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

18th century

 * 1705 – Hampton becomes a "port of entry."
 * 1715 – Hampton designated seat of Elizabeth City County.
 * 1718 – Head of dead pirate Blackbeard displayed on a pole at place later known as "Blackbeard's Point."
 * 1727 – St John’s church was re-built.
 * 1755 – "1,000 Acadian" travellers stay temporarily in Hampton.
 * 1788 – Hampton becomes part of the new U.S. state of Virginia.

19th century

 * 1805 – Hampton Academy active.
 * 1813 – Hampton taken by British forces during the War of 1812.
 * 1823 – U.S. Fort Monroe built.
 * 1849
 * March: Town of Hampton incorporated.
 * December: Town incorporation repealed.
 * 1852 – Town incorporated again.
 * 1857 – Chesapeake Female College built.
 * 1860
 * Town incorporation repealed again.
 * Population: 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 established.
 * 1870 – National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Southern Branch begins operating.
 * 1871 – Hampton Institute Press founded.
 * 1872 – Hampton Institute's Southern Workman journal begins publication.
 * 1875 – Booker T. Washington graduates from Hampton Institute.
 * 1876
 * Hampton Monitor newspaper begins publication.
 * County courthouse built.
 * 1878 – Little England Chapel built.
 * 1882 – Railroad begins operating.
 * 1884
 * Fire.
 * Bulletin newspaper begins publication.
 * 1887 – Town incorporated again once more.
 * 1889
 * Citizens Railway (trolley) begins operating.
 * People's Building and Loan Association in business.
 * 1890 – Population: 2,513.
 * 1891 – Dixie Hospital nursing school established.
 * 1897 – Annual Hampton Negro Conference held at the Hampton Institute begins.
 * 1900 – Population: 2,764.

20th century

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

21st century

 * 2003 – Hampton History Museum opens.
 * 2008 – Molly Joseph Ward becomes mayor.
 * 2010
 * U.S. military Joint Base Langley–Eustis in operation near city.
 * Population: 137,436.
 * 2011
 * Fort Monroe decommissioned by the U.S. military
 * 2016
 * Donnie Tuck becomes mayor.
 * Hidden Figures movie released, partially set in Hampton.