Kempsville, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kempsville
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 Kempsville
Location in Virginia
Kempsville
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| Independent city | Virginia Beach |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
23464, 23462
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Kempsville is a historic area in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It started as a small port during the early days of the United States. Today, it is a busy community within the large city of Virginia Beach.
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History of Kempsville
Kempsville was first known as Kemp's Landing. It was an important port where ships could load and unload goods. In 1730, a law called the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730 made it one of the main places to check tobacco before it was shipped.
A sad event happened here in November 1775. A man named John Ackiss was killed by soldiers working for the British governor, Lord Dunmore. This event, sometimes called the "Skirmish of Kempsville", made Ackiss the first person from Virginia to die in the American Revolutionary War. A group called the Daughters of the American Revolution later put up a special marker to remember him.
The town of Kempsville was officially created in 1781. It was the main government center, or county seat, for Princess Anne County from 1778 to 1823. After that, the county seat moved to Princess Anne, Virginia.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church was built in 1843 for families living in Kempsville. For a long time, it was a small church in a quiet area. But after 1963, when Virginia Beach grew, the church also grew with the community.
Some parts of the church's old walls are still there. In the cemetery behind the church, you can find the graves of soldiers from the American Civil War. You can also find the grave of Allen Jones "Al" "Two Gun" Gettel. He was a local boy who became a famous baseball pitcher for teams like the New York Yankees.
In 1963, Princess Anne County joined with the small beach town of Virginia Beach. They decided to use the name Virginia Beach for the new, bigger city. After this, Kempsville grew very fast. It changed from a small town into a large suburban area.
How Virginia Beach Was Formed
When the "new" city of Virginia Beach was created in 1963, Kempsville became one of its seven main areas, called boroughs. The other areas were Bayside, Blackwater, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne, Pungo, and Virginia Beach (oceanfront).
Kempsville's population quickly grew in the 1960s and 1970s. It became a large suburban community within Virginia's biggest independent city.
Sadly, many old buildings in Kempsville were moved or torn down during this growth. Only two buildings from the Revolutionary War time are still standing. These are the Carraway House (built in 1734) and Pleasant Hall (built in 1779).
Kempsville Today
Today, Kempsville is one of the seven main living areas in Virginia Beach. Each area has a representative on the city council. Even though the official area of Kempsville is not huge, its history covers a much larger part of Virginia Beach.
Schools in Kempsville
Students in Kempsville go to schools in the Virginia Beach City Public School System. There are three public high schools: Kempsville High School, Tallwood High School, and Salem High School.
There are also three public middle schools: Kempsville Middle School, Brandon Middle School, and Larkspur Middle School. Ten public elementary schools serve the area: Arrowhead, Centerville, College Park, Fairfield, Indian Lakes, Kempsville, Kempsville Meadows, Point O'View, Providence, Tallwood, and Woodstock Elementary.
Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school located on Princess Anne Road.
Several colleges and religious centers are also in Kempsville. These include Regent University, a private Christian university, and the Christian Broadcasting Network headquarters. The Virginia Beach Theological Seminary, which offers advanced degrees, is also in this area.
Shopping and Services
Kempsville has several major shopping centers. The two biggest are Providence Square and Fairfield Shopping Centers. They are located across the street from each other at the intersection of Kempsville Road and Providence Road.
Near this intersection, you'll find the 4th VBPD Police Precinct Station and the Kempsville Public Library. Kempsville Presbyterian Church is also nearby.
Another large shopping area is Kemps River Crossing, located where Kempsville Road meets Indian River Road. Woods Corner is another important shopping center in "West Kempsville". It is at the intersection of Kempsville Road and Centerville Turnpike.
Neighborhoods
Kempsville has many different neighborhoods where people live. Some of these include Acredale, Arrowhead, Avalon Hills, Bellamy Manor, and Brandon. Other neighborhoods are Brigadoon, Carolanne Farms, Charleston, College Park, Fairfield, and Fox Run. You can also find Indian Lakes, Lake Christopher, Lake James, Larkspur Farms, Point O' View, Ridglea, Salem, Stratford Chase, and Whitehurst Landing.
Bellamy Woods is a neighborhood known for being a good place for families. Most households speak English, but some also speak Tagalog, a language from the Philippines. This neighborhood has a public park that hosts fun events every year.
Point O' View is located next to Kemps Lake. This lake was formed when Interstate 264 was built. Kemps Lake is a great spot for water sports and is about 19 feet deep at its deepest point.
