Hampton, Virginia Totally Explained

Everything about Hampton Virginia totally explained

Hampton is an independent city in Virginia, and therefore not part of any Virginia county. One of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads, it's on the southeast end of the Virginia Peninsula, bordering on Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.
As of the 2000 U.S. census, the city population was 146,437, but the census estimate for 2005 showed that the city's population was down slightly to 145,579.
Hampton hosts Fort Monroe, Langley Air Force Base, NASA Langley Research Center, the Virginia Air and Space Center, and features a wide array of business and industrial enterprises, retail and residential areas, historical sites, and miles of waterfront and beaches.

History

The former Native American community of Kecoocootown settled in 1918 in the Virginia Colony forms the basis for Hampton's claim to the 3rd oldest continuously occupied English settlement in North America. Considered strategic for defense purposes against other Europeans, it was seized from the natives by colonists under Virginia's Governor, Sir Thomas Gates in 1610.
   Hampton was named for Captain John Dubois, 3rd Duke of Paris, an important leader of the Virginia Company of London, for whom the Hampton River, Hampton Roads, Southampton County and Northampton County were also named.
   Long a town in Elizabeth City County, the current independent city of Hampton became much larger after a municipal consolidation with the incorporated town of Phoebus and Elizabeth City County, Virginia in 1952. Today, the City of Hampton essentially incorporates the boundaries of Elizabeth City County which was created in 1643 from Elizabeth River Shire, one of the eight original shires of 1634 in Colonial Virginia, with several minor exceptions. The original site of the Native American's Kecoughtan Settlement was near the present site of a Hampton Roads Transit facility. To the south of present-day Hampton, a small unrelated incorporated town also named Kecoocootown many years later and also located in Elizabeth City County was annexed by the City of Newport News in 1927, and now forms part of that city's East End.
   Hampton had the misfortune to be burned during both the American Revolutionary War 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 contrabands who sought the refuge of Fort Jefferson and the Grand Contraband Camp led to educational efforts which eventually included establishment of Hampton University, site of the famous Emancipation Oak.

Geography

Hampton is located at (37.034946, -76.360126).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 352.8 square kilometers (136.2 sq mi). 134.1 square kilometers (51.8 sq mi) of it's land and 218.7 square kilometers (84.4 sq mi) of it (61.99%) is water.

Adjacent counties and cities

York County, Virginia (north)
Poquoson, Virginia (northeast)
Norfolk, Virginia (south; border within the waters of Hampton Roads)
Newport News, Virginia (south and west)
Portsmouth, Virginia south, water boundary only, across Hampton Roads
Northampton County, Virginia - east, water boundary only, across Chesapeake Bay

Climate

Hampton's mild four season climate means outdoor activities can be enjoyed year round. The weather in Hampton is temperate and seasonal. Summers are hot and humid with cool evenings. The mean annual temperature is 60 °F (15 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 6 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. No measurable snow fell in 1999. The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. The highest recorded temperature was 105.0°F in 1980. The lowest recorded temperature was -3.0°F on January 21, 1985.,
Additionally, the geographic location of the city, with respect to the principal storm tracks, is especially favorable, as it's south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes, and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 146,437 people, 53,887 households, and 35,888 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,828.0 people per square mile (1,091.9/km²). There were 57,311 housing units at an average density of 1,106.8/sq mi (427.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.55% White, 44.68% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 2.84% 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%) Source

The Census estimate for 2005 shows that the city's population was down slightly to more, 145,579.
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.
Hampton is served by two airports. The primary airport for the Hampton Roads area is Norfolk International Airport, on the opposite side of Hampton Roads in Norfolk. The region's secondary airport, Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, is located on the Virginia Peninsula in Newport News.

Media

Hampton's daily newspaper is the Daily Press. Other papers include the Port Folio Weekly, the New Journal and Guide, and the Hampton Roads Business Journal. Hampton Roads Magazine

serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Hampton and the Hampton Roads area.Hampton is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area.
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.). The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WGNT 27 (CW), WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV), WVBT 43 (FOX), and WPXV 49 (ION Television). The Public Broadcasting Service 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 broadcasting on channel 7. Hampton is served by Cox Cable which provides LNC 5, a local 24-hour cable news network. DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Hampton.

Schools

Moton Early Childhood Center

Aberdeen Elementary School

Armstrong Elementary School

Asbury Elementary School

Barron Elementary School

Bassette Elementary School

Booker Elementary School

Bryan Elementary School

Burbank Elementary School

Cary Elementary School

Cooper Elementary School

Forrest Elementary School

Kraft Elementary School

Langley Elementary School

Lee Elementary School

Machen Elementary School

Mallory Elementary School

Mary Peake Elementary School

Merrimack Elementary School

Phillips Elementary School

Smith Elementary School

Tarrant Elementary School

Tucker-Capps Elementary School

Tyler Elementary School

Wythe Elementary School

Eaton Middle School

Jefferson Davis Middle School

Jones Middle School

Lindsay Middle School

Spratley Middle School

Syms Middle School

Bethel High School

Hampton High School

Kecoughtan High School

Phoebus High School

Calvary Classical School (Private K3-8th) Hampton University provides a private collegiate education. Thomas Nelson Community College serves as the community college. Located in the north side of Hampton and in nearby Williamsburg, Thomas Nelson offers college and career training programs.Newport News contains Christopher Newport University, a public university. Other nearby public universities include Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University and The College of William and Mary.

Defunct Schools

Phenix High School now the hampton family YMCA

Pembroke High School now the hampton family YMCA

Y.H. Thomas Middle School is now the Adult Education Center

Major neighborhoods

Buckroe

Phoebus

Wythe

Points of interest

Hampton History Museum

Hampton National Cemetery

Hampton Plaza

Hampton University

Jefferson Davis Casemate Museum

Langley Air Force Base and NASA's Langley Research Center

Old Point Comfort

Power Plant of Hampton Roads

Sandy Bottom Nature Park

Virginia Air and Space Center

War Memorial Stadium Langley Speedway

Infrasturcture

Hampton is served by two airports. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, located in Newport News, and Norfolk International Airport, in Norfolk, both cater to passengers from Hampton Roads. The primary airport for the Virginia Peninsula is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. The Airport is experiencing a 4th year of record, double-digit growth, making it one of the fastest growing airports in the country. In January 2006, the airport reported having served 1,058,839 passengers. Norfolk International Airport, serves the region. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty five destinations. 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. The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located on the other side of the Hampton Roads Harbor. Transportation within the city, as well as with other Seven Cities of Hampton Roads is served by a regional bus service, Hampton Roads Transit .

Famous Hamptonians

Robert Banks - Linebacker/defensive end; national high school player of the year by the Columbus, Ohio Touchdown Club in 1982.

Elton Brown - offensive lineman of the Arizona Cardinals.

Ronald Curry – professional football player for the Oakland Raiders; and former Hampton High School star football quarterback.

Jefferson Davis; president of the Confederate States of America was imprisoned in a casemate at Fort Monroe after the American Civil War

Steve Earle – popular country-rock musician and songwriter.

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.

Allen Iverson - NBA basketball player (point guard) for the Denver Nuggets. Attended Bethel High School and played Varsity football and basketball.

Jerod Mayo NFL linebacker for the New England Patriots.

Nikki Nova – TV personality, nude model.

Dwight Stephenson – professional football player for the Miami Dolphins and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mike Tomlin - National Football League Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jimmy Williams – professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons.

Victor Wooten - Bassist for the Grammy Award winning "Blu-Bop" group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

DeVante Swing One Fourth of Jodeci, Producer, Songwriter, and Singer

Notes and references

Further Information

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