[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12752-12753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     IN CELEBRATION OF THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF HAMPTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 2010

  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I am privileged to rise today to honor 
the 400th Anniversary of the City of Hampton, Virginia.
  I am pleased to recognize and honor the City of Hampton as it 
celebrates its 400th Anniversary on July 9, 2010. The City of Hampton 
is America's first and oldest continuous English-speaking settlement. 
It is one of seven major cities that comprise the Hampton Roads areas, 
and is located on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula and 
borders the Chesapeake Bay.
  On April 30, 1607, Captain John Smith landed at Strawberry Banks. 
Three years later, on July 9, 1610, English Colonists established a 
small town at the entrance of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay. 
Well-situated, the area became one of the leading ports in America and 
the entrance to the Commonwealth of Virginia with many settlers passed 
by its shores before moving into the interior.
  Early settlers also saw the strategic defensive importance of the 
area, establishing Old

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Point Comfort where the Elizabeth, Nansemond and James rivers empty 
into the Chesapeake Bay. In 1830, construction of Fort Monroe began. 
Named in honor of President James Monroe, the fort is the oldest active 
duty fort in the nation.
  By the 1600s, the South King Street waterfront was the center of a 
prosperous settlement and hub for the seafood industry. Wharves and 
maritime merchants extended along the waterfront, and crab skiffs, 
oyster canoes and buy boats lined the river and creeks giving rise to 
the nickname `Crabtown.' The crabs caught became world famous, wining 
prizes at the Berlin, London and Paris World Fairs. This gave rise to 
shipyards, shipfitters, carpenters, blacksmiths and coopers to support 
the maritime industry.
  The City of Hampton continues to play a central role in the Hampton 
Roads area attracting a wide array of businesses, research facilities, 
residential areas, historic sites and waterfront beaches. It is home to 
Langley Air Force Base, NASA Langley Research Center, the Virginia Air 
& Space Museum and historic Hampton University. The City of Hampton 
invites visitors from around the world to explore Hampton in 2010.
  Madam Speaker, the City of Hampton is rich in history, resources and 
natural beauty. I am proud to recognize the City of Hampton on this 
significant occasion, and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
the 400th anniversary of the City of Hampton.

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