Hampton, Virginia#Defunct schools
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Hampton
| settlement_type = Independent city
| motto = From the Sea to the Stars
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|perrow = 1/2/2/2
|total_width = 280
|caption_align = center
|image1 = Downtown Hampton.jpg
|caption1 = Hampton Downtown Historic District
|image2 = Virginia Air and Space Center.jpg
|caption2 = Virginia Air and Space Center
|image3 = HAMPTON UNIVERSITY Virginia Cleveland Hall.jpg
|caption3 = Hampton University
|image4 = Hampton coliseum.jpg
|caption4 = Hampton Coliseum
|image5 = Langley AFB.jpg
|caption5 = Langley Air Force Base
|image6 = Stjohnshampton01.JPG
|caption6 = St. John's Church
|image7 = NASA Langley Research Center aerial view (2011).jpg
|caption7 = NASA Langley Research Center
}}
| image_flag = Flag_of_Hampton,_Virginia.png
| image_seal = Seal_of_Hampton_Virginia.png
| image_map = Hampton-Location.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location in the State of Virginia
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map = Virginia#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Virginia##Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Hampton
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Virginia
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = None (Independent city)
| government_type = Mayor–council–manager
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = Jimmy Gray (D){{Cite web |url=https://www.hampton.gov/222/City-Council |title=Hampton City Council124; Hampton, VA - Official Website |website=hampton.gov}}
| leader_title2 = Vice mayor
| leader_name2 = Steven L. Brown (D)
| established_title = Settled
| established_title2 = Incorporated (town)
| established_title3 = Incorporated (city)
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_sq_mi = 136.27
| area_land_sq_mi = 51.46
| area_water_sq_mi = 84.81
| area_water_percent = 62.3
| area_total_km2 = 352.95
| area_land_km2 = 133.28
| area_water_km2 = 219.67
| population_rank = 200th in the United States
7th in Virginia
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_note =
| population_total = 137148
| population_metro = 1799674
| population_density_sq_mi = 2665.14
| timezone = EST
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q342043|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_ft = 10
| postal_code_type = ZIP Codes
| postal_code = 23661, 23663-23669
| area_code = 757, 948
| blank_name = FIPS code
| blank_info = 51-35000{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}
| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
| blank1_info = 1495650{{cite web |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/ |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=US Board on Geographic Names |publisher=United States Geological Survey |date=October 25, 2007 |archive-date=February 2, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202034200/http://geonames.usgs.gov/ |url-status=live }}
| blank2_name = Public transportation
| blank2_info = Hampton Roads Transit
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| unit_pref = Imperial
| website = http://www.hampton.gov
}}
Hampton{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|æ|m|p|t|ən}}}} is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 137,148 as of the 2020 census, making it the seventh-most populous city in Virginia.{{Cite web |title=Hampton city, Hampton city, Virginia |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US5165093827 |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 30, 2022 }} Hampton is included in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, the 37th-largest in the United States, with a total population of 1,799,674 in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metro Area |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US47260-virginia-beach-norfolk-newport-news-va-nc-metro-area/ |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=Census Reporter |language=en |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209014836/https://censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US47260-virginia-beach-norfolk-newport-news-va-nc-metro-area/ |url-status=live }} This area, known as "America's First Region", also includes the independent cities of Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, as well as other smaller cities, counties, and towns of Hampton Roads.
Hampton traces its history to the city's Old Point Comfort, the home of Fort Monroe, which was named by the 1607 voyagers, led by Captain Christopher Newport, who first established Jamestown as an English colonial settlement. Since consolidation by a mutual agreement in 1952, Hampton has included the former Elizabeth City County and the incorporated town of Phoebus..
After the end of the American Civil War, historic Hampton University was established opposite from the historic town on the Hampton River, providing an education for many newly freed former slaves and for area Native Americans. In the 20th century, the area became the location of Langley Air Force Base, NASA Langley Research Center, and the Virginia Air and Space Center. Hampton features many miles of waterfront and beaches.
The city features a wide array of business and industrial enterprises, retail and residential areas, historical sites, and other points of interest, such as a NASCAR short track, the oldest Anglican parish in the Americas (1610), and a moated, six-sided, historical bastion fort.
History
{{For timeline}}
Indigenous Americans settled in present-day Hampton before 10,000 BCE. In the early 1600s, the Tidewater region was populated by the Powhatan peoples who called the lands Tsenacommacah. The Powhatan Chiefdom was made up of over 30 tribes numbering an estimated 25,000 people before the arrival of English colonists.{{cite web |last1=Stebbins |first1=Sarah J. |title=Chronology of Powhatan Indian Activity - Historic Jamestowne |url=https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/chronology-of-powhatan-indian-activity.htm |website=National Park Service |access-date=September 12, 2021 |language=en |date=April 2012 |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604045715/https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/chronology-of-powhatan-indian-activity.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Powhatan {{!}} North American Indian confederacy |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Powhatan-North-American-Indian-confederacy |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=September 12, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907113407/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Powhatan-North-American-Indian-confederacy |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Hedgpeth |first1=Dana |title=Powhatan and his people: The 15,000 American Indians shoved aside by Jamestown's settlers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/08/03/powhatan-his-people-american-indians-that-jamestowns-settlers-shoved-aside/ |access-date=September 12, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 3, 2019 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303092052/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/08/03/powhatan-his-people-american-indians-that-jamestowns-settlers-shoved-aside/ |url-status=live }}
=Colonial history=
In December 1606, three ships carrying men and boys left England on a mission sponsored by a proprietary company. Led by Captain Christopher Newport, they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to North America. After a long voyage, they first landed at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay on the south shore at a place they named Cape Henry (for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the elder son of their king).
