Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Newport News

NEWPORT NEWS, a city, port of entry, and county-seat of Warwick co., Va.; on the James river, Hampton Roads, and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad; 14 miles N. of Norfolk. Newport News was one of the most important parts of the United States during the World War. Over 275,000 American troops embarked there for overseas, together with a vast quantity of supplies. It was also a great ship-building center, and in 1918-1919 many naval and merchant vessels were constructed in its yards. The bank deposits in 1919 were over $15,000,000. The city has several important educational institutions, an excellent dock system, grain elevator, fire system for schools, and is one of the most progressive cities in the country. It has National and State banks, electric railroads, several daily and weekly periodicals, knitting mills, iron works, an extensive foreign export trade. Pop. (1910) 20,205; (1920) 35,596.