# Timeline of Hampton, Virginia

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Hampton, Virginia, United States.

## 17th century

* 1607 - April 30: European settlers arrived at Old Point Comfort and established settlement of Mill Creek (later Phoebus) just outside the Algonquin village of Kecoughtan
* 1610
** July 9 - European settlers permanently drove out the Native Americans from Kecoughtan.
** Fort Algernon, Fort Charles, and Fort Henry were built.
** St. John's Church was founded.
* 1619
** Mill Creek settlement became part of newly formed Elizabeth Cittie.
** August: 1619 First enslaved Africans were brought to the Virginia Colony, landing at Point Comfort. A few days later additional enslaved Africans were also brought to Point Comfort. Resource www.Hampton.gov
* 1630 – Trading post was established.
* 1634 – Settlement became part of newly formed Elizabeth City County.
* 1680 – Town of Hampton was established per "Act of Cohabitation."

## 18th century

* 1705 – Hampton became a "port of entry."
* 1715 – Hampton designated seat of Elizabeth City County.
* 1718 – Head of dead pirate Blackbeard was displayed on a pole at place later known as "Blackbeard's Point."
* 1727 – St John’s church was rebuilt.
* 1728 - Fort George was built at Old Point Comfort.
* 1749 - The Coastal Hurricane of 1749 hit area, destroyed Fort George and created Willoughby Spit
* 1755 – "1,000 Acadian" travellers stayed temporarily in Hampton.
* 1775 - October 24–27: British troops directed by John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore raided Hampton, but were repulsed by patriot Virginia Militia
* 1788 – Hampton became part of the new U.S. state of Virginia.

## 19th century

* 1805 – Hampton Academy became active.
* 1813 – Hampton was taken by British forces during the War of 1812.
* 1823 – U.S. Fort Monroe was built.
* 1849
** March: Town of Hampton incorporated.
** December: Town incorporation repealed.
* 1852 – Town incorporated again.
* 1857 – Chesapeake Female College was built.
* 1860
** Town incorporation repealed again.
** Population expanded up to 1,848.
* 1861 – August: Residents set fire to town in order to repel Union forces during the American Civil War.
* 1865 – February 3: U.S.- Confederate Hampton Roads Conference held aboard the steamboat River Queen to discuss terms to end the American Civil War.
* 1868 – Hampton Agricultural and Industrial Institute and its museum were established.
* 1870 – National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Southern Branch began operating.
* 1871 – Hampton Institute Press was founded.
* 1872 – Hampton Institute's Southern Workman journal began publication.
* 1875 – Booker T. Washington graduated from Hampton Institute.
* 1876
** Hampton Monitor newspaper began publication.
** County courthouse was built.
* 1878 – Little England Chapel was built.
* 1882 – Railroad began operating.
* 1884
** Fire.
** Bulletin newspaper began publication.
* 1887 – Town incorporated again once more.
* 1889
** Citizens Railway (trolley) began operating.
** People's Building and Loan Association in business.
* 1890 – Population increased up to 2,513.
* 1891 – Dixie Hospital nursing school was established.
* 1897 – Annual Hampton Negro Conference was held at the Hampton Institute.
* 1900 – Population increased up to 2,764.

## 20th century

* 1903 – Hampton Institute's Huntington Memorial Library was built.
* 1908
** March 4: City of Hampton was incorporated.
** B’nai Israel synagogue was built.
* 1912 – American Theatre was built.
* 1915 – Apollo Theatre in business.
* 1916 – Braddock monument was erected.
* 1917 – U.S. military Langley Field (airfield) and its Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory (later NASA Langley Research Center) began operating.
* 1920
** Scott Theatre was opened.
** Population grew up to 6,138.
* 1922 – February 21: U.S. military airship Roma exploded during test flight.
* 1926 – Taylor Memorial Library was opened.
* 1928 – Chamberlin Hotel was built.
* 1930 – "Hampton Veterans' Facility" began operating.
* 1937 – Aberdeen Gardens (housing) was built by U.S. Interior Department's Subsistence Homesteads Division.
* 1939 – Hampton City Hall was built.
* 1943 – U.S. Langley Research Center's racially segregated West Area Computers began operating.
* 1948
** WVEC radio began broadcasting.
** Green Acres Auto Theatre (drove-in cinema) in business.
* 1950 – Population expanded up to 5,966.
* 1952
** July 1: Elizabeth City County (including Phoebus) was consolidated into city of Hampton.
** Fort Wool historic site was established.
* 1954 – October: Hurricane Hazel occurred.
* 1957 – Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel to Norfolk was opened.
* 1960
** Interstate 64 highway construction was completed.
** Population increased up to 89,258.
* 1962
** Kecoughtan High School was founded.
* 1964 – WHOV radio began broadcasting.
* 1968
** Thomas Nelson Community College was founded.
** Bethel High School was built.
* 1970 – Hampton Coliseum was opened.
* 1973 – Coliseum Mall in business.
* 1979 – September: Hurricane David occurred.
* 1982 – Finite element machine was invented at NASA Langley Research Center (approximate date).
* 1984 – Hampton University became active.
* 1987 – Hampton Public Library new building was opened.
* 1992 – Virginia Air and Space Center was established.
* 1993 – Bobby Scott became U.S. representative for Virginia's 3rd congressional district.
* 1994 – Hampton Roads Voice newspaper began publication.
* 1996
** July: Hurricane Bertha (1996) occurred.
** City website started operating online (approximate date).

## 21st century

* 2003 – Hampton History Museum was opened.
* 2008 – Molly Joseph Ward became mayor.
* 2010
** U.S. military Joint Base Langley–Eustis started its operation near city.
** Population rose up to 137,436.
* 2011
** Fort Monroe was decommissioned by the U.S. military
* 2016
** Donnie Tuck became mayor.
** Hidden Figures movie was released, partially set in Hampton.