Hampton, VA

Hampton, Virginia, was established in 1610 and today has a population of around 146,400, according to recent estimates. Hampton serves as a bedroom community for Norfolk, to which many residents commute for naval jobs and jobs in related support industries serving the shipyards and rail lines. The town also includes significant historical sites, many situated along miles of bay waterfront and Atlantic beaches. Hampton is served by two airports: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport and Norfolk International Airport.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Hampton includes more than 20 distinct neighborhoods, most of which are primarily residential:

• Buckroe Beach was home to one of the oldest recreational areas in the state. Buckroe was a fishing camp until after the Civil War. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway added a line to Buckroe in 1882, and accommodations for summer tourists were built the following year. An amusement park and other attractions were added in 1897 and remained popular well into the 20th century. The park later closed and was demolished in the 1980s, although the carousel, a mainstay of the park, was moved to downtown Hampton, where it is in operation to this day. Hurricane Isabel destroyed the Buckroe Beach fishing pier in 2003, although the pier has since been rebuilt as part of an ongoing revitalization effort in the area
• Fox Hill is a residential neighborhood in eastern Hampton that features Grandview Island, an adjoining neighborhood and beach separated by marshland. Grandview contains Gosnolds Hope Park, featuring soccer fields for local teams and a BMX bike track.
• The Phoebus neighborhood includes an 86-acre National Historic District.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

• A major employer is NASA's Langley Research Center, established in 1917. It has since been joined by many aviation companies and armed services air installations, which constitute one of the world's major aerospace clusters.
• The economic role of medical manufacturers continues to increase in Hampton. Teledyne Hastings Instruments manufactures gas-flow meters, flow controllers, and vacuum measurement instruments for medical applications. Air-Tite Products supplies components for IV and laboratory applications.
• Other leading industries are educational services, health care, social assistance, public administration, and manufacturing.

BEST BETS

• Outdoor recreation, including beaches, fishing, and water sports, are primary attractions in Hampton and nearby Virginia Beach. The family-friendly Buckroe Beach is a major attraction.
• Air Power Park, an outdoor aviation museum on Mercury Boulevard, includes historic aircraft and spacecraft connected to Hampton's role in the history of manned flight.
• The Hampton Coliseum, built in 1970, is a venue for concerts and sporting events, including basketball and wrestling. The coliseum's striking design features exterior diamond-shaped concrete wall panels, each weighing approximately 26 tons. When it opened, the Coliseum was Virginia's first large multipurpose arena, with seating for nearly 14,000 at concerts and approximately 10,000 for basketball. Many notable performers have appeared here, including Elvis Presley, who performed twice at the Coliseum, in 1972 and 1976, and the Rolling Stones, who performed here in 1981.
• Hampton National Cemetery, which dates back to 1862, is a U.S. National Cemetery covering more than 25 acres and containing approximately 28,000 interments. The national cemetery contains the Union Soldiers Monument, a 65-foot-tall granite obelisk.

EDUCATION

• Hampton City Schools oversees the public schools in Hampton. The district has more than 25 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and five high schools. Hampton City Schools is run by a superintendent and an eight-member school board, which includes a student liaison.
• In higher education, Hampton is home to Hampton University, a private liberal arts school, and Thomas Nelson Community College, which offers two-year associate's degrees in a variety of academic disciplines.

LOCAL MEDIA

Hampton residents enjoy access to regional media serving the area, including:

AM Radio Stations

• WPMH 670 (Religious)
• WMBG 740 (Nostalgia)
• WNIS 790 (News/Talk)
• WTAR 850 (Talk)
• WCMS 1050 (Sports)
• WJOI 1230 (Nostalgia)
• WLQM 1250 (Gospel)
• WXGM 1420 (Adult Contemporary)
• WLRT 1490 (Oldies)
• WVAB 1550 (News)
• WHKT 1650 (Children's)

FM Radio Stations

• WHOV 88.1 (Jazz)
• WHRV 89.5 (Public Radio)
• WHRO 90.3 (Classical)
• WAZP 90.7 (Christian Contemporary)
• WCDG 92.1 (Adult Contemporary)
• WSRV 92.3 (Oldies)
• WPYA 93.7 (Adult Album Alternative)
• WXEZ 94.1 (Gospel)
• WPTE 94.9 (Hot AC)
• WROX 96.1 (Alternative)
• WNOR 98.7 (Rock)
• WYFI 99.7 (Religious)
• WLQM 101.7 (Country)
• WWHV 102.1 (Urban Contemporary)
• WNVZ 104.5 (Top 40)
• WAFX 106.9 (Classic Hits)
• WWBR 107.9 (Hip Hop)

Television Stations

• WTKR (CBS)
• WVEC (ABC)
• WHRO (PBS)
• W18BS (TBN)
• WTVZ (The CW)
• WVBT (FOX)
• WPXV (PAX)

Newspapers

• The Daily Press