History of Virginia Beach, Virginia in Timeline

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia, with a population of 459,470 as of 2020. Located on the southeastern coast of Virginia, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and on the Atlantic Ocean, it is the sixth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic region and the 42nd most populous in the United States. Virginia Beach is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, which has over 1.8 million residents, making it the 37th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.

1906: Virginia Beach Incorporated

The growing resort of Virginia Beach officially became an incorporated town in 1906.

December 1917: Record Coldest Daily Maximum

The coldest daily maximum temperature recorded in Virginia Beach was 12 °F (−11 °C) in December 1917.

1922: Virginia Beach Boulevard Completed

The completion of Virginia Beach Boulevard in 1922 opened up access for automobiles and other vehicles to the oceanfront.

1927: Cavalier Hotel Opens

The Cavalier Hotel opened in 1927 and became a popular vacation destination.

1928: Edgar Cayce Hospital Established

The Edgar Cayce Hospital for Research and Enlightenment, a 60-bed facility with a public library on psychic matters, opened in Virginia Beach in 1928.

1930: Atlantic University Founded

Atlantic University, a for-profit holistic learning institution, was founded in Virginia Beach in 1930.

1938: First High School for Black Students Built

Princess Anne County Training School, the first high school for black students in Virginia Beach, was built in 1938.

1938: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Established

The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, an 8,000-acre freshwater refuge, was established in Virginia Beach in 1938.

July 1942: Record Warmest Low Temperature

The warmest overnight low temperature recorded in Virginia Beach was 84 °F (29 °C) from July 1942.

1952: Republican Support in Presidential Elections

From 1952 to 2016, with only two exceptions, Virginia Beach supported Republican presidential candidates.

1952: Boardwalk Art Show Begins

The annual Boardwalk Art Show, which later evolved into the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), began in 1952.

1952: Virginia Beach Becomes Independent City

Virginia Beach became an independent city in 1952, although it maintained ties with Princess Anne County.

1958: Alan B. Shepard Civic Center Constructed

The Alan B. Shepard Civic Center (The Dome) was constructed in 1958.

1961: Princess Anne County Training School Renamed

In 1961, Princess Anne County Training School was renamed Union Kempsville High School at the request of the black community.

1961: Virginia Wesleyan University Founded

Virginia Wesleyan University, a private university, was founded in Virginia Beach in 1961 by Methodist minister Joseph Shackford Johnston.

January 1, 1963: Virginia Beach Chartered as Independent City

On January 1, 1963, Virginia Beach was officially chartered as a municipal corporation and an independent city by the General Assembly of Virginia.

1963: Princess Anne County Abolished

In 1963, Princess Anne County, which had existed for over 250 years, ceased to be a jurisdiction.

1963: Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County Consolidate

Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County consolidated in 1963 to form a new, larger independent city.

1963: Virginia Beach Divided into Boroughs

When Virginia Beach became a larger independent city in 1963, it was divided into seven boroughs.

1964: Last Democratic Presidential Win Before 2020

1964 marked the last time a Democratic presidential candidate won Virginia Beach before Joe Biden's victory in 2020.

1966: Red Wing Park Established

Red Wing Park, a 97-acre park located in east-central Virginia Beach near Oceana Naval Air Station, was established in 1966.

1968: Start of Republican Presidential Candidate Streak

From 1968 to 2016, Virginia Beach consistently supported Republican Party presidential candidates.

1969: Virginia Beach Schools Integrate

In 1969, public schools in Virginia Beach were integrated, ending segregation of black and white students.

1973: Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Founded

The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, an annual race held on St. Patrick's Day weekend, was founded in Virginia Beach in 1973.

1980: Virginia Beach Pioneers Municipal Skateparks

During the mid-1980s, Virginia Beach became a pioneer by constructing the first municipally funded, maintained, and operated skateboard ramps.

January 1985: Record Low Temperature

The lowest recorded temperature in Virginia Beach was −3 °F (−19 °C) in January 1985.

1985: Atlantic University Reopens

Atlantic University, initially founded by Edgar Cayce in 1930, reopened in Virginia Beach in 1985.

1991: Start of Normal Period

The provided text references climate normals from 1991-2020 for comparison.

1992: Shamrock Marathon Recognized by Runner's World

In 1992, Runner's World magazine recognized the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach as one of the top 20 marathons in the United States.

1994: Alan B. Shepard Civic Center Demolished

The Alan B. Shepard Civic Center was demolished in 1994.

1996: Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater Opens

The Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach opened in 1996, hosting a variety of popular shows and concerts.

1999: Crime Statistics

In 1999, Virginia Beach had 12 murders, resulting in a murder rate of 2.7 per 100,000 people.

2000: No Event Found

No event found for the year 2000 in the provided text.

2000: Virginia Beach Open Begins

The Virginia Beach Open, a Nationwide Tour golf event, began in 2000 at the Virginia Beach National golf course.

2003: Hurricane Isabel

In 2003, Hurricane Isabel significantly impacted Virginia Beach, an area usually spared from major tropical storms.

2003: Median Income and Poverty Statistics

In 2003, Virginia Beach reported a median household income of $48,705, a median family income of $53,242 (5th highest among large cities), and a per capita income of $22,365, alongside poverty rate figures.

2003: Virginia Beach Town Center Opens

The Virginia Beach Town Center opened in 2003.

2004: Bush Wins Majority in Virginia Beach

George W. Bush was the last presidential candidate to secure a majority vote in Virginia Beach, achieving this in 2004.

2005: BRAC Commission and NAS Oceana

In 2005, the BRAC Commission stipulated that NAS Oceana, the largest employer in Virginia Beach, would face closure unless the city condemned houses within designated "Accident Potential Zones," a position not endorsed by the Navy itself.