During the first few days of exploration, they identified the site of Old Point Comfort (which they originally named "Point Comfort") as a strategic defensive location at the entrance to the body of water that became known as Hampton Roads. This is formed by the confluence of the Elizabeth, Nansemond, and James rivers. The latter is the longest river in Virginia.
Weeks later, on May 14, 1607, they established the first permanent English settlement in the present-day United States about {{convert|25|mi|km}} further inland from the Bay which became the site of fortifications during the following 200 years.
Slightly south, near the entrance to Hampton River, the colonists seized the Native American community of Kecoughtan under Virginia's Governor, Sir Thomas Gates. The colonists established their own small town, with a small Anglican church (known now as St. John's Episcopal Church), on July 9, 1610. This came to be known as part of Hampton. (With Jamestown having been abandoned in 1699, Hampton claims to be the oldest continuously occupied English settlement in the United States.){{cite book |last=Tormey |first=James |title=How Firm a Foundation |publisher=Diets Press |location=Richmond, Virginia |page=184 |date=April 2009 |isbn=978-0-87517-135-7 }} Hampton was named for Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, an important leader of the Virginia Company of London, for whom the Hampton River, Hampton Roads and Southampton County were also named. The area became part of Elizabeth Cittie {{sic}} in 1619, Elizabeth River Shire in 1634, and was included in Elizabeth City County when it was formed in 1643. By 1680, the settlement was known as Hampton, and it was incorporated as a town in 1705 and became the seat of Elizabeth City County.
In the latter part of August 1619, the White Lion, a privateer captained by John Colyn Jope and sailing under a Dutch letter of marque, delivered approximately 20 enslaved Africans, from the present-day region of Angola to Point Comfort. They had been removed by its crew from a Portuguese slave ship, the "São João Bautista". These were the first recorded slaves from Africa in the Thirteen Colonies.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2019/07-08/virginia-first-africans-transatlantic-slave-trade/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221100018/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2019/07-08/virginia-first-africans-transatlantic-slave-trade/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |title=400 years ago, enslaved Africans first arrived in Virginia |date=August 13, 2019 |website=History Magazine }}{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/5653369/august-1619-jamestown-history/ |title=Where the Landing of the First Africans in English North America Really Fits in the History of Slavery |magazine=Time |access-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825070734/https://time.com/5653369/august-1619-jamestown-history/ |url-status=live }} John Rolfe, the widower of Pocahontas, wrote in a letter that he was at Point Comfort and witnessed the arrival of the first Africans. The Bantu from Angola were considered indentured servants, but in effect, were to be slaves. Two of the first Africans to arrive were Anthony and Isabella. Their child, the first of African descent born in North America, was born baptized January 1624.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
=Post-colonial history=
In 1813, the fort was captured again by the British as part of the War of 1812.{{Citation |title=Virginia: a Guide to the Old Dominion |publisher=Oxford University Press |author=Federal Writers' Project |author-link=Federal Writers' Project |date=1941 |series=American Guide Series |chapter=Hampton |pages=227+ }} Shortly after the war ended, the US Army built a more substantial stone facility at Old Point Comfort. It was called Fort Monroe in honor of President James Monroe. The new installation and adjacent Fort Calhoun (on a man-made island across the channel) were completed in 1834. Fort Monroe is the largest stone fort ever built in the United States.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://fortmonroe.org/about/fort-monroe/history/ |website=Fort Monroe Authority |date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714013529/https://fortmonroe.org/about/fort-monroe/history/ |url-status=live }}
Fort Monroe, Hampton and the surrounding area played several important roles during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Although most of Virginia became part of the Confederate States of America, Fort Monroe remained in Union hands. It became notable as a historic and symbolic site of early freedom for former slaves under the provisions of contraband policies and later the Emancipation Proclamation. After the War, former Confederate President, Jefferson Davis was imprisoned in the area now known as the Casemate Museum on the base.
File:Ruins of Hampton, 1862.jpg
To the northwest of Fort Monroe, the Town of Hampton had the misfortune to be attacked during the American Revolutionary War and burned down during the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. From the ruins of Hampton left by evacuating Confederates in 1861, "Contraband" slaves (formerly owned by Confederates and under a degree of Union protection) built the Grand Contraband Camp, the first self-contained African American community in the United States. A number of modern-day Hampton streets retain their names from that community. The large number of contraband slaves who sought the refuge of Fort Monroe and the Grand Contraband Camp led to educational efforts which eventually included establishment of Hampton University, site of the famous Emancipation Oak.
The original site of the Native American's Kecoughtan Settlement was near the present site of a Hampton Roads Transit facility.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wm.edu/wmcar/pentran.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827231003/http://www.wm.edu/wmcar/pentran.html |url-status=dead |title=WMCAR - Historic Kecoughtan |archive-date=August 27, 2006 }} To the south of present-day Hampton, a small unrelated incorporated town also named Kecoughtan many years later and also located in Elizabeth City County was annexed by the city of Newport News in 1927. It is now part of that city's East End.
Hampton was incorporated as a city in 1849. On March 30, 1908, Hampton was separated from Elizabeth City County and became an independent city.{{cite web |url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Virginia/documents/VA_Consolidated_Chronology.htm#Consolidated_Chronology |title=Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries |website=historical-county.newberry.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727104100/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Virginia/documents/VA_Consolidated_Chronology.htm |archive-date=July 27, 2009 }} However, it remained the county seat and continued to share many services with the county. On July 1, 1952, following approval of voters of each locality by referendum, the city of Hampton, the incorporated town of Phoebus and Elizabeth City County merged into the independent city of Hampton. It was the first of a series of political consolidations in the Hampton Roads region during the third quarter of the 20th century.
