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 Africans in Virginia landed at Point Comfort 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 December: Town incorporation repealed. 1852 – Town incorporated again. 1857 – Chesapeake Female College was built. 1860 Town incorporation repealed again.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.

See also Hampton history List of mayors of Hampton, Virginia National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampton, Virginia History of Hampton Roads area Timelines of other cities in Virginia: Alexandria, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach

References

Bibliography

(Includes information about Hampton) (Includes information about Hampton)

1917 ed.

External links

Items related to Hampton, Virginia, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)