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Virginia Beach History

The rich history of Virginia Beach dates back nearly 400 years, when the first English colonists ventured to the New World. On April 26, 1607, the vessels Sarah Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery stopped at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The colonists spent three days at the site of their first landing, erecting a cross and naming the spot Cape Henry. From Cape Henry they sailed across the bay and up the river, ultimately settling the colony of Jamestown. Later colonists settled around Cape Henry and the lands beyond. Princess Anne County was formed from the eastern section of Lower Norfolk County in 1691 and was named in honor of the youngest daughter of King James.

Princess Anne County had a continuous shoreline from the North Carolina border, north along the Atlantic coast to Cape Henry then west along the banks of the Chesapeake Bay to Little Creek Inlet. Such broad access by ocean and bay had its drawbacks. Pirates roamed the Princess Anne shores and plundered merchant ships mercilessly. A particularly notorious nemesis of the era was Blackbeard. He ruthlessly raided and looted ships up and down the Virginia and North Carolina coasts until his death in 1718 at the hands of mercenary soldiers hired by the colonial governor to track him down. Thus, the golden age of piracy ended. As the population of Princess Anne County grew, trade flourished. Fifty years after the first settlers set foot on Cape Henry, the waters in the area became so congested with merchant ships that bonfires were used to guide vessels safely through the Chesapeake Bay. Plans and contract discussions were ongoing for nearly forty years before the Cape Henry Lighthouse was built and first shone its beacon in the fall of 1792.

Shoreline and waterways have made Virginia Beach a prime military location since the Revolutionary War. The little known Battle of the Capes off Cape Henry was a crucial event in 1781, when French allied forces effectively cut off Cornwallis' British troops stationed in Yorktown. No retreat was possible. Cornwallis was forced to surrender, resulting in victory for the patriot cause in Yorktown. After the Civil War, lifesaving efforts were stepped up to cope with the inevitable maritime mishaps along the coastline. Between 1874 and 1915, more than 185 shipwrecks occurred along Princess Anne County's shores, and five lifesaving stations were constructed to serve the region. These lifesaving stations were an integral part of seafaring life in the area and were the primary source of assistance for ships in distress until 1915 when the U.S. Coast Guard was formed.

Virginia Beach has been a popular resort destination since 1880s. Railroad service to the beach began in 1883, transporting visitors from Norfolk to the oceanfront. In 1888, the "in place" was the modernized Princess Anne Hotel, described in a local newspaper as "a magnificent hotel, with electric lights, bath houses with a veranda, and a good ballroom."

The most luxurious of all were the accommodations offered by the Cavalier Hotel. Called "the Queen of the Beach," the Cavalier opened its doors to guests in 1927. Vacationers and tourists are still a vital part of life in Virginia Beach, even after 120 years! Since the merger of Princess Anne County and the resort town of Virginia Beach in 1963, the City of Virginia Beach has enjoyed a steady rate of growth in population as well as visitors. The 2000 Census indicates a Virginia Beach population of 425,257. Four military installations in Virginia Beach--Oceana Naval Air Station, Little Creek, Fort Story, and Dam Neck - make the city a vital presence on the national and international map. With local museums, sports and entertainment arenas, and a thriving economic base, the City of Virginia Beach attracts vacationers and future residents alike.