Warwick, Virginia facts for kids
Warwick was once an independent city in the state of Virginia, United States. It existed as a city from 1952 until 1958. Before becoming a city, it was known as Warwick County, Virginia. Today, Warwick is no longer a separate city; it is now part of the larger city of Newport News, Virginia.
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Exploring Warwick's Past: A Brief History
Warwick has a long and interesting history, going back hundreds of years. It started as a small area and grew over time, eventually becoming part of a bigger city.
How Warwick Began: From Shire to County
Back in 1634, when Virginia was a British colony, an area called Warwick River Shire was created. It was named after the Warwick River. A "shire" was like an early form of a county. Soon after, its name was changed to Warwick County. For many years, Warwick County was one of the smaller and less populated counties in Virginia. It was mostly a farming area.
The Railway Arrives: A Big Change for Warwick
A major change happened in Warwick County in 1881. This was when the Peninsula Extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway arrived. This railway helped connect the area to other places. At a rural spot called Newport News Point, near the Hampton Roads harbor, a small farming community began to transform. It quickly became a very important port for shipping coal.
Newport News Becomes Independent
Virginia has a special type of local government called an independent city. This means a city is not part of any county. Newport News became an independent city in 1896. It separated from Warwick County. This was a big deal because becoming an independent city helped protect Newport News from being taken over by nearby communities.
Warwick Becomes Its Own City
In 1952, the remaining part of Warwick County also became an independent city. This area was about 71 square miles (184 square kilometers). By becoming an independent city, Warwick gained more control over its own future. It also helped protect its land from being annexed, or taken, by other growing cities.
Joining Forces: Warwick and Newport News Unite
On July 1, 1958, something big happened. After people in both Warwick and Newport News voted for it, the City of Warwick joined with the independent city of Newport News. This brought the two communities back together legally. The combined city took the name Newport News.
This union created the third-largest city in Virginia at that time. The new city covered about 65 square miles (168 square kilometers). It brought together areas that had once been part of the same local government from 1634 to 1896.
Warwick's Legacy: Part of Modern Newport News
Today, Newport News is one of the major cities in the Hampton Roads area. This region is connected by the Hampton Roads Beltway, a highway that goes around the Hampton Roads harbor. The boundaries of Newport News today are very similar to those of Warwick River Shire when it was first created in 1634. There have been only a few small changes over the centuries.
