Newport News Shipbuilding, which has employed many local residents for years, is celebrating its 125th year in business during 2011.

The shipyard was founded in 1886 by Collis P. Huntington as Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company. Today, the company is Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding.

The shipyard currently employs about 19,000 people, corporate spokesman Jennifer Dellapenta said. Of that total, 827 workers reside in Gloucester County and 121 reside in Mathews County.

Some facts about the shipyard:

—Its first dry dock opened in April 1889;

—The tugboat Dorothy was the first ship built there, and;

—The gunboat USS Nashville was the first ship the yard built for the U.S. Navy.

Matt Mulherin, vice president and general manager of the shipyard, said in the corporate bulletin "Shipbuilder" that yard workers should "think about how we can build upon their (past workers) legacy by continuing to provide first-class quality in ...