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The water area known as Hampton Roads is a channel through which the waters of the James River, Nansemond River , and Elizabeth River pass (between Old Point Comfort to the north and Sewell's Point to the south) into the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
The term "Hampton Roads" is a centuries-old reference that originated when the region was a struggling British outpost nearly 400 years ago. Designated in the 17th Century as the name of the harbor, "Hampton Roads" honors one of the founders of the Virginia Company and a great supporter of the colonization of Virginia, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton. Signifying the safety of a port, "roads" in nautical terminology means "a place less sheltered than a harbor where ships may ride at anchor." Although perhaps by that definition the label harbor is technically incorrect, Hampton Roads has become well-known as the "world's largest natural harbor."
The entrance from Chesapeake Bay was defended by Fort Monroe , built in 1819 on Old Point Comfort, and by Fort Wool, built as Fort Calhoun in 1829, on a small island called the Rip Raps near the middle of the channel. The famous Battle of Hampton Roads between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (ex-USS Merrimack) during the US Civil War took place here on March 8- 9March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). There are 297 days remaining. Events 1841 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Amistad case that the Africans who seized control of the ship had been taken, 1862Events January-March January 10 End of term for John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Amasa Leland Stanford. January 30 The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched. February 1 Julia Ward Howe's " Battle Hy.
Hampton Roads is an important highway of commerce, especially for the cities of NorfolkNorfolk is a city in the U. state of Virginia in the United States of America. It is an independent city, and therefore part of no county. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 234,403. Norfolk is located on the Elizabeth River, on Ham, PortsmouthPortsmouth is an independent city located in Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 100,565, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate showed the city's population dropping to 99,790. A Virginia state legislator recently proposed a p, and Newport NewsNewport News is an independent city located in Virginia. It is on the southern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of Hampton Roads. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 180,150. The name of Newport News has ever been a.
At Portsmouth, a few miles up the Elizabeth River, Norfolk Naval ShipyardThe Norfolk Naval Shipyard often called the Norfolk Navy Yard is a U. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It is located on the Elizabeth River just a short distance upriver from its mouth at Ham isa located. Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (NNS)Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company NNS is the largest privately owned shipyard in the United States and the only one that can build Nimitz class supercarriers. It is located in Newport News, Virginia, and often participates in projects with the is located a short distance up the James RiverThe James River is the name of several rivers in the United States. James River (North Dakota, South Dakota) James River (Virginia).. There are also several smaller shipyards, numerous docks and terminals.
Massive coal loading piers and facilities were established in the late 19th and early 20th century by the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O), Norfolk & Western (N&W), and Virginian (VGN) Railways. The latter two were predecessors railroads of Norfolk Southern Corporation, a Fortune 500 company which has its' headquarters in Norfolk, and continues to export coal from a large facility at Lambert's Point on the Elizabeth River. CSX Transportation now serves the former C&O facility at Newport News.
Hampton Roads is also a chief rendezvous of the United States Navy. The Norfolk Navy Base is located at Sewell's Point near the mouth, on the site used for the tercentennial Jamestown Exposition in 1907. For a width of 500 feet the Federal government during 1902 through 1905 increased its minimum depth at low water from 25.5 feet to 30 feet.