=Modern military history=
Hampton has a rich and extensive 20th-century military history – home of Langley Air Force Base, the nation's first military installation dedicated solely to air power and the home of the U.S. Air Force's 633rd Air Base Wing and 1st and 192nd Fighter Wings. Hampton has been a center of military aviation training, research and development for nearly a hundred years, from early prop planes and Zeppelins to rocket parts and advanced fighters. Its proximity to Norfolk means that Hampton has long been home to many Navy families. Together, many Air Force and Navy families in the Hampton area experienced significant losses in war and peacetime due to family members in combat and peacetime military accidents.
Fort Monroe was an active army base until its decommissioning on September 15, 2011.{{cite news |last1=Macaulay |first1=David |title=Fort Monroe stands down after 188 years of Army service |url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20110915-2011-09-15-dp-nws-monroe-deactivation-20110915-story.html |access-date=July 13, 2020 |work=dailypress.com |publisher=The Daily Press |date=September 15, 2011 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022233416/https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20110915-2011-09-15-dp-nws-monroe-deactivation-20110915-story.html |url-status=live }} Shortly after, the fort was named a National Monument by President Barack Obama, on November 1.{{cite web |title=Presidential Proclamation – Establishment of the Fort Monroe National Monument |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/01/presidential-proclamation-establishment-fort-monroe-national-monument |website=whitehouse.gov |access-date=July 13, 2020 |language=en |date=November 1, 2011 |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018022703/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/01/presidential-proclamation-establishment-fort-monroe-national-monument |url-status=live }}
==Langley AFB during the Vietnam War==
In particular, during the Vietnam War, Langley Air Force Base was a designated 'waiting base' and thousands of Air Force families were transferred to Hampton from all over the world to wait while their husbands and fathers served in Vietnam. Thousands of Navy families associated with Naval bases in Norfolk next door also waited in Hampton during this era. Vietnam was a very high casualty war for Air Force and Navy pilots (some types of planes experienced a 50% casualty rate), and Naval "river rats" who fought on the rivers of the Mekong Delta experienced high casualties as well. There accumulated over time, in the Hampton area, a high concentration of families of unaccounted for wartime casualties.Jose, Carol, You Are Not Forgotten: A Family's Quest for Truth and the Founding of the National League of Families, New York Vandamere Press; first edition (September 1, 2008). (US), 2008. {{ISBN|0-918339-71-5}}, {{ISBN|978-0-918339-71-3}}. In many cases Hampton-stationed military families of "Missing in Action" or "Prisoner of War" pilots and sailors spent many years in the area waiting to find out what had happened to their missing or captured airmen and sailors.Video of C-SPAN special segment, author Carol Jose speaks about book You Are Not Forgotten on the National League of Families, http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/282539-1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512000018/http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/282539-1 |date=May 12, 2011 }}
Geography
File:Hampton VA satellite map.jpg to its southeast across the Chesapeake Bay.]]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|136|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|51|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|85|sqmi}} (62.3%) is water.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |url-status=live }}
=Neighborhoods=
=Climate=
Hampton has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa){{Cite web |title=Humid subtropical climate |url=https://www.mindat.org/climate-Cfa.html |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=mindat.org |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819043234/https://www.mindat.org/climate-Cfa.html |url-status=live }} characteristic of the Southeast United States. The weather in Hampton is temperate and seasonal with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The mean annual temperature is {{cvt|60.2|°F|°C}}, with an average annual snowfall of {{cvt|6|in|mm}} and an average annual rainfall of {{cvt|47|in|mm}}. The wettest month by average rainfall is August with an average of 2.4 inches of rain falling on 11–12 days, although in March it typically rains on more days with 2.3 inches of rain falling in 12 to 13 days. The hottest day on record was August 1, 1980, when the temperature hit {{cvt|105.1|°F|°C}}. The lowest recorded temperature of {{cvt|-2.7|°F|°C}} was recorded on January 21, 1985.{{Cite web |title=Hampton, VA Climate |url=https://www.climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/virginia/langley-afb#:~:text=The%20warmest%20month%20in%20Langley,temperature%20hit%20105.1%C2%B0F. |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=climatespy.com |archive-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929124533/https://climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/virginia/langley-afb#:~:text=The%20warmest%20month%20in%20Langley,temperature%20hit%20105.1%C2%B0F. |url-status=live }}{{Norfolk, Virginia weatherbox}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1850= 787
|1860= 1848
|1870= 2300
|1880= 2684
|1890= 2513
|1900= 2764
|1910= 5505
|1920= 6138
|1930= 6382
|1940= 5898
|1950= 5966
|1960= 89258
|1970= 120779
|1980= 122617
|1990= 133811
|2000= 146437
|2010= 137436
|2020= 137148
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790 |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719124258/https://www.census.gov//prod/www/decennial.html |url-status=live }}
1790-1960{{cite web |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |title=Historical Census Browser |publisher=University of Virginia Library |access-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=live }} 1900-1990{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215150359/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt |url-status=live }}
1990-2000{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 6, 2014 }} 2010-2020
}}
=2020 census=
=2010 Census=
File:USA Hampton city, Virginia age pyramid.svg
As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }} of 2010, there were 137,436 people, 53,887 households, and 35,888 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,828.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 57,311 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,106.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 49.6% Black or African American, 42.7% White, 2.2% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 4.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 53,887 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.
