, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. Over time, Hampton grew and became an independent city.

In 1619, the first recorded group of enslaved Africans arrived in the area. These individuals came from Africa and were the first of their kind in what would become the United States. Later, during the American Civil War, Hampton played an important role. Fort Monroe stayed under Union control and became a safe place for people who had been enslaved. After the war, many families lived in a community called the Grand Contraband Camp, and later, Hampton University was established there.

Hampton became an independent city in 1908, and in 1952, it merged with nearby areas to form the city we know today. The city has a long history tied to military bases, including Langley Air Force Base, which has been important for air power training and development for many years.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 136 square miles (350 km²). Of this, 51 square miles (130 km²) is land, and 85 square miles (220 km²) is water.

Neighborhoods

• Aberdeen Gardens
• Buckroe Beach
• Farmington
• Fox Hill
• Hampton Woods
• Northampton
• Newmarket
• Phoebus
• Victoria Boulevard Historic District
• Wythe, including the Olde Wythe Historic District

Climate

Hampton has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), typical for the southeastern United States. The weather here changes with the seasons, with warm and sticky summers and gentle winters. The average yearly temperature is 60.2 °F (15.7 °C). It usually snows about 6 inches (150 mm) each year and rains around 47 inches (1,200 mm). August is usually the wettest month, with about 2.4 inches of rain falling over 11 to 12 days. The hottest day ever recorded was August 1, 1980, when the temperature reached 105.1 °F (40.6 °C). The coldest day was January 21, 1985, when it dropped to −2.7 °F (−19.3 °C).

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Hampton had a population of 137,148 people with a median age of 37.2 years. About 20.4% of the residents were under 18 years old, and 16.5% were 65 years or older. Most people lived in urban areas, with only a small fraction in rural spots.

In 2010, the city had 137,436 people. The racial makeup included many Black or African American residents, a large number of White people, and smaller groups of Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and people from other races or multiple races. Some residents were also Hispanic or Latino.

Arts and culture

Hampton has many places where you can learn about its history and enjoy fun activities. You can visit museums such as the Hampton History Museum and the Hampton University Museum. There are also cool spots like the Virginia Air & Space Center where you can see amazing things about space and airplanes.

The Hampton Coliseum is a big place where lots of fun events happen, like big concerts and sports games. It can hold thousands of people depending on how it's set up. The city also has libraries that help everyone learn and read, with the main one and three smaller ones nearby.

Some popular places to visit in Hampton include Fort Monroe, Buckroe Beach, and Emancipation Oak. There are many other spots that show the city's history and offer fun things to see and do.

Sports

Hampton is home to the Peninsula Pilots, a summer baseball team that plays at War Memorial Stadium. The Hampton University Pirates and Lady Pirates also compete in college sports.

High school sports are very popular in Hampton, especially football and basketball. The city’s Darling Stadium hosts high school football games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, along with track-and-field events.

Nearby colleges like the College of William and Mary, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University offer exciting college sports. Fans can also enjoy professional sports in the area, with teams like the Norfolk Tides (baseball) and Norfolk Admirals (hockey) in Norfolk, and the Hampton Roads Piranhas (soccer) in Virginia Beach.

Government

Hampton has a council-manager form of government. Jimmy Gray is the mayor, and Mary Bunting is the city manager. There are also six council members who represent different areas of the city.

Hampton is part of Virginia's 3rd congressional district, and it is represented by Bobby Scott.

Education

The main provider of public schools in Hampton is Hampton City Public Schools. There are four high schools named Kecoughtan, Bethel, Phoebus, and Hampton. The city also has eighteen elementary schools, two schools for younger children, five middle schools, and special centers for early learning and gifted students.

There are also private schools in the area, such as Denbigh Baptist Christian School, Hampton Roads Academy, and Peninsula Catholic High School. Hampton is home to Hampton University and Virginia Peninsula Community College. Other nearby universities in the Hampton Roads region include Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, and The College of William and Mary.

Media

Hampton has several newspapers, including the Daily Press based in Newport News. Other papers serve the area, such as The Virginian-Pilot, Port Folio Weekly, New Journal and Guide, and the Hampton Roads Business Journal. Magazines like Coastal Virginia Magazine and Hampton Roads Times also cover the region.

The city receives many radio and television stations. Major TV networks broadcast through stations like WTKR-TV, WAVY-TV, WVEC-TV, and others. Public broadcasting is available through WHRO-TV. Residents can also get service from providers such as Verizon FiOS and Cox Cable.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Hampton Roads

Hampton Roads has many rivers and creeks, so the city has many bridges to help people travel. Some smaller bridges along Mercury Boulevard are named after astronauts who trained at NASA's Langley facilities.

