Hampton River
Encyclopedia
The Hampton River is a 3.2 miles (5.1 km) tidal estuary
which empties into Hampton Roads
near its mouth. Hampton Roads in turn empties into the southern end of Chesapeake Bay
in southeast Virginia
in the United States
. The Hampton River is located entirely in the city of Hampton
.
Much like several other minor rivers of the area, the Hampton River has also been referred to as Hampton Creek.
The Hampton River was named for Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
, an important leader of the Virginia Company of London, for whom the town and later city of Hampton, Virginia
, Hampton Roads, Southampton County
and Northampton County
were also named.
During the late 1600s and early 1700s the Hampton River was well traveled by sloop
s bringing goods to and from the colony of Virginia. In 1719 a victorious Lt. Robert Maynard
of the British Navy
returned to Hampton with the head of the pirate Blackbeard
hanging from his ship. Having killed Blackbeard in battle in November of 1718, he brought back the head as proof. The head was then placed at the mouth of the river, also known as Teach's Point, on a stake as a warning to other pirates.
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
which empties into Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
near its mouth. Hampton Roads in turn empties into the southern end of Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
in southeast 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Hampton River is located entirely in the city of Hampton
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
.
Much like several other minor rivers of the area, the Hampton River has also been referred to as Hampton Creek.
The Hampton River was named for Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Henry Wriothesley , 3rd Earl of Southampton , was the second son of Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton, and his wife Mary Browne, Countess of Southampton, daughter of the 1st Viscount Montagu...
, an important leader of the Virginia Company of London, for whom the town and later city of Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
, Hampton Roads, Southampton County
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
and Northampton County
Northampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
were also named.
During the late 1600s and early 1700s the Hampton River was well traveled by sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
s bringing goods to and from the colony of Virginia. In 1719 a victorious Lt. Robert Maynard
Robert Maynard
Captain Robert Maynard RN was a lieutenant and later captain in the Royal Navy, First Lieutenant of HMS Pearl, most famous for defeating the infamous English pirate Blackbeard in battle.- Naval commands and battles :...
of the British Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
returned to Hampton with the head of the pirate Blackbeard
Blackbeard
Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies....
hanging from his ship. Having killed Blackbeard in battle in November of 1718, he brought back the head as proof. The head was then placed at the mouth of the river, also known as Teach's Point, on a stake as a warning to other pirates.