Kempville History

The town of Kempsville was established in 1783 and was the county seat of Princess Anne county from 1778 to 1823, in 1963 Princess Anne County was consolidated with the city of Virginia Beach. Kempsville was originally known as Kemp's Landing. Colonial Governor Lord Dunmore's forces fought the Princess Anne County militia at Kemps landing on November 14 and 15 1775 for possession of the strategically important bridge. The militia drove Lord Dunmore's forces back to Norfolk.