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.

Political subdivisions

Independent cities (current)

• Chesapeake
• Franklin
• Hampton
• Newport News
• Norfolk
• Poquoson
• Portsmouth
• Suffolk
• Virginia Beach
• Williamsburg

Counties (current)

• Currituck (North Carolina)
• Gloucester
• Isle of Wight
• James City
• Mathews
• Southampton
• Surry
• York

Incorporated towns (current)

• Claremont in Surry County
• Dendron in Surry County
• Smithfield in Isle of Wight County
• Surry in Surry County (county seat)
• Windsor in Isle of Wight County

Unincorporated towns and communities not in cities (current)

• Gloucester Courthouse in Gloucester County
• Gloucester Point in Gloucester County
• Rushmere in Isle of Wight County
• Yorktown in York County

Defunct shires, counties, cities, towns

As the current communities in Hampton Roads Region were formed and grew from the Colonial period to statehood and modern times, the political structure of many areas in Virginia changed. In the mid 20th century, a wave of consolidations of local governments led to almost the entire southeastern portion of Virginia consisting of a group of adjoining independent cities.

Related Topics:
Virginia - Independent cities

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Many incorporated (formally constituted) localities became legally defunct, though mostly not abandoned by their citizens, with the notable exception of Jamestown. For search of genealogical, land, and other historical records, it may be necessary to find these old names.

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The following is a partial listing of defunct political subdivisions in the Hampton Roads area with approximate formation and dissolution dates. Note: Former towns which grew to became cities of the same name are not listed separately. More information about dates and dispositions may be found in most individual articles by following the links.

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In order of date founded:

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• Jamestown, Virginia (1607) largely abandoned as a Town after 1699
• Kecoughtan, Virginia (1610), became part of Town and City of Hampton
• Middle Plantation (1632), became Williamsburg after 1699
• Elizabeth River Shire (1634-1643)
• Warwick River Shire (1634-1643)
• Charles River Shire (1634-1643)
• James City Shire (1634-1643)
• Warrosquyoake Shire (1634-1637)
• New Norfolk County (1636-1637)
• Lower Norfolk County (1637-1691)
• Upper Norfolk County (1637-1646)
• Norfolk County, Virginia (1691-1963)
• Princess Anne County (1691-1963)
• Elizabeth City County (1643-1952)
• Nansemond County (1646-1972)
• Warwick County (aka Warwick River County) (1643-1952)
• City of South Norfolk (1922-1963)
• Town of Phoebus(1900-1952) (earlier known as unincorporated towns of Millwood, Roseland Farms,Chesapeake City)
• City of Warwick (1952-1958)
• City of Nansemond (1972-1974)

See also article Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia

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