Newport News History Timeline

A timeline of events in the history of Newport News.

1634	Warwick River Shire named as one of the eight original shires in Virginia for "purposes of more convenient government."
1643	An act of the Assembly authorized Warwick River Shire to be called the County of Warwick.
1865	Land agents began acquiring land in Warwick County for Collis P. Huntington, the railroad magnate, for "future enterprise". On the basis of these land purchases, the original city of Newport News was to be built.
1880	Collis P. Huntington chartered the Old Dominion Land Company and transferred his land holdings to it.
1881	Newport News chosen as the Atlantic deep water terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), which was owned by Collis P. Huntington.
1886	Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (NNSDDC) chartered by Collis P. Huntington.
1896	The City of Newport News chartered out of Warwick County. This was NOT the city as we know it today - it consisted primarily of a small area surrounding the C&O Railway terminus and the NNSDDC at Newport News Point that today would be called "downtown".
1952	The remainder of Warwick County became the City of Warwick. The city of Hampton, town of Phoebus and Elizabeth City County consolidated as the City of Hampton.
1958	The city of Warwick and the city of Newport News consolidated into the Corporation of Newport News. Thus, the boundaries of the city as we know them today are essentially the boundaries of the original Warwick River Shire.

As you can see, Mr. Collis Potter Huntington played a big role in the history of Newport News, Virginia. So, here are a few sites that will tell you more about him, the railroads he built, the shipyards, etc. His influence was felt by many.

Brief biographical information on Collis Potter Huntington.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum - the first transcontinental railroad, and where Collis P. Huntington got started in the railroad industry.
The Builders of the Central Pacific Railroad - Theodore Judah, engineer and "The Big Four" - Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins and Charles Crocker.
Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society On-line - Clifton Forge, Virginia.
The National Railway Historical Society - if you're interested in the history of railroading in general.
Newport News Shipbuilding - still premier shipbuilders.
Huntington Library, San Marino, CA - In 1919 Henry E. and Arabella D. Huntington (Collis Huntington's nephew and his widow married after his death) established a trust, leaving a portion of their estate--a vast library, art collections, and botanical gardens--for the benefit of the public. Now The Huntington is one of the nation's premier cultural, research, and educational centers.