Hampton Roads

Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States.

History

The term "Hampton Roads" is a centuries-old reference that originated when the region was a struggling British outpost nearly 400 years ago. Designated in the 17th Century as the name of the harbor, "Hampton Roads" honors one of the founders of the Virginia Company and a great supporter of the colonization of Virginia, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. Signifying the safety of a port, "roads" in nautical terminology means "a place less sheltered than a harbor where ships may ride at anchor." Although perhaps by that definition the label "harbor" is technically incorrect, Hampton Roads has become well-known as the "world's greatest harbor."

Related Topics:
Virginia Company - Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton

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The entrance from Chesapeake Bay was defended by Fort Monroe, built in 1819 on Old Point Comfort, and by Fort Wool, built as Fort Calhoun in 1829, on a small island called the Rip Raps near the middle of the channel. The famous Battle of Hampton Roads between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack) during the US Civil War took place here, off Sewell's Point, on March 8-9, 1862. The Jamestown Exposition was held at Sewell's point on Hampton Roads in 1907. A major naval display was featured.

Related Topics:
Fort Monroe - Old Point Comfort - Fort Wool - Rip Raps - Battle of Hampton Roads - USS ''Monitor'' - CSS ''Virginia'' (ex-''USS Merrimack'') - US Civil War - Sewell's Point - March 8 - 9 - 1862 - Jamestown Exposition

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Note: This section provides history of the water area known as Hampton Roads. For the histories of the various communities which make up the Hampton Roads region, please refer to the articles on the Virginia Peninsula and South Hampton Roads subregions, and individual articles for each shire, county, town, or city in the following section.

Related Topics:
Virginia Peninsula - South Hampton Roads

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