The age distribution is 24.2% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
Population update: estimated population in July 2002: 145,921 (-0.4% change)
Males: 72,579 (49.6%), Females: 73,858 (50.4%)
The Census estimate for 2005 shows that the city's population was down slightly to more, 145,579.{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51650.html |title=Hampton city QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |access-date=December 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208135953/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51650.html |archive-date=December 8, 2015 }}
The median income for a household in the city was $39,532, and the median income for a family was $46,110. Males had a median income of $31,666 versus $24,578 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,774. About 8.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
= Arts and museums =
Hampton is home to several arts venues and museums dedicated to Hampton's rich history. Notable venues in the city include The American Theatre, the Casemate Museum, the Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center, the Hampton History Museum, the Hampton University Museum, the Performing & Creative Arts Center, and the Virginia Air & Space Center.
The Hampton Coliseum, a multi-purpose arena built in 1968, serves as a major venue for entertainment acts such as Monster Jam and WWE wrestling, musical concerts from artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead and Phish and various regional sports games from the area. The arena has a seating capacity of 9,800 to 13,800 depending on configuration.{{Cite web |last=Coliseum |first=Hampton |title=Hampton Coliseum |url=https://www.hamptoncoliseum.org/ |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=hamptoncoliseum.org |language=en }}
= Libraries =
The city is served by the Hampton Public Library. The system began in 1926 as the first free county library in Virginia.{{Cite web |title=Hampton Public Library {{!}} Hampton, VA - Official Website |url=https://hampton.gov/100/Libraries |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=hampton.gov |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815050245/https://hampton.gov/100/Libraries |url-status=live }} Today, the main library includes the main library and three branches.
=Points of interest=
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- Air Power Park{{Cite web |url=https://www.visithampton.com/attraction/air-power-park/ |title=Air Power Park |website=visitHampton.com |access-date=October 31, 2021 }}
- Bluebird Gap Farm{{Cite web |url=https://hampton.gov/139/Bluebird-Gap-Farm |title=Bluebird Gap Farm |website=Hampton.gov |access-date=January 2, 2022 }}
- Buckroe Beach{{Cite web |url=https://hampton.gov/3503/Buckroe-Beach-Park |title=Buckroe Beach & Park |website=Hampton.gov |access-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031184059/https://hampton.gov/3503/Buckroe-Beach-Park |url-status=live }}
- Downtown Hampton Historic District
- Emancipation Oak{{Cite web |url=https://www.hamptonu.edu/about/emancipation_oak.cfm |title=Emancipation Oak |website=Hamptonu.edu |publisher=Hampton University |access-date=January 2, 2022 }}
- Fort Monroe{{Cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/fomr/learn/historyculture/index.htm |title=The History of Fort Monroe |website=nps.gov |access-date=January 2, 2022 }}
- Chapel of the Centurion{{Cite web |url=https://www.visithampton.com/attraction/chapel-of-the-centurion/ |title=Chapel of the Centurion – Visit Hampton, VA |access-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103034906/https://www.visithampton.com/attraction/chapel-of-the-centurion/ |url-status=live }}
- Fort Wool{{Cite web |url=https://hampton.gov/2052/Fort-Wool |title=Fort Wool |website=hampton.gov |access-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103034003/https://hampton.gov/2052/Fort-Wool |url-status=live }}
- Hampton Coliseum{{Cite web |url=https://www.hamptoncoliseum.org/arena-information/history |title=Hampton Coliseum – History |access-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103035122/https://www.hamptoncoliseum.org/arena-information/history |url-status=live }}
- Hampton National Cemetery
- Langley Air Force Base{{Cite web |url=https://www.jble.af.mil/ |title=Official website of Joint Base Langley Air Force Base |website=jble.af.mil |publisher=United States Air Force |access-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031184615/https://www.jble.af.mil/ |url-status=live }}
- Langley Speedway{{Cite web |url=https://langley-speedway.com/about-us/ |title=About us – Welcome to Larry King Law's Langley Speedway |website=langley-speedway.com |date=March 23, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2022 }}
- NASA Langley Research Center{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/langley |title=NASA Langley Research Center homepage |website=NASA.gov |date=March 25, 2015 |access-date=January 16, 2022 }}
- National Institute of Aerospace{{Cite web |url=https://www.nianet.org/about/ |title=About the National Institute of Aerospace |website=nianet.org |access-date=January 27, 2022 }}
- Old Point Comfort{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/13/us-slavery-400-years-virginia-point-comfort |title=Old Point Comfort: where slavery in America began 400 years ago |last=Smith |first=David |date=August 14, 2019 |website=The Guardian |access-date=August 14, 2019 |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807162248/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/13/us-slavery-400-years-virginia-point-comfort |url-status=live }}
- Peninsula Town Center{{Cite web |url=https://peninsulatowncenter.com/ |title=Peninsula Town Center – Lifestyle Center |access-date=January 2, 2022 }}
- St. John's Church
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Virginia Air and Space Center{{Cite web |url=https://vasc.org/about/ |title=About us – Virginia Air & Space Center |access-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103035718/https://vasc.org/about/ |url-status=live }}
- War Memorial Stadium
{{div col end}}
Sports
The Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League are a collegiate summer baseball league based in Hampton. The Pilots have been playing at War Memorial Stadium since 2000. The Hampton University Pirates & Lady Pirates compete in the Big South Conference in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
High school sports (especially football & basketball) play a large role in the city's sports culture. Sporting stars such as Allen Iverson, Francena McCoroy, and T'erea Brown are from Hampton. The city's stadium, Darling Stadium, serves as the high school football stadium with games usually spread over Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The stadium also hosts various track-and-field events.{{Cite web |title=HCS ATHLETICS |url=http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/departments/athletics/athletics.html |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=hampton.k12.va.us |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816193408/https://hampton.k12.va.us/departments/athletics/athletics.html |url-status=live }}
Additional sports options can be found just outside Hampton. On the collegiate level, the College of William and Mary, Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University offer NCAA Division I athletics. Virginia Wesleyan College and Christopher Newport University also provide sports at the NCAA Division III level.
