Denbigh, Virginia facts for kids

Denbigh is a community located in Newport News, Virginia. It used to be the main town, or county seat, of Warwick County, Virginia. Warwick County later became an independent city called Warwick, Virginia in 1952. Six years later, in 1958, Warwick and Newport News joined together to form the city we know today as Newport News.

History of Denbigh

How Denbigh Got Its Name

Denbigh was named after the historic Denbigh Plantation. This land was first claimed by Captain Samuel Matthews. He arrived in Virginia before 1618 and held many important jobs. His son, Lt. Col. Samuel Mathews, even became a royal governor of the Virginia Commonwealth from 1656 to 1660. John Mathews, Samuel's grandson, also lived at Denbigh Plantation.

The Denbigh Church Parish

Denbigh was also the name of the local church area, called an Anglican Parish. This parish existed from 1635 until 1786. That's when the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom changed how churches were set up. You can still find an archeological site where the first church building stood in 1636. There's also a historical marker near the spot of a later church from 1686.

Where the County Government Was Located

The first courthouse and jail for Warwick County were built nearby at Warwick Towne. This town was started in 1680. A colonial port was also located there, by Deep Creek and the Warwick River. In 1790, Warwick County had only 1,690 people, making it one of Virginia's smallest counties.

After the American Revolution, Warwick Towne was no longer used in 1809. The county seat then moved to the Denbigh Plantation area.

Denbigh as the County Seat

The town of Denbigh served as the main government center, or county seat, for Warwick County from 1810 until 1952. There was a short time, from 1888 to 1896, when the courthouse was in what is now downtown Newport News. But it moved back to Denbigh when Newport News became its own independent city in 1896.

Warwick County Becomes a City

In 1952, Warwick County itself became an independent city. Just six years later, in 1958, the City of Warwick joined with the independent City of Newport News. The combined city then took on the more famous name of Newport News.

Denbigh Today: A Newport News Neighborhood

Today, the city of Newport News covers all the land that was once Warwick County. The former town of Denbigh is now a well-known neighborhood within Newport News. The old Warwick County Courthouse from 1810, located in Denbigh, has been preserved and is now a museum.

Exploring the Denbigh Neighborhood

The Denbigh neighborhood is found on the north side of Newport News. It covers most of the area where the old town used to be. Denbigh Boulevard, which is also part of State Route 173, is a major road here. It connects two important east-west roads in the city: U.S. Route 60 (Warwick Boulevard) and State Route 143 (Jefferson Avenue). Many stores and shopping centers are located along Denbigh Boulevard. Denbigh High School, which is part of the Newport News Public Schools system, is also on this road.