Timeline of Virginia Beach, Virginia facts for kids

Welcome to a timeline of Virginia Beach, Virginia! This page will show you important events in the history of this interesting city in the USA. A timeline helps us see how things changed over many years.

Early Days: Before the 1900s

• 1607 – English explorers landed on the beach. This was a very early step in the colonization of America.
• 1639 – The first Lynnhaven Parish Church was built. Churches were important community centers back then.
• 1720 – The Adam Thoroughgood House was built around this time. It's one of the oldest surviving brick houses in the area.
• 1736 – A new Old Donation Episcopal Church was built.
• 1750 – The area known as Kempsville started as a place called Kemps Landing. It was a small settlement.
• 1775 – The Battle of Kemp's Landing took place. This was an early fight during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1781 – September 5: The Battle of the Chesapeake happened nearby. This naval battle was very important for the American victory in the Revolutionary War.
• 1791 – The Nimmo Church was built. It is the oldest church in the area that still has its original foundation. A famous preacher named Bishop Francis Asbury spoke there.
• 1810 – The Francis Land House was built around this time. It was a large farm home.
• 1879 – The Cape Henry Lighthouse was built. Lighthouses help guide ships safely to shore.
• 1888 – The famous Oceanfront Boardwalk was built. This became a popular place for people to walk and enjoy the ocean.
• 1891 – A Norwegian ship called the Dictator was wrecked off the coast.
• 1900 – The population of the area was 11,192 people.

Growing Up: The 1900s

• 1906 – The town of Virginia Beach officially became an incorporated town. This means it was recognized as a separate local government.
• 1933 – The Bayne Theatre opened, offering entertainment to the community.
• 1935 – The Cape Henry Memorial was put up. It marks the spot where the first English colonists landed.
• 1941 – The Virginia Beach and Princess Anne Chapters of the NAACP were formed. The NAACP is an organization that works for civil rights and equality.
• 1952 – Virginia Beach officially became a city.
• 1953 – August: Hurricane Barbara hit the area, causing damage.
• 1960 – The population grew to 84,215 people.
• 1963 – The city of Virginia Beach merged with Princess Anne County. This made Virginia Beach much larger.
• 1964 – The amazing Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel opened. This long bridge and tunnel system connects different parts of Virginia.
• 1970 – The population reached 172,106 people.
• 1980 – The population continued to grow, reaching 262,199 people.
• 1988 – Meyera E. Oberndorf became the mayor of Virginia Beach. A mayor is the leader of a city's government.
• 1989 – The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art opened, bringing art and culture to the city.
• 1990 – The population was 393,069 people.
• 2000 – The city's official website went online, making information more accessible to everyone.

Modern Times: The 21st Century

• 2009 – Will Sessoms became the new mayor of Virginia Beach.
• 2010 – The population of the city was 437,994 people. The larger area, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News, had a population of 1,676,822.
• 2019 – A sad event occurred in Virginia Beach.
• 2023 – An EF3 tornado, a very strong type of storm, moved through the northern part of the city. It damaged or destroyed several homes. Luckily, no one was hurt or killed.