Morrison, Virginia facts for kids

This map from 1895 shows where Morrison was located in Warwick County, Virginia.

Morrison was once a small town in Warwick County, Virginia. It wasn't a city with its own separate government. Later, in 1958, it joined with the nearby city of Newport News. Now, Morrison is a neighborhood within Newport News.

A Look Back at Morrison's History

Morrison started out with a different name: Gum Grove. This small town was located in Warwick County. It was east of Denbigh, which was the main town of the county for a long time.

The Railroad Arrives

In 1881, something big happened. A new train line, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, built a station in Gum Grove. This railway connected Richmond all the way down the Virginia Peninsula. The town was then renamed Morrison. It was named after Colonel J.S. Morrison, who was an engineer for the new railroad.

Newport News Grows

At the same time, a new city was growing nearby. This was Newport News. It was built on the harbor of Hampton Roads. Large docks were built there to ship bituminous coal from West Virginia. Newport News officially became its own city in 1896.

Early Life in Morrison

Morrison got its own post office on February 2, 1883. A public school was also built there. Records show it was in place by August 16, 1906.

Morrison During World War I

During World War I, a military camp was set up near Morrison. It was called Camp Morrison. This camp was about a mile from the James River. It had 24 large warehouses. Camp Morrison was used for the U.S. Army Air Corps and Balloon Corps. These groups were part of the military's air force.

Schools and Changes

After World War I, Morrison High School was built in 1926. This school was later renamed Warwick High School in 1948.

In 1952, Warwick County, where Morrison was located, became its own independent city. This meant it had its own city government. Just six years later, in 1958, the City of Warwick joined with the City of Newport News. They agreed to combine and use the name Newport News.

Over time, Morrison became a part of Newport News. It grew into a neighborhood as the area developed. Today, Morrison is mostly a place where people live. It has quiet, tree-lined streets. It's also known by some local people as Harpersville. The neighborhood is close to shopping, places for fun, and schools. There is also an industrial park nearby called Camp Morrison Industrial Park.