One of the oldest settlements in the United States, Hampton dates back to 1610 as a quiet port trading town on the Chesapeake Bay. In the 1860s Hampton’s Fort Monroe played an important role in the Civil War, and that strong sense of military history is still evident today. Hampton is home to the Virginia Air and Space Center, the visitor center for NASA’s Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base. (See our Hampton Guide for more local attractions.) A beautiful waterfront city with a mild climate, Hampton’s average annual temperature is a comfortable 60°F with an average annual rainfall of 36 inches. With a population just under 150,000, Hampton was recently rated one of the “Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine and one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise.
The area’s economy consists of agriculture (livestock, dairy products and tobacco) and the transportation, textile and printing industries. Hampton’s cost of living is well below the national average and the city boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the region.
Hampton is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport and nearby Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Transportation within the city, as well as with other cities in the Hampton Roads area, is served by a regional bus service, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).
The city of Hampton is home to Hampton Public Schools (with an impressive 96% graduation rate) and many other private schools. Located in the heart of the city is Hampton University, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nearby colleges and universities include the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg and Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University in Norfolk.
