1613Government
City Point, the oldest part of Hopewell, was established in 1613 by Sir Thomas Dale.
1619History
In 1619, Samuel Sharpe and Samuel Jordan represented Charles City at the first meeting of the House of Burgesses.
1634Government
"Charles City Point" was in Charles City Shire when the first eight shires were established in the Colony of Virginia in 1634.
1643History
Charles City Shire soon became known as Charles City County in 1643.
1703History
The burgesses separated an area of the county south of the river, including City Point, establishing it separately as Prince George County in 1703.
1838Architecture
The City Point Railroad, built in 1838 between City Point and Petersburg, was used as a critical part of the siege strategy.
1864Culture
Grant used City Point as his headquarters during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864 and 1865.
1914Government
=== Hopewell Farm ===
Hopewell, part of the Eppes' plantation, was developed by DuPont Company in 1914 as Hopewell Farm, an incorporated area in Prince George County.
1915Disaster
Nearly burned to the ground in the Hopewell Fire of 1915, the city prospered afterward and became known as the "Wonder City" as the village of Hopewell grew from a hamlet of 400...
1916Government
Unlike most cities in Virginia, Hopewell was never incorporated as a town, but it was incorporated as an independent city in 1916.
1923Government
City Point was an unincorporated town in Prince George County until the City of Hopewell annexed the Town of City Point in 1923.
1928Architecture
The city also restored the Beacon Theatre, which was built in 1928 and now hosts 70 or more concerts and other events annually.
1935Architecture
=== 1935 bus tragedy ===
Hopewell made national news when, on December 22, 1935, a bus plunged through the open draw of the Appomattox River Drawbridge on State Route 10 just ou...
1936History
Slaughter recounted his life story for a Works Progress Administration interviewer in 1936.
1952Government
== Politics ==
Hopewell was, for many decades after 1952, a Republican stronghold in presidential elections.
1963Civil Rights
Hopewell public schools were desegregated under court order in 1963, following Renee Patrice GILLIAM et al v.
1972Economy
in 1972 because of the dangers it presents to humans and wildlife, Kepone was not federally regulated until after the Hopewell disaster, in which 29 factory workers were hospita...
1975Culture
In 1975, the state health department shut down the facility, and fishing in the James River from Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay was banned due to contamination concerns.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,354 people, 9,055 households, and 6,075 families residing in the city.
2007Civil Rights
In 2007, former Hopewell mayor and civil rights leader Curtis W.
2008Military
However, in 2008, the city saw a significant shift toward the Democratic party when it voted for Barack Obama by double digits, the best Democratic performance there since 1948.
2010Disaster
In September 2010, a series of explosions occurred at a controversial new ethanol plant that had recently been constructed on a long vacant site formerly occupied by a Firestone...
2013History
Although the facility was sitting idle through 2013 with the city of Hopewell taking legal action to recoup unpaid taxes on the property, the facility was eventually purchased b...
2015Economy
In 2015 the troubled ethanol plant closed again for a second time after less than a year in operation with its owners citing a lack of profitability as the reason for the shutdown.
2016Government
In every election since then (except for 2016) Democrats have consistently maintained their double-digit lead in the city.
2018History
The paper was shut down on January 18, 2018.
2019Military
In 2019, after years of planning, the city opened a "Riverwalk" boardwalk, seeking to use scenic views and water access as part of overall economic redevelopment efforts.