The City of Newport News sits on the cross roads of where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The City runs approximately 25 miles along the James River and the Hampton Roads Harbor. Steeped in history, Newport News is a community of diverse trades including shipbuilding, technological research and international commerce. The City was named for Christopher Newport, captain of the Susan Constant, the lead ship of the three ship fleet that carried the Jamestown settlers to the new world in 1607.
The city was planned by Collis P Huntington. Through his Old Dominion Land Company, Huntington bought 17,000 acres and set about building a city. In 1886, he opened a repair yard to serve the ships that came to fetch coal. The repair yard grew quickly into a shipyard anchored right across from Norfolk Naval Base, the largest Naval Base in the world. Today the shipyard is Virginia’s largest manufacturer employer and has built thousands of ships. It stretches over three miles along the James River and is one of the largest shipyards in anywhere in the world.
Newport News has three unique all clustered within about four blocks: the Virginia Living Museum, Peninsula Fine Arts Center and Mariners Museum, and the War Memorial Museum. The Living Museum the only one of its kind east of the Mississippi, presents birds and beasts in their natural settings, combing elements of a terrarium, aquarium, botanical garden, planetarium and zoo. More than 50 species of birds fly in a two-story aviary. The War museum which lies on the James River houses more than 20,000 artifacts from every war we fought from 1776 to today. After World War 1 Archer Huntington, the son of founder Collis Huntington, founded the mariners museum which has been devoted to the seas fronting the James River.
Today, Newport News has become a big center for international commerce, research and technology. Its economy has been strengthened by a strong military presence in Hampton Roads and is home to the U.S. Army Transportation Center at Fort Eustis. The City's historic sites, museums and cultural facilities compliment the quality of life for Newport News residents and businesses. The City boasts 18 public parks, as well as public boat ramps and recreation facilities. Newport News Park, the largest municipal park east of the Mississippi River, has 8,000 acres along with two 18-hole golf courses. As you can tell, Newport News is a delightful place to live with a variety of things to do.
Population (year 2000): 180,150, Est. population in July 2002: 180,272 (+0.1% change)
Elevation: 15 feet
Land area: 69 square miles
Median Family Income (2004 est) $36,597
Zip codes: 23601, 23602, 23603, 23605, 23606, 23607, 23608.
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Norfolk, VA (20.1 miles, pop. 234,403).
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (222.4 miles, pop. 1,517,550).
Nearest cities: Poquoson, VA (8.7 miles), Hampton, VA (8.9 miles), Smithfield, VA (11.2 miles), Yorktown, VA (11.4 miles), Rushmere, VA (13.1 miles), Gloucester Point, VA (13.8 miles), Portsmouth, VA (19.1 miles), Norfolk, VA (20.1 miles).
Area code: 757
Major Industries:
Northrop Grumman Newport News, Riverside Regional Medical Center, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Canon Virginia, United Parcel Service, Ferguson Enterprises, Jefferson La, Seimens VDO Automotive
Hospitals/medical centers in Newport News:
• MARY IMMACULATE HOSP (800 DENBIGH BLVD)
• NEWPORT NEWS GENERAL HOSPITAL (5100 MARSHALL AVE)
• RIVERSIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (500 J CLYDE MORRIS BLVD)
• RIVERSIDE REHAB INSTITUTE (245 CHESAPEAKE AVENUE)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Newport News:
• NEWPORT NEWS/WILLIAMSBURG INTERNATIONAL (about 4 miles; NEWPORT NEWS, VA; ID: PHF)
• LANGLEY AFB (about 10 miles; HAMPTON, VA; ID: LFI)
• NORFOLK NS (about 17 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: NGU)
Other public-use airports nearest to Newport News:
• WILLIAMSBURG-JAMESTOWN (about 19 miles; WILLIAMSBURG, VA; ID: JGG)
• HAMPTON ROADS EXECUTIVE (about 22 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: PVG)
• NORFOLK INTL (about 24 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: ORF)
Local government website: http://www.newport-news.va.us/
Library in Newport News:
• NEWPORT NEWS PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $3,995,061; Location: 2400 WASHINGTON AVE.; 416,316 books; 10,254 audio materials; 6,309 video materials; 525 serial subscriptions
Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism website: http://www.nnparks.com/
