Newcomer's Guide

Getting Acquainted  |  Getting Settled  |  Getting Smart  |  Getting Around  |  ...And Having Fun

The City of Newport News sits on a prime vantage point where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The City runs approximately 23 miles along the James River and the Hampton Roads Harbor. Steeped in history, ours is a community of diverse trades including shipbuilding, technological research and international commerce. We are proud of our City and its rich heritage which dates back to the founding of America. Newport News 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. Captain Newport made several more trips between the new world and England. After the Starving Time of 1610, the original colonists abandoned Jamestown and encountered Captain Newport in the James River and learned that reinforcements of men and supplies had arrived, thus prompting their return to Jamestown. The place where that occurred became known for Newport's good news, "Newport's News," and eventually just Newport News.

Since the turn of the 19th century, Newport News has been known as the provider of the nation's finest, technologically advanced military ships. In more recent years, Newport News has also become a center for international commerce, research and technology. Our economy is strengthened by a strong military presence in Hampton Roads and, in Newport News, we are proud to be home of 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 more than 20 public parks, as well as public boat ramps and recreation facilities. Newport News Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country, has 8,000 acres along with two 18-hole golf courses.

Once settled as a new resident, we know that you too will learn that Newport News is a great place to live!

GETTING ACQUAINTED

City Government

As Virginia's fourth largest independent city, Newport News is managed by a Council-Manager form of government in which seven persons are elected to serve on City Council . The City Manager is appointed by the City Council. City Council also appoints the City Attorney and the City Clerk.

Newport News City Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month to take official action on matters brought before them. Meetings are held in the City Council Chambers located behind the City Hall building at 2400 Washington Avenue, unless otherwise announced. The Council also holds worksessions on a regular basis, which are also open to the public.

For information about City Council, call the City Clerk's Office at (757) 926-8634. To reach the Mayor's Office, call (757) 926-8403. For City-related questions, call the Newport News Information Assistance line at (757) 926-8000.

Population

• Newport News . . . . . . . . . . . 180,150 (2000 Census)

Geography

• Newport News land area (square miles) . . . . . . . . . . . 69.2

Climate

• Newport News has temperatures that range from an average high of 46 degrees and an average low of 30 in January to an average high of 85 degrees and an average low of 71 in July. The average year-round high is 68 degrees and the low is 51 degrees.  The normal annual precipitation is 45.74 inches.

Media

• BROADCAST - Numerous AM and FM radio stations and 7 television stations -- WTKR (CBS), WAVY (NBC), WVEC (ABC), WHRO (Public TV), WVBT, WGNT, WTVZ (Fox) -- along with cable service, provided by Cox Communications and Verizon, serve Newport News. The City's local government channel (NNTV) is on Cox cable channel 48 and Verizon channel 19. The Newport News Public Schools' cable channel is on Cox channel 47 and Verizon channel 17.
• PRINT - A local daily newspaper is the Daily Press . For information on home delivery call (757) 247-4800 or visit their web site: www.dailypress.com.  

Medical Facilities

• Mary Immaculate Hospital, 800 Denbigh Boulevard, Newport News, VA (757) 886-6000
• Riverside Regional Medical Center, 500 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA (757) 594-2000

Religious Institutions

Newport News has more than 115 churches and synagogues of diverse denominations. Contact information can be found in the phone book or online at www.superpages.com.

GETTING SETTLED

Services

Telephone Service - a listing of the numerous companies that offer telephone service in the Hampton Roads area can be found in the local phone book.

Voting

To vote in Virginia, you must be a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Virginia, 18 years old by Election Day and registered to vote. You may register up to 30 days before a general or primary election and up to six days before a special election. To register to vote visit the Registrar's Office, on the 6th floor of City Hall, 2400 Washington Avenue, or at any public library. For more information, call (757) 926-8683.

Automobile Information

Registration/Title/License Plates/Insurance Vehicles owned and operated in Virginia must be registered, titled, have Virginia license plates on the front and rear of the vehicle and have insurance. New residents must register their vehicle with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 30 days from date of residence. For information, call DMV at (804) 497-7100.

