Define Hampton Roads Meaning

“HAMPTON ROADS” is a condensed version of the original name given by the region’s settlers to the harbor in southeastern Virginia known then as: Southampton’s Roadstead.

The term “Hampton” dates from the early 17th century when the first royal governor, Lord de la Ware, named the area in honor of the third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, a major investor of the Virginia Company of London, the financial backers of the Jamestown settlers. And, “Roadstead” is an old English word for a protected harbor.

Some things never change: just as sports stadiums, libraries, and college buildings today are named for major sponsors and donors, so it was then.

“HAMPTON ROADS” also refers to the body of water between the Virginia Peninsula (to the North) and Southside, the southern part of southeastern Virginia. It is formed by the confluence of the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers and flows into the Chesapeake Bay whose watershed covers 64,000 square miles and all or part of six states (NY, PA, WV, MD, DE and VA) and DC.

“HAMPTON ROADS” is one of the world’s biggest and deepest natural harbors, the largest in North America, and is home to the world’s largest naval base at Norfolk. “HAMPTON ROADS” has been well known within nautical and maritime communities for centuries.

“HAMPTON ROADS” was widely adopted as the name for the surrounding region in 1984 when two planning districts and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) merged, placing the region in the nation’s top 50.

Located in Southeastern Virginia. Basically a combination of 7 urban cities see seven cities, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Chesapeake.

So there's basically no farmland or suburbs you just travel from city to city...

The population for each city ranges from 150,000 to 600,000 max with the ethnicity being mostly black

Not really known to the rest of America because of absolutely no sports franchises but still each city is bigger than most cities with sports teams..

Hampton roads is the reason why America is America. Jamestown the first sustained settlement in english america Williamsburg the nations first capital and Yorktown ware the english surrendered. Hampton Roads is different from the rest of SoVa because one its more urban and a less unemployment rate, The education here in one of the highest in the country and we are the second richest area in the state (NoVa if the first).
Hampton roads is also called the "7cities" because of its 7 mayjor cities in the area (Norfolk,Suffolk,Newport News,Hampton,Porthsmouth,Chesapeake and Virginia Beach). The area is also the only are in the state that has more than two american major city within a metropolitan area (ie. Norfolk,Virginia beach,Newport news,). Outside of the 7 core cities you have small counties cities such as York county,James city county,Gloucester county,Matthews county,Surry county,Isle of Wight county,the cities of Poquoson,Smithfield,and Williamsburg. Hampton roads recently claim counties in north east North Carolina due to the proximity of the bases(ie. Currituck,Dare,Camden, and Paspotank counties). Besides the San Diego area Hampton roads is the only region with all branch of the military due to the proximity of Washingtion DC. also home of the first NASA program (Langely AFB).