Great Bridge, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Great Bridge is a community located in the independent city
of Chesapeake
in the U.S. state
of Virginia
. Its name is derived from the American Revolutionary War
Battle of Great Bridge
, which took place on December 9, 1775 and resulted in the final removal of British
government from the Colony and Dominion of Virginia
. Near the end of the war, the Hudgins family moved to Great Bridge and established the first permanent settlement in the area. Descendents of the family can still be found living in the Forest Lakes section of Chesapeake.
The main branch of the Chesapeake Public Library named the Central Library, which itself is located in Great Bridge, displays a 12 pound cannon ball, labeled as having been fired at the Battle of Great Bridge. The written histories of the battle are specific in stating that there were only two cannon at the battle, both British "four pounders."
Though the battles of Lexington and Concord
took place months earlier, and are historically more memorable, the Battle of Great Bridge can be seen as the first strategically important colonial victory over the British, forcing John "Lord Dunmore" Murray's 200 redcoats to evacuate Fort Murray and withdraw to Norfolk.
The city hall
as well as other major municipal buildings for Chesapeake lie within Great Bridge. Great Bridge was essentially a small town or crossroads until the late 1980s and 1990s, when it experienced significant growth. It contains large residential areas as well as many large shopping centers. Also, Great Bridge was the home of professional baseball players, Michael Cuddyer
, David Wright, B.J. Upton, and Justin Upton
. Former Virginia Tech, Denver Broncos
, and Cleveland Browns
defensive lineman Carlton Powell
also hails from Great Bridge. Lawrence Johnson
, the 2000 Summer Olympics
pole vault silver medalist, is also from Great Bridge. Another local notable celebrity is Larry Bergman who in the 1956 Olympics
in Melbourne Australia won a gold medal in fencing. A local of Great Bridge Virginia
Matthew Davis won the Intergender National Foosball Championship in 1998.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Chesapeake
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Its name is derived from the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
Battle of Great Bridge
Battle of Great Bridge
The Battle of Great Bridge was fought December 9, 1775, in the area of Great Bridge, Virginia, early in the American Revolutionary War. The victory by Continental Army and militia forces led to the departure of Governor Lord Dunmore and any remaining vestiges of British power from the Colony of...
, which took place on December 9, 1775 and resulted in the final removal of British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
government from the Colony and Dominion of Virginia
Colony and Dominion of Virginia
The Colony of Virginia was the English colony in North America that existed briefly during the 16th century, and then continuously from 1607 until the American Revolution...
. Near the end of the war, the Hudgins family moved to Great Bridge and established the first permanent settlement in the area. Descendents of the family can still be found living in the Forest Lakes section of Chesapeake.
The main branch of the Chesapeake Public Library named the Central Library, which itself is located in Great Bridge, displays a 12 pound cannon ball, labeled as having been fired at the Battle of Great Bridge. The written histories of the battle are specific in stating that there were only two cannon at the battle, both British "four pounders."
Though the battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy , and Cambridge, near Boston...
took place months earlier, and are historically more memorable, the Battle of Great Bridge can be seen as the first strategically important colonial victory over the British, forcing John "Lord Dunmore" Murray's 200 redcoats to evacuate Fort Murray and withdraw to Norfolk.
The city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
as well as other major municipal buildings for Chesapeake lie within Great Bridge. Great Bridge was essentially a small town or crossroads until the late 1980s and 1990s, when it experienced significant growth. It contains large residential areas as well as many large shopping centers. Also, Great Bridge was the home of professional baseball players, Michael Cuddyer
Michael Cuddyer
Michael Brent Cuddyer is a Major League Baseball right fielder who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed, and wore number 5 for Minnesota Twins.-High school:...
, David Wright, B.J. Upton, and Justin Upton
Justin Upton
Justin Irvin Upton is a National Major League Baseball right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
. Former Virginia Tech, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive lineman Carlton Powell
Carlton Powell
-First stint with Broncos:Powell was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was placed on the PUP list on July 25, 2008 with a ruptured Achilles tendon...
also hails from Great Bridge. Lawrence Johnson
Lawrence Johnson
Lawrence Johnson is a pole vaulter, born in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. LoJo began pole vaulting in 1989 and since has records on all stages and led the charge to return the US to the international medal podium...
, the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
pole vault silver medalist, is also from Great Bridge. Another local notable celebrity is Larry Bergman who in the 1956 Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne Australia won a gold medal in fencing. A local of Great Bridge Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Matthew Davis won the Intergender National Foosball Championship in 1998.
Schools
- Great Bridge High SchoolGreat Bridge High SchoolGreat Bridge High School is a public secondary school in Chesapeake, Virginia, United States. It is part of Chesapeake City Public Schools and is located at 301 West Hanbury Road.-History:...
is a notable competitor in high school wrestling. - Oscar Smith High School is the only school in Chesapeake to hold the IB (International Baccalaureate) program and also holds the State Title in football for the 2008 fall season.