Home › Virginia › Newport News

Newport News, Virginia

Located in Independent City, Virginia, Newport News was founded in 1621. Newport News Shipbuilding is the only yard in the Western Hemisphere that builds nuclear carriers. Every U.S. Navy carrier was built or refueled here.
Trending in Newport News
Latest updates coming soon
2 hours ago
More local news on the way
5 hours ago
Founded 1621 | Population 181,558 | Peak 181,558 (2024) | County Independent City

Top 10 Most Important Events for Newport News, Virginia

undefined
1862Battle of Hampton Roads: CSS Virginia and USS Monitor fight history's first ironclad naval battle nearby.
undefined
1886Huntington Founds Shipyard: Collis Huntington establishes Newport News Shipbuilding, world's largest private shipyard.
undefined
1907Great White Fleet Departs: Roosevelt sends 16 battleships from Hampton Roads on world voyage.
undefined
1958USS Enterprise Launched: World's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier launched here.
undefined
2017USS Gerald R. Ford Commissioned: First Ford-class carrier commissioned; most advanced warship ever at $13 billion.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Newport News?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Newport News

News articles will appear here as they're published.

Complete Historical Timeline

1862 Disaster
Battle of Hampton Roads
1886 Industry
Huntington Founds Shipyard
1907 Government
Great White Fleet Departs
1958 Engineering
USS Enterprise Launched
2017 Engineering
USS Gerald R. Ford Commissioned

Did You Know?

1
Newport News Shipbuilding is the only yard in the Western Hemisphere that builds nuclear carriers.
2
Every U.S. Navy carrier was built or refueled here.
3
The Mariners' Museum houses artifacts from the USS Monitor.
4
Newport News is located in Independent City, Virginia.
5
Newport News was founded in 1621.
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Newport News's history right.