Professional sports can be found in the area as well. In Norfolk, the Norfolk Tides of the International League and the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League field baseball and hockey teams respectively. In Virginia Beach, the Hampton Roads Piranhas field men's and women's professional soccer teams.
Government
{{PresHead|place=Hampton, Virginia|source={{Cite web |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222105145/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live }}}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|18,383|43,357|1,083|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|18,430|46,220|1,251|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|17,902|41,312|3,063|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|18,640|46,966|884|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|20,476|46,917|550|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|23,399|32,016|326|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|19,561|27,490|836|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|16,596|24,493|3,418|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|19,219|23,395|7,264|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|24,034|19,106|678|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|25,537|18,180|351|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|17,023|18,517|2,225|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|15,021|19,202|1,825|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|21,897|10,648|890|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|10,532|11,308|10,766|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,731|13,542|15|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,623|7,133|52|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,432|5,108|443|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,505|4,946|30|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|371|727|137|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|297|987|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|215|975|4|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|190|971|1|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|294|772|18|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|544|615|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|129|471|15|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|152|601|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|56|350|4|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|13|353|33|Virginia}}
= Local =
The city uses a council-manager government, with Jimmy Gray serving as mayor, Mary Bunting serving as the city manager, and six council members serving as representatives to the districts in the city.{{Cite web |title=City Council {{!}} Hampton, VA - Official Website |url=https://hampton.gov/222/City-Council |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=hampton.gov |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817153322/https://hampton.gov/222/City-Council |url-status=live }}
{{As of|2025}}, the Hampton City Council consisted of:
- Jimmy Gray, Mayor
- Steven L. Brown, Vice Mayor
- Randy Bowman, Councilman
- Carolyn Campbell, Councilwoman
- Michelle Ferebee, Councilwoman
- Hope Harper, Councilwoman
- Martha Mugler, Councilwoman
= Federal =
Hampton is located in Virginia's 3rd congressional district, represented by Bobby Scott.(Democrat).
Education
The main provider of public primary and secondary education is Hampton City Public Schools. There are four high schools – Kecoughtan, Bethel, Phoebus, and Hampton – eighteen K-5 elementary schools, two PK-8 schools, five middle schools, one early childhood center, and one gifted center in the city.{{Cite web |title=Hampton City Schools |url=http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/about/overview.php |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=hampton.k12.va.us |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830230253/http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/about/overview.php |url-status=dead }}
Several private schools are located in the area, including Denbigh Baptist Christian School,{{Cite web |title=Denbigh Baptist Christian School - Shaping Hearts and Minds |url=http://www.dbcs.org/index.html |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=dbcs.org |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921122433/http://www.dbcs.org/index.html |url-status=live }} Hampton Roads Academy,{{Cite web |title=Hampton Roads Academy {{!}} Private College Preparatory School {{!}} Virginia |url=https://www.hra.org/ |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=hra.org }} and Peninsula Catholic High School.{{Cite web |title=Peninsula Catholic High School |url=https://www.peninsulacatholic.org/ |access-date=August 15, 2020 |website=peninsulacatholic.org |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806131401/https://www.peninsulacatholic.org/ |url-status=live }}
Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton, operated by the State of Virginia, was formerly in Hampton.
=Colleges and universities=
File:HAMPTON UNIVERSITY Robert C. Ogden Hall.jpg]]
The city contains 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.{{cite web |title=Christopher Newport University |url=http://www.cnu.edu/ |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219144358/http://cnu.edu/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=William & Mary |url=http://www.wm.edu/ |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901141146/http://www.wm.edu/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=ODU |url=http://www.odu.edu/ |access-date=December 5, 2015 |work=Old Dominion University |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505164419/http://www.odu.edu/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Norfolk State University |url=http://www.nsu.edu/ |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214172637/https://www.nsu.edu/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Hampton University |url=http://www.hamptonu.edu/ |website=hamptonu.edu |access-date=April 22, 2008 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414054754/http://www.hamptonu.edu/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Peninsula's Community College |url=http://www.tncc.edu/ |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202085047/http://tncc.edu/ |url-status=live }}
Media
Hampton's daily newspaper is the Newport News{{En dash}}based Daily Press. Other papers include Norfolk's The Virginian-Pilot, Port Folio Weekly, the New Journal and Guide, and the Hampton Roads Business Journal.{{cite web |url=http://www.abyznewslinks.com/unitevann.htm |title=Hampton Roads News Links |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=abyznewslinks.com |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818055434/http://www.abyznewslinks.com/unitevann.htm |url-status=live }} Coastal Virginia Magazine{{Cite web |url=http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com/ |title=Coastal Virginia Magazine |website=coastalvirginiamag.com |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211102509/http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com/ |url-status=live }} serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Hampton and the Hampton Roads area.{{cite web |url=http://www.hrmag.com |title=Hampton Roads Magazine |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=Hampton Roads Magazine |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928171054/http://www.hrmag.com/ |url-status=dead }} Hampton Roads Times serves as an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties. Hampton is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area.{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/Norfolk_VA.aspx |title=Hampton Roads Radio Links |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=ontheradio.net |archive-date=August 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805002934/http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/Norfolk_VA.aspx |url-status=dead }}
Hampton is also served by several television stations. The Hampton Roads designated market area (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.).Holmes, Gary. "[http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.55dc65b4a7d5adff3f65936147a062a0/?vgnextoid=6573d3b8b0c3d010VgnVCM100000ac0a260aRCRD# Nielsen Reports 1.1% increase in U.S. Television Households for the 2006-2007 Season] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705100549/http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.55dc65b4a7d5adff3f65936147a062a0/?vgnextoid=6573d3b8b0c3d010VgnVCM100000ac0a260aRCRD |date=July 5, 2009 }}." Nielsen Media Research. September 23, 2006. Retrieved on September 28, 2007. The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY-TV 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WGNT 27 (Independent), WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV), WVBT 43 (Fox, with CW on DT2), and WPXV 49 (ION Television). The Public Broadcasting Service member station is WHRO-TV 15. Hampton residents also can receive independent stations, such as WSKY broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and WGBS-LD broadcasting on channel 11. Hampton is served by Verizon FiOS and Cox Cable.
