Newport News is located at the mouth of the James River and north of Hampton Roads (harbor). It was established in 1621 and is approximately 23 miles long and three miles wide. As the fourth largest city in the state, it occupies an area of 69 square miles. In 1896, the city was formally incorporated as a city without first being incorporated as a town. In 1958, the neighboring cities of Warwick and Newport News were consolidated as the newly expanded city of Newport News.
Newport News is home to one of the world’s largest maritime museums. The city also has a large war museum containing artifacts, historical memorabilia, and thirty-two city parks. The parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities to both the residents and visitors of the city. Newport News is home to the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, which has had more than 2,000 scientists use this research facility.
