Newport News dates to 1881, and 31 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 49% of U.S. towns · #90 of 253 in Virginia. What drives it
Most of Newport News was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1979. 31 places in town are on the National Register, among them five historic districts with 666 buildings between them. Below: 15 old photos and papers, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1890.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Newport News is more historic than 49% of U.S. towns, #90 of 253 in Virginia. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Newport News’ overall grade.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Newport News ranks #244 on History.
Virginia towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Virginia town has 3.6 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Newport News’ 37.6 sits near the middle of its state (64% of Virginia towns have fewer) while its 692 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to B. The pre-1940 share (±0.6 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1881.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Newport News’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Places that used to be
Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Americana Park East Mobile Home ParkBarclay WoodsBayberryBeaconsdaleBeechmontBeechwoodBernard VillageBeverly HillsBoxley HillsBradmereBrandon HeightsBurkdaleCarriage HillCedar GroveChelseaChesapeake Village Mobile Home ParkChristophers ShoresCircle Mobile Home ParkClivedenCollards Mobile Home ParkCollege ParkCristonDavis Mobile Home ParkDeep Creek
Gone or out of use
Bailey BankslocaleFort Crawfordmilitary
5cemeteries and burying grounds inside Newport News
ManeyMorrisonPeninsula Memorial ParkPleasant ShadeWarwick River Mennonite
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
During the 17th century, shortly after founding of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, English settlers explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. In 1610, Sir Thomas Gates seized a nearby Native American village, which became known as Kecoughtan. At that time, settlers began clearing land along the James River (the eastern most section of which was called Hampton Roads) for plantations, including the present area of Newport News.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Newport News. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1921Newport News sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Newport News.
Every building
Newport News, building by building, 1885–1919
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1881, according to Wikidata. the census of 1890 counted 1,234 people here.
How does Newport News rank for history?
Newport News is more historic than 49% of U.S. towns, #90 of 253 in Virginia. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Newport News?
31 listings: 23 buildings, among them the Matthew Jones House (listed 1969, the first), 5 historic districts with 666 contributing buildings, 2 sites, and 1 structure. 692 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Newport News?
5% of Newport News’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 1.9% for a Virginia town; the median home was built in 1979.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (14), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (31), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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