Driver's License A Virginia driver's license is required once residency has been established. An examination for a license consists of a written test, vision check and a driving ability test. Driver's licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles,12730 Patrick Henry Drive. For more information call (804) 497-7100.

Inspection Sticker Vehicles owned and operated in the Commonwealth of Virginia are required to be inspected once a year. For more information visit the Virginia State Police web site, call (757) 877-1985 or contact a local inspection station.

Personal Property Tax The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses a personal property tax for registered vehicles, with the exception of those exempted by law. A property return must be filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue, 2400 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607, on or before February 15 of each year or within 30 days of the transfer of title or move into Newport News. Vehicles not registered with the Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles or the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue are also subject to the tax if the vehicle is normally garaged, docked or parked in Newport News.

Military In order for properties to be tax exempt, they must be titled to a person enlisted in the military. Property under lease or co-ownership with a non-military person is not, by federal law, exempt. NATO members and foreign military students are required to file a tax exemption letter from the appropriate agency each year. In order to obtain City decals and tax exemption in the City of Newport News, you must file a copy of your most current leave and earnings statement showing your name, social security number, state of residence, and ETS or separation date. For information, visit the Commissioner of the Revenue's office located at 2400 Washington Avenue in the City Hall Annex or call 926-8657.

Employment

City Employment Opportunities - The City's Department of Human Resources accepts applications and provides job listings of available City positions online. All applicants must fill out an application online and may include a resume. For more information, call the Department of Human Resources at (757) 926-1800.

Virginia Workforce Center - The Virginia Workforce Center links individuals with employment opportunities in the local area and all over the United States. Located at 600 Butler Farm Road in Hampton, the agency provides current job listings on computers and on micro-fiche. In addition, many local companies use the agency to fill job openings. For more information call (757) 865-5800.

GETTING SMART

Education

The City of Newport News has 3 early childhood centers, 28 elementary schools, 8 middle schools and 5 high schools. There are also programs available for at-risk students in addition to special education programs. Newport News Public Schools have earned 12 Blue Ribbon Awards from the U.S. Department of Education (a state record). State-of-the-art instructional technologies are used to provide teachers and students with a quality educational environment. For more information about Newport News Public Schools, call (757) 591-4500.

Libraries

The Newport News Library System consists of four libraries, a law library, a bookmobile and a municipal reference library. The Library System has a collection of more than 300,000 books, 3,400 cassettes, 860 video cassettes and 3,500 recordings available for use. Circulation is more than 800,000 with a membership of 96,000. For general library information, call (757) 926-8506.

GETTING AROUND

Air Service

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport provides air service to the entire Peninsula and is located one mile from I-64 off Jefferson Avenue and Bland Boulevard. For more information call (757) 877-0221. Norfolk International Airport and Richmond International airport are also close by.

Bus Service

Hampton Roads Transit (Local) - This public transportation services most of Newport News, making stops at Patrick Henry Mall, Christopher Newport University and Riverside Hospital, along with many others. For more information, call (757) 222-6100.

Handi-Ride - This curb service program, provided by Hampton Roads Transit, is designed to assist the physically and mentally handicapped with their transportation needs. For more information on this program, call Handi-Ride at (757) 722-3333.

Greyhound (National) - For more information concerning fares and schedules, call 1-800-231-2222.

Train Service

Amtrak provides passenger rail service in and out of Newport News at 9304 Warwick Boulevard, (757) 245-3589, and from the nearby Williamsburg Station at 468 N. Boundary Street, (757) 229-8750.

...AND HAVING FUN

Visitor Information Center

Contact the Newport News Visitor Information Center for maps, coupons, directions, events and attractions information. 13560 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA (757) 886-7777 or 1-888-493-7386.

Shopping

Newport News is home to Patrick Henry Mall, the largest mall on the Peninsula. Anchor stores include JC Penney's, Dillard's, Macy's, and Dick's Sporting Goods. The mall is located on Jefferson Avenue, south of the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.