Infrastructure
=Transportation=
{{Main|Transportation in Hampton Roads}}
==Roads and highways==
In the Hampton Roads region, water crossings are a major issue for land-based transportation. The city is fortunate to have a good network of local streets and bridges to cross the various rivers and creeks. Many smaller bridges, especially those along Mercury Boulevard, were named to honor the original NASA astronauts, who had trained extensively at NASA's Langley facilities.
The city is located contiguously to the neighboring independent cities of both Newport News and Poquoson. Many roads and streets are available to travel between them. Likewise, Williamsburg, Yorktown and the counties of James City and York are also located nearby in the Peninsula sub-region, and many roads lead to them.
To reach most of its other neighbors in the South Hampton Roads sub-region, it is necessary to cross the harbor and/or the mouth of the James River. There are 3 major motor vehicle crossings. Among these are the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel (HRBT) and the Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel (MMMBT), each forming part of the Hampton Roads Beltway. The HRBT is located on Interstate 64 near downtown Hampton and the MMMBT is a few miles away on Interstate 664 near downtown Newport News. (These two major interstates converge in Hampton near the Hampton Coliseum.) The third crossing option is the James River Bridge, also in Newport News, which connects to Isle of Wight County and the town of Smithfield.
Hampton is also served by several major primary and secondary highways. These notably include U.S. Routes 17, 60 and 258, and Virginia State Routes 134 and 143.
==Local and regional public transportation==
The Hampton Transit Center, located close to the downtown area at the intersection of West Pembroke Avenue and King Street, offers a hub for local and intercity public transportation. It hosts HRT buses, Greyhound/Trailways services and taxicabs.
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is the local provider of transit service within the city, as well offering a regional bus system with routes to and from seven other cities in Hampton Roads.{{cite web |url=http://www.hrtransit.org/ |title=- Hampton Roads Transit - |author=Hampton Roads Transit |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=January 23, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000123231009/http://www.hrtransit.org/ |url-status=live }}
==Intercity bus service==
Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines and its Carolina Trailways affiliate. The buses serve the Hampton Transit Center. Low cost curbside intercity bus service is also provided by Megabus, with service to Richmond, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
==Amtrak==
Hampton is served by several Amtrak trains a day, with direct service from Newport News station in nearby Newport News (on Warwick Boulevard just west of Mercury Boulevard) through Williamsburg and Richmond to points along the Northeast Corridor from Washington DC through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City all the way to Boston. At Richmond, connections can be made for other Amtrak destinations nationwide.
==Air==
Hampton is served by two commercial airports. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport {{Airport codes|PHF}} is in Newport News, and Norfolk International Airport {{Airport codes|ORF|KORF|ORF}} is across the harbor in Norfolk. Both are along portions of Interstate 64.
The primary airport for the Virginia Peninsula is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News. Originally known as Patrick Henry Field (hence its airline code letters "PHF"), it was built on the site of Camp Patrick Henry, formerly a World War II facility. It is one of the fastest growing airports in the country, and it reported having served 1,058,839 passengers in 2005. The airport recently added a fourth airline carrier, Frontier Airlines, becoming the first new airline to come to the region in over eight years, despite the economic recession conditions. 2010 was to be the busiest year by passenger count in the airport's history.{{cite web |url=http://www.nnwairport.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001204184500/http://www.nnwairport.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 4, 2000 |title=Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport |access-date=February 25, 2008 |publisher=Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport }}
The larger Norfolk International Airport (often known locally by its code letters "ORF") also serves the region. The airport is near the Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits between Norfolk and Virginia Beach.{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkairport.com/airportinfo/missionhistory.htm |title=Norfolk International Airport Mission and History |access-date=October 2, 2007 |publisher=Norfolk International Airport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928203630/http://www.norfolkairport.com/airportinfo/missionhistory.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }} Seven airlines provide nonstop services to 25 destinations. During 2006, ORF had 3,703,664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkairport.com/airportinfo/orfstats.pdf |title=Norfolk International Airport Statistics |access-date=October 2, 2007 |publisher=Norfolk International Airport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025202830/http://www.norfolkairport.com/airportinfo/orfstats.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2007 }}
The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services. It is in South Hampton Roads in the independent city of Chesapeake.{{cite web |url=http://www.chesapeakeairport.com/ |title=Chesapeake Regional Airport |access-date=January 12, 2008 |archive-date=February 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207221109/http://www.chesapeakeairport.com/ |url-status=live }}
Notable people
{{See also|List of people from Hampton Roads, Virginia}}
;American history
- James Armistead, America's first African American spy, provided the information to the Continental Army that Cornwallis was headed to Yorktown in 1781. This led to the forced surrender of Cornwallis.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/williamsburg/hidden-history-virginia-slave-spied-to-help-lead-america-to-revolutionary-war-victory/ |title=Hidden History: Virginia slave spied to help lead America to Revolutionary War Victory |last=Dixon |first=Kara |website=WAVY.com |date=February 15, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127204627/https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/williamsburg/hidden-history-virginia-slave-spied-to-help-lead-america-to-revolutionary-war-victory/ |url-status=live }}
- Samuel Chapman Armstrong, Union general in American Civil War; founder of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, later Hampton University
- James Barron, U.S. Navy commodore, captain of frigate {{USS|Chesapeake|1799|6}}.
- Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, imprisoned in a casemate at Fort Monroe after the American Civil War
- Evelyn Grubb, POW wife, author, co-founder and National President of the National League of Families"Evelyn Grubb, 74; Advocated Humane Treatment for POWs of Vietnam Era" Los Angeles Times Obituary, January 4, 2006, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jan-04-me-grubb4-story.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225083003/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jan-04-me-grubb4-story.html |date=December 25, 2022 }}
- Mary S. Peake, African American humanitarian; progenitor of Hampton Institute; the first Black teacher in the American Missionary Association
- Booker Taliaferro Washington (commonly known as Booker T Washington), founder of Tuskegee Institute, educator, author, African American statesman{{Cite web |url=https://virginiahistory.org/learn/historical-book/chapter/hampton-institute-and-booker-t-washington |title=Hampton Institute & Booker T Washington |website=Virginiahistory.org |access-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127204020/https://virginiahistory.org/learn/historical-book/chapter/hampton-institute-and-booker-t-washington |url-status=live }}
- George Robert Watkins, politician, member of Pennsylvania State Senate and United States Congress
- George Wythe, classical scholar, first law professor in U.S., mayor of Williamsburg, attorney general of Virginia Colony, Continental Congress member, speaker of the state assembly, a framer of the federal Constitution
;Music
- Robert Nathaniel Dett, notable composer, pianist, choir director, educator, administrator at Hampton Institute; a founder of United Service Organization
- Steve Earle, popular country-rock musician and songwriter
- Jeff Parker, experimental jazz and rock guitarist in the Chicago-based post-rock group Tortoise
- Jerry Roush, vocalist known for his time in Sky Eats Airplane, Of Mice and Men, and Glass Cloud
- DeVante Swing and Mr. Dalvin, of the R&B group Jodeci
- Victor Wooten, bassist for the Grammy Award winning "Blu-Bop" group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
- Weldon Irvine, composer, pianist
- DRAM, rapper, artist{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/music/dp-fea-big-baby-dram-album-release-20161022-story.html |title=Singer, rapper big baby D.R.A.M. of Hampton proud to represent the 757 |last=Brogan |first=Kate Mary |date=October 22, 2016 |website=Daily press.com |access-date=May 30, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213107/https://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/music/dp-fea-big-baby-dram-album-release-20161022-story.html |url-status=live }}
;Science
- Roy F. Brissenden, World War II pilot, physicist, aeronautical engineer, mechanical engineer, teacher, inventor, project leader at Hampton, Langley Research Center NACA/NASA
- Mary Jackson, engineer and mathematician who contributed to America's aeronautics and space programs
- Katherine Johnson, physicist, space scientist, and mathematician who contributed to America's aeronautics and space programs{{Cite web |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/national/katherine-johnson-one-of-nasa-langleys-hidden-figures-dies-at-101/ |title=Katherine Johnson, one of NASA Langley's Hidden Figures dies at 101 |website=Wavy.com |date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224150434/https://www.wavy.com/news/national/katherine-johnson-one-of-nasa-langleys-hidden-figures-dies-at-101/ |url-status=live }}
- Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., aeronautical engineer; administrator at Hampton, Langley Research Center NACA / NASA; flight director of the space program
- Anne Rudloe, U.S. marine biologist
;Sports
- Robert Banks, Linebacker/defensive end; national high school player of the year by the Columbus, Ohio Touchdown Club in 1982
- Tajh Boyd, professional football player
- Elton Brown, offensive lineman of the Arizona Cardinals
- Jim Burrow, defensive back for the Green Bay Packers
- Steve Cardenas, Brazilian jiu-jitsu martial artist & actor who starred as Rocky DeSantos; Red Ape Ninja Ranger and Zeo Ranger III Blue.
