Hampton, Virginia, was recently named an All-America City for the fifth time.
In June, the National Civic League announced Hampton as one of 10 cities in the United States to earn the designation.
Hampton has previously been chosen as an All-America City in 1972, 2002, 2014 and 2023.
Mayor Jimmy Gray said: “I’m so proud of this team that worked so hard, and everyone who put together the application and helped coordinate the presentation. We have a lot of staff and a lot of residents who have supported us in getting here, and this is for all of them. We are very proud of the dedication that has made us a five-time All-America City.”
The National Civic League has been sponsoring the award for 76 years, spotlighting civic engagement and “the resilience that communities across the country show when people come together to respond to local challenges.” This year’s entries and judging were focused on the premise of “the pivotal role that community engagement plays in advancing environmental sustainability and resilience.”
Hampton’s written submission earned it a spot as one of 20 finalists. Hampton’s delegation, led by Mayor Gray, City Manager Mary Bunting, community leaders, educators and students, traveled to Denver to meet with and learn from the delegations from other cities being recognized for their work in sustainability.
The Hampton delegation, ranging in age from 13 to 85, gave a presentation detailing the city’s broad, innovative efforts to confront the challenges of sea level rise in a coastal community.
After the presentation, members of the delegation answered questions posed by National Civic League judges. The judges were impressed and eventually Hampton was named as an All-America City.
In choosing to honor Hampton, the judges cited many of the city’s initiatives and programs to deal with sea level rise. In part, the judges wrote: “Through efforts like the Hampton Clean City Commission and the Phoebus Living Shoreline project, residents of all ages help lead cleanups, grow community gardens, and design more resilient public spaces. In Aberdeen Gardens, a historic Black neighborhood, the city and its partners are putting a resident-informed resilience plan into action to protect homes and the neighborhood’s heritage.”
source: City of Hampton Virginia
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