Newport News City, Virginia

Newport News is an independent city in southeastern Virginia, stretching along the James River and reaching the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Its location on the Hampton Roads harbor gives the city an important waterfront setting and a diverse mix of urban and coastal landscapes.

Covering roughly 120 square miles, Newport News combines busy city neighborhoods with scenic waterfront areas and recreational spaces. Its economy has long been closely connected to shipbuilding and the military, with Newport News Shipbuilding serving as one of the region’s major industrial employers.

Beyond its industrial heritage, Newport News offers a lively cultural scene with museums, theaters, parks, and other attractions. The city’s combination of maritime traditions, military connections, cultural activities, and waterfront scenery gives Newport News a distinctive place within southeastern Virginia.

CategoryDetails
County NameNewport News City (Independent City)
PopulationApproximately 182,000
Cities, Towns, and CommunitiesNewport News
Interstates and HighwaysI-64, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 258
FIPS Code51-700
Total Area121.4 square miles (land and water)
Adjacent Counties (and Direction)James City County (Northwest), York County (Northeast), Hampton City (East)
Time ZoneEastern Time Zone (ET)
StateVirginia
Coordinates37.0871° N, 76.5122° W
EtymologyNamed after the port of Newport News, named after a 17th-century sea captain, Christopher Newport
Major LandmarksNewport News Shipbuilding, Mariners’ Museum, Victory Arch, Huntington Park
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