2005: Virginia Beach Convention Center Opens

The Virginia Beach Convention Center opened in 2005.

2005: Convention Center Opening

Virginia Beach opened a new Convention Center in 2005 to accommodate large group meetings and events, further boosting its tourism industry.

2006: Virginia Beach Open Ends

In 2006, the Virginia Beach Open, a Nationwide Tour golf event hosted at the Virginia Beach National golf course, concluded.

November 2007: Sandler Center Opens

The 1200-seat Sandler Center for the Performing Arts opened in Virginia Beach Town Center in November 2007.

2007: Crime Statistics Update

In 2007, the murder rate in Virginia Beach was 3.7 per 100,000 people (lower than the national average of 6.9) with a total crime index of 221.2, also below the national average.

2008: Reel Dreams Film Festival Begins in Virginia Beach

In 2008, Virginia Beach became the home of the Reel Dreams Film Festival.

2008: City Crime Rankings

In 2008, Virginia Beach ranked 311th in violent crime among 385 cities with over 75,000 residents, according to the Congressional Quarterly Press.

2008: McCain Wins Plurality in Virginia Beach

John McCain won a plurality of votes in Virginia Beach during the 2008 presidential election.

2008: Virginia Beach Election Date Change

Starting in 2008, general elections in Virginia Beach were moved to the first Tuesday in November in even-numbered years.

July 2010: Record High Temperature

The highest recorded temperature in Virginia Beach was 105 °F (41 °C) in July 2010.

2010: 2010 Census

The 2010 Census recorded the racial composition of Virginia Beach.

2011: Walk Score Ranks Virginia Beach 39th

A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Virginia Beach as the 39th most walkable city out of the 50 largest U.S. cities.

2012: Navy Jet Crash

In 2012, a Navy jet crashed into an apartment complex after experiencing engine failure.

2012: Norfolk Admirals Win Calder Cup

The Norfolk Admirals, an AHL team, won the Calder Cup in 2012.

2012: UFL and Virginia Destroyers Cease Operations

The Virginia Destroyers, a United Football League team based in Virginia Beach, ceased operations in 2012 along with the rest of the league.

April 2013: Virginia Beach Neptunes Awarded Atlantic League Franchise

In April 2013, Virginia Beach was awarded an Atlantic League franchise, and the team was named the Virginia Beach Neptunes.

2013: Virginia Beach Park System Ranked 8th Best

In 2013, The Trust for Public Land ranked Virginia Beach's park system as the 8th best among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.

2014: Baylake Pines School Closes

Baylake Pines School, a private independent school in Virginia Beach, closed in 2014.

2014: Drake Performs in Virginia Beach

In 2014, rapper Drake performed in Virginia Beach during his Drake vs. Lil Wayne tour. He later named a track on his album "For All The Dogs" after the city.

2015: The Man in the High Castle Premieres

In 2015, the television series "The Man in the High Castle" premiered. The series, set in an alternate 1960s, depicts Virginia Beach as the site of a D-Day style invasion by Nazi Germany, resulting in the defeat and occupation of the United States.

2015: Virginia Beach Featured in Monopoly Here and Now

Virginia Beach was included as a property in the Monopoly Here and Now: The US edition released in 2015.

2016: End of Consistent Republican Support

2016 marked the end of Virginia Beach's streak of consistently supporting Republican presidential candidates. While Trump won the city, it was only by a plurality.

January 2017: Commuting and Unemployment Statistics

In January 2017, unemployment in Virginia Beach was at 4.2%.

2018: Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Opens

In 2018, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge opened, surpassing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as the world's longest bridge-tunnel complex.

May 31, 2019: Virginia Beach Municipal Center Shooting

On May 31, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at a municipal government building in Virginia Beach, resulting in 12 deaths and four injuries.

June 2019: Unemployment Rate Drops

By June 2019, the unemployment rate in Virginia Beach had decreased to 2.8%, almost half the rate from two years earlier.

2019: The Man in the High Castle Concludes

The television series "The Man in the High Castle" concluded in 2019. In the series, Virginia Beach is depicted as the site of a D-Day style invasion by Nazi Germany in an alternate 1960s timeline.

2020: Biden Becomes First Democrat to Carry Virginia Beach Since 1964

Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Virginia Beach since 1964.

2020: 2020 Census

The 2020 Census recorded Virginia Beach's population at 459,470, making it the most populous city in Virginia.

2020: End of Normal Period

The provided text references climate normals from 1991-2020 for comparison.

2020: Profanity Law Repealed

The state legislature repealed Virginia Beach's law prohibiting profanity in public spaces in early 2020.

2021: Walk Score Ranks Virginia Beach 45th

A 2021 Walk Score study ranked Virginia Beach as the 45th most walkable large city in the United States.

2021: Verizon Fios Limited Availability

As of 2021, Verizon's Fios internet service was available in limited areas of Virginia Beach.

2022: 2022 American Community Survey Estimates

The 2022 American Community Survey estimated Virginia Beach's population at 455,618 with 179,752 households, and provided demographic data including racial makeup and housing units.

April 30, 2023: EF-3 Tornado Strikes Great Neck

On April 30, 2023, an EF-3 tornado, the strongest on record, touched down in Virginia Beach's Great Neck neighborhood, lasting five minutes but causing no injuries or fatalities.

September 2023: Amazon to open new facilities in Virginia Beach

Amazon announced it will build two new operational delivery facilities in the city. Virginia Beach was also ranked 45th on Forbes' list of best places for business and careers in September 2023