Newport News, Virginia

Newport News is an independent city located in Virginia. It is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending to its mouth Hampton Roads. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 180,150. A more recent 2005 cencus shows the cities population has grown to 195,347.

Heritage: Warwick River Shire and Warwick County

Newport News was originally located in Warwick River Shire, one of eight created in colonial Virginia in 1634. During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the Jamestown Settlement in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By 1634, the English colony of Virginia consisted of eight shires or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants.

Related Topics:
Warwick River Shire - 1634 - Jamestown Settlement - 1607 - Shire - Counties

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Warwick River Shire became Warwick County in 1637. By 1810, the county seat was at Denbigh. Virginia has had an independent city political subdivision since 1871, and Newport News became independent of Warwick County in 1896 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly. Independent city status guarantees protection against annexation of territory by adjacent communities. Walter A. Post served as the city's first mayor. In 1952, Warwick County became the independent City of Warwick, and in 1958, was consolidated with the independent city of Newport News, assuming the better-known name, and forming the third largest city population-wise in Virginia with a 65 square mile area. The boundaries of the City of Newport News today are essentially the boundaries of the original Warwick River Shire and those of Warwick County for most of its existence.

Related Topics:
Warwick County - 1637 - 1810 - Denbigh - Independent city - 1871 - 1896 - Virginia General Assembly - Walter A. Post - Mayor - 1952 - City of Warwick - 1958

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~