City Center at Oyster Point offers shoppers upscale retail stores including Ann Taylor Loft, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, J Jill, Jos. A. Bank, Ten Thousand Villages and Talbot’s, as well as a variety of restaurants and services.

Port Warwick boasts a number of specialty stores in an urban setting along with regularly scheduled entertainment during the summer months. Shops and restaurants include: Light Restaurant & Bar, Grandma T's Health Foods, Harbor Expresso Coffee Shop, Jo Louise! Gift Shop, P.S. I Love You Gifts, Schlesinger's Steakhouse, Schlotskzky's Deli, Sonic, The Tapas Lounge, The Jewel Box Fine Jewelry, and Tropical Smoothie Café.

Jefferson Commons, near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Bland Boulevard, hosts restaurants and shops such as Kohl's, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, Trader Joe's, ULTA, Panera Bread, Silver Diner, Smokey Bones BBQ, T.J.Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, and Justice for Girls among many others.

The Historic Hilton Village area offers specialty shops including Silverman Furs, Beecroft & Bull, a men's fine clothing shop, Act II, the Cuckoo's Nest, and Danny's Delicatessen, an award-winning sandwich shop.

There are also numerous neighborhood shopping centers located throughout the City.

Sights To See

Lee Hall Mansion - One of the last surviving antebellum homes on the Virginia Peninsula, Lee Hall Mansion was build by a wealthy Warwick County landowner, Richard Decauter Lee.  The mansion was used as a command center by Confederate Generals John Bankhead Magruder and Joseph E. Johnston during April and May 1862.  Now a historic house museum, the Lee Hall Mansion has authentically furnished period rooms that offer ivsitors a step back into the past.  Exhibits feature Civil War artifacts, including a tablecloth from the USS Monitor.  Lee Hall Mansion is located at 163 Yorktown Road in the northern part of the city.  For more information call (757) 888-3371.

The Mariners' Museum - International in scope, the museum preserves and interprets 3,000 years of maritime history. 100 Museum Drive. For more information and admission fees call (757) 596-2222.

The Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center - Dedicated in 1991, the house was home to J. Thomas Newsome, a prominent African-American attorney, community leader, and civil rights pioneer from 1906 to 1977. The museum showcases art exhibits and offers a wide variety of programs to the community. Free admission. (757) 247-2360.

Peninsula Fine Arts Center - The center presents changing bi-monthly exhibitions of Virginia's foremost contemporary artists and craftspeople, as well as special loan exhibitions and works by regional artists. 101 Museum Drive. For more information and admission fees, call (757) 596-8175.

U.S. Army Transportation Museum - The history of Army transportation by rail, sea and air is traced through miniature models, including such experimental devices as the AVRO-CAR "flying saucer." Located at Fort Eustis. For more information call (757) 878-1115.

Victory Arch- Since Hampton Roads was the WWI Port of Embarkation, returning men of our armed forces marched through the arch during their homecoming. The arch serves today as a memorial with an eternal flame for all men and women of the Armed Forces. Located in downtown Newport News on West Avenue at 25th Street.

Virginia Living Museum - Watch native wildlife up close in natural habitat settings. There's a unique combination of wildlife park, aviaries, aquariums, natural science museum, botanical gardens, planetarium and an observatory. 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard. For more information call (757) 595-1900.

Virginia War Museum - A collection of more than 60,000 artifacts traces U.S. military history from 1775 to the present. Included are weapons, uniforms, photographs, vehicles, memorabilia and the nation's largest collection of propaganda posters. Located in Huntington Park at 9258 Warwick Boulevard. For information on hours and admission fees, call (757) 247-8523.

Parks & Recreation Centers

The Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism operates over 20 parks in the City, including Newport News Park, the largest municipal park on the East Coast, with more than 8,000 acres of woods, fields, and trails in addition to a reservoir system for boating and fishing. Futhermore, the City has 11 recreation centers which host a variety of seasonal activities including volleyball, swimming, basketball, indoor soccer, wrestling, cheerleading, and gymnastics. Additional facilities throughout the City are used during the year to host 18 School Age programs, 17 summer programs, and nine seasonal centers. For more information call 926-1400.