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Newport News History, Virginia

Important historic details of Newport news, VA US

Newport News was named as Elizabeth cittie in the year 1619 when Virginia Company of London included it in its one of the four major corporations. In 1634, Virginia was divided into eight shires and Newport News became part of Warwick river shire which was later called as Warwick County. Newport News area was earlier known only for fishing and farming but things changed completely after advent of railways and shipways. After premium developments in sectors such as railroad and shipyard, Newport News became independent from Warwick in 1896 via one of the act in Virginia general assembly.

Newport News was among those few cities in Virginia which got established without getting incorporated as a town first. Warwick County was consolidated with Newport News in the year 1958. After the American civil war got over, the independent city of Newport News was founded by Collis P. Huntington who was renowned for completing the Ohio railway and Ohio River project in 1873. The Newport News shipbuilding and the drydock company was established by Huntington and both of these became the largest shipyard of the world.

The shipbuilding was developed by Huntington so as to boost export and import of goods from rails to the waterways and this company created seven warships which are considered as the first warships of United States. The Huntington Park near the northern terminus of James River Bridge is named after Henry E. Huntington who was nephew of Collis Huntington. The Mariners' Museum in Newport News which is considered as one of world’s largest and finest museum was developed by the Archer Milton Huntington who was son of Collis Huntington.

Newport News being an Independent city enjoys protection against invasion by neighboring communities. In 1958, warwick county and Newport news were consolidated to form a single city called as Newport news and which was population wise the third largest city of Virginia. The boundaries of the Newport News were earlier boundaries of the warwick river shire except the adjusted borders with neighboring countries. The downtown area of Newport News was known for farming but it developed into a city when rail and ship developments took place in Newport News.

The population in the Newport News region grew considerably amid the years 1960s and 1990s. A trend of urbanism prevailed in the Newport News so as to develop the midtown areas. The city center at the oyster point in the Newport News was developed into oyster point Business Park in 2003 to 2005. An amount of 82 million dollar was invested in the development of oyster point Business Park in the city. Then port Warwick residential community was opened in an area of 3 acres city square in the midtown business district. A population of 1500 people is found these days in the Port Warwick area where several events and festivals are celebrated on a regular basis.

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