- Jake Cave, outfielder for the Minnesota Twins
- Ronald Curry, professional football player for the Oakland Raiders, former Hampton High School star football quarterback
- La'Keshia Frett, former WNBA basketball player; led Phoebus High School to state championship in 1992
- Shaun Gayle, special teams captain of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears football team, and played with the San Diego Chargers
- Marques Hagans, quarterback/wide receiver with the St. Louis Rams
- Chris Hanburger, popular Washington Redskins player in the 1970s and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Michael Husted, former professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Hampton High School placekicker
- Allen Iverson, former all-star and MVP basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125870182 |title=A Town Divided: Allen Iverson And Hampton, VA |date=April 13, 2010 |publisher=NPR |access-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-date=June 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619184611/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125870182 |url-status=live }}
- Jerod Mayo, former NFL linebacker and current head coach, for the New England Patriots{{Cite web |url=https://www.wtkr.com/sports/hampton-product-jerod-mayo-a-candidate-for-head-coaching-vacancies |title=Hampton product Jerod Mayo a candidate for head coaching vacancies |last=Plain |first=Megan |date=January 13, 2022 |website=WTKR.com |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113235236/https://www.wtkr.com/sports/hampton-product-jerod-mayo-a-candidate-for-head-coaching-vacancies |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Patriots to Host an Introductory Press Conference to Announce the Promotion of Jerod Mayo as the 15th Head Coach in Franchise History |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-to-host-an-introductory-press-conference-to-announce-the-promotion-of-jerod-mayo-as-the-15th-head-coach-in-franchise-history |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=www.patriots.com |language=en-US }}
- Art Price, professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons
- Dwight Stephenson, professional football player for the Miami Dolphins and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19980730-1998-07-30-9807300005-story.html |title=Dwight Stephenson: From Hampton to Canton: Humble Beginnings |last=Johnson |first=Dave |date=July 30, 1998 |website=dailypress.com |access-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127203644/https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19980730-1998-07-30-9807300005-story.html |url-status=live }}
- John Sturdivant, professional football player
- Tyrod Taylor, professional football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers{{Cite web |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/hampton/nfl-quarterback-and-hampton-native-tyrod-taylor-behind-food-drive-at-hampton-high-school/291-efdba9a6-46c0-45c4-b99b-b3c71042e1ef |title=NFL quarterback and Hampton native Tyrod Taylor behind food drive at Hampton High School |last=Smith |first=Dana |date=April 24, 2021 |website=13newsnow.com |access-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424205353/https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/hampton/nfl-quarterback-and-hampton-native-tyrod-taylor-behind-food-drive-at-hampton-high-school/291-efdba9a6-46c0-45c4-b99b-b3c71042e1ef |url-status=live }}
- Mike Tomlin, professional football coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/19335/come-ride-with-mike-tomlin-through-va-streets-that-shaped-him |title=Ride with Mike Tomlin through Virginia streets that shaped him |last=Fowler |first=Jeremy |date=July 14, 2016 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809041759/http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/19335/come-ride-with-mike-tomlin-through-va-streets-that-shaped-him |url-status=live }}
- Jimmy F. Williams, professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons
- Xavier Adibi, former professional football linebacker
;Other
- David Funderburk, U.S. Ambassador to Romania, U.S. Congressman
- Trent Garrett, actor
- Oz Scott, director
- Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures
- Archibald H. Sunderland, U.S. Army major general{{cite book |editor1-last=Metz |editor1-first=Thomas M. |date=Spring 1964 |title=Assembly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCg9O-xkvPMC&pg=RA4-PA94 |location=West Point, NY |publisher=United States Military Academy Association of Graduates |page=94 |via=Google Books }}
- Jean Yokum, president of Langley Federal Credit Union
- Kelvin Taylor, actor from Hampton.
- Patricia Tolliver Giles, United States district judge for the Eastern District of Virginia
Sister cities
Hampton has four sister cities:{{cite web |url=http://www.sister-cities.org/directory/USlistingsResults.cfm?selectedState=VA&submit=Search |title=SCI: Sister City Directory |work=Sister Cities International |access-date=November 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414203700/http://www.sister-cities.org/directory/USlistingsResults.cfm?selectedState=VA&submit=Search |archive-date=April 14, 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://sistercities-hamptonva.org/ |title=Sister Cities of Hampton, Virginia |access-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924220819/http://www.sistercities-hamptonva.org/ |url-status=live }}
- {{flagdeco|UK}} Southampton, England, United Kingdom
- {{flagdeco|FRA}} Vendôme, Loir-et-Cher, France
- {{flagdeco|ZAF}} Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- {{flagdeco|ROK}} Anyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea
See also
{{Portal|Virginia|Cities}}
- Bay Shore Beach
- Bluebird Gap Farm
- Buckroe Beach
- Hampton Roads (many regional aspects covered)
- List of athletes from Hampton Roads
- List of famous people from Hampton Roads
- List of Mayors of Hampton, Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampton, Virginia
- Old Point Comfort
- Virginia Peninsula
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
{{See also|Timeline of Hampton, Virginia#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Hampton, Virginia}}
External links
{{Commons category|Hampton, Virginia}}
- [http://www.hampton.gov/ City of Hampton]
- [http://www.hreda.com/ Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance] – serving Hampton
- {{Cite AmCyc |wstitle=Hampton (Virginia) |display=Hampton, a town and the county seat of Elizabeth City co., Virginia |short=x}}
{{Adjacent communities
| Northwest = Williamsburg
James City County • York County
| North = Gloucester County
Poquoson
| Northeast = Chesapeake Bay
| West = Newport News
| Centre = Hampton, Virginia
| East = Chesapeake Bay
| Southwest = Newport News
Isle of Wight County • Suffolk
| South = Portsmouth • Norfolk
Chesapeake, Virginia
| Southeast = Virginia Beach
| image =
}}
{{Hampton, Virginia}}
{{Hampton Roads}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}
{{All-American City Award Hall of Fame|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Former county seats in Virginia
Category:Populated coastal places in Virginia
Category:Populated places in Hampton Roads
Category:Populated places established in 1610
Category:Virginia counties on the Chesapeake Bay
Category:Majority-minority counties and independent cities in Virginia