Hampton is close to other cities like Newport News and Poquoson, and there are many roads to travel between them. To reach other areas, drivers can use three big bridges: the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel and the Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel, which are part of the Hampton Roads Beltway, and the James River Bridge.

The city has several important roads, including U.S. Routes and Virginia State Routes.

The Hampton Transit Center in downtown is a place where people can catch buses, including local HRT buses and services from Greyhound and Trailways.

Hampton Roads Transit runs local and regional buses.

Intercity bus service is available from Greyhound Lines and Megabus.

Hampton has Amtrak train service from the Newport News station to cities along the Northeast Corridor.

Two airports serve Hampton: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport and Norfolk International Airport. Both are along Interstate 64.

Notable people

See also: List of people from Hampton Roads, Virginia

American history

• James Armistead, America's first African American spy, who helped the Continental Army by sharing important information in 1781.
• Samuel Chapman Armstrong, a Union general in the American Civil War; founder of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, later Hampton University
• James Barron, a U.S. Navy commodore and captain of frigate USS Chesapeake.
• Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, who was held at Fort Monroe after the American Civil War
• Evelyn Grubb, a wife of a POW, author, and co-founder and National President of the National League of Families
• Mary S. Peake, an African American humanitarian; the first Black teacher in the American Missionary Association
• Booker Taliaferro Washington (commonly known as Booker T Washington), founder of Tuskegee Institute, educator, author, and African American statesman
• George Robert Watkins, a politician who served in the Pennsylvania State Senate and the United States Congress
• George Wythe, a classical scholar, the first law professor in the U.S., and a member of the Continental Congress

Music

• Robert Nathaniel Dett, a notable composer, pianist, and educator at Hampton Institute
• Steve Earle, a popular country-rock musician and songwriter
• Jeff Parker, an experimental jazz and rock guitarist
• Jerry Roush, a vocalist known for his time in several bands
• DeVante Swing and Mr. Dalvin, members of the R&B group Jodeci
• Victor Wooten, a bassist for the Grammy Award-winning group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
• Weldon Irvine, a composer and pianist
• DRAM, a rapper and artist

Science

• Roy F. Brissenden, a World War II pilot, physicist, and engineer who worked at the Hampton, Langley Research Center
• Mary Jackson, an engineer and mathematician who contributed to America's aeronautics and space programs
• Katherine Johnson, a physicist, space scientist, and mathematician who contributed to America's aeronautics and space programs
• Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., an aeronautical engineer and administrator at the Hampton, Langley Research Center; flight director of the space program
• Anne Rudloe, a marine biologist

Sports

• Robert Banks, a high school football player who later became a professional Linebacker
• Tajh Boyd, a professional football player
• Elton Brown, an offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals
• Jim Burrow, a defensive back for the Green Bay Packers
• Steve Cardenas, a martial artist and actor known for his role as Rocky DeSantos
• Jake Cave, an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins
• Ronald Curry, a professional football player and former high school quarterback
• Chris Durkin, a soccer player
• La'Keshia Frett, a former WNBA basketball player
• Shaun Gayle, a special teams captain for the Chicago Bears football team
• Marques Hagans, a quarterback and wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams
• Chris Hanburger, a popular player for the Washington Redskins in the 1970s
• Michael Husted, a former professional football player
• Allen Iverson, a former all-star basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers
• Jerod Mayo, a former NFL linebacker and head coach
• Art Price, a professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons
• Dwight Stephenson, a professional football player for the Miami Dolphins
• John Sturdivant, a professional football player
• Tyrod Taylor, a professional football quarterback
• Mike Tomlin, a former head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Jimmy F. Williams, a professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons
• Xavier Adibi, a former professional football linebacker
• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a current NFL linebacker for the Cleveland Browns

Other

• David Funderburk, a U.S. Ambassador to Romania and U.S. Congressman
• Trent Garrett, an actor
• Oz Scott, a director
• Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures
• Archibald H. Sunderland, a U.S. Army major general
• Jean Yokum, president of Langley Federal Credit Union
• Kelvin Taylor, an actor from Hampton
• Patricia Tolliver Giles, a United States district judge for the Eastern District of Virginia

Sister cities

Hampton has four sister cities:

• Southampton, England, United Kingdom
• Vendôme, Loir-et-Cher, France
• Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
• Anyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea