NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

'Norfolk' is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States of America. With a population of 234,403 as of the 2000 census, Norfolk is Virginia's second-largest incorporated city.
Norfolk is located in Hampton Roads, a large natural harbor located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Norfolk is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA. The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. One of the older of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads, Norfolk is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region.
The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point. Norfolk is home to both the Norfolk Naval Base, the world's largest naval base, and corporate headquarters of the Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America's principal Class I railroads. As it is surrounded by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property, and is linked with its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes.

Contents

History of the city

Colonial period (1607-1775)

Revolutionary War Period (1775 - 1783)

Rebirth, Fire, Disease, and War (1783-1861)

World Wars, Cold War, Decline and Rebirth (1917-Present)

Downtown Norfolk's decline and rebirth

Government and Law

Economy

Military

Commercial Ports

Tourism

Other Major Companies Headquartered in Norfolk

Media

Newspapers

Magazines

Television

Radio

Culture and Contemporary Life

Museums

Performing Arts

Festivals and Parades

Gardens and Public Spaces

Nightlife

Education

Elementary, secondary

Post Secondary

Medicine

Geography and Climate

Demographics

Transportation

Local Transit

Air, rail, bus services, and cruise ships

Major Streets and Roadways

Historic Neighborhoods

Theatres and Performance Venues

Sports

Sister cities

See also

References

External links

History of the city

Main articles: History of Norfolk, Virginia

Colonial period (1607-1775)

In 1619, the Governor for the Virginia Colony, Sir George Yeardley established 4 incorporations, termed citties (sic) for the developed portion of the colony. These citties were to form the basis for the government of the colony in the newly minted House of Burgesses, with the entire Hampton Roads region falling under the Elizabeth Cittie incorporation. In 1622, Adam Thoroughgood (1604-1640) of King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, became one of the earliest Englishmen to settle in the area that was to become South Hampton Roads when, at the age of 18, he became an indentured servant to pay for passage to the Virginia Colony. After his period of contracted servitude was finished, he earned his freedom and soon became a leading citizen of the fledgling colony.
Meanwhile, after years of continuing struggles at Jamestown, the now bankrupt Virginia Company had its royal charter revoked by King James I in 1624 and Virginia became a crown colony. Also at this time, the King granted 500 acres (2 km²) of land to Thomas Willoughby, in what is now the Ocean View section of the city.
In 1629, Thoroughgood was elected to the House of Burgesses for Elizabeth Cittie. Five years later, in 1634, the King Charles I had the colony reorganized under a system of 8 shires, with much of the Hampton Roads region becoming part of Elizabeth City Shire. In 1636, Thoroughgood was granted a large land holding along the Lynnhaven River (which he named) for having persuaded 105 people to settle in the colony. When the South Hampton Roads portion of Elizabeth City Shire was partitioned off in that same year, it was Thoroughgood who contributed the name of Norfolk, also in honor of his birthplace, to the newly formed New Norfolk County. It was also during this reorganization that King Charles granted a further (present day downtown) to the Willoughby family; a portion of which would later form the basis for the future city of Norfolk. Shortly thereafter, in 1637, New Norfolk County was itself split into 2 counties, Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County, largely on Thoroughgood’s recommendation. The modern city of Norfolk is located in the latter.
In 1670, a royal decree was issued for the "building of storehouses to receive imported merchandise. . .and tobacco for export" for each of the Virginia colony's 20 counties. Norfolk’s protected harbor and natural deep water channels was quickly recognized for its potential as a major seaport, and in order to protect that potential, in 1673 the House of Burgesses called for the construction of a "Half Moone" fort at the site of what is now Town Pointe Park. The largest threat to the colony during this time was a potential attack by one of the other major European powers, and by the Dutch in particular. The ongoing Third Anglo-Dutch War, as well as the recent recapture of New York/New Amsterdam helped spur fears that the new port might also come under attack. Nonetheless, Norfolk quickly grew in size and by 1680 an act for the establishment of the "Towne of Lower Norfolk County" had been issued by the House. This act was subsequently fulfilled in 1682 when 50 acres were purchased by the county for 10,000 pounds of tobacco. The town initially encompassed a land area northeast of the point where the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River meets its southern branch, part of present-day downtown. In 1691, a final county subdivision took place when Lower Norfolk County was split to form Norfolk County (present day Norfolk, Chesapeake, and parts of Portsmouth) and Princess Anne County (present day Virginia Beach). Norfolk was incorporated in 1705 and in 1736 was granted a royal charter by George II as a borough.
By 1775, Norfolk had developed into what many contemporaries of the time argue was the most prosperous city in Virginia. It was a major shipbuilding center and an important trans-shipment point for the export of goods such as tobacco, corn, cotton, and timber from Virginia and North Carolina, to the British Isles and beyond. In turn, goods from the West Indies such as rum and sugar, and finished manufactured products from England were imported back through Norfolk to the rest of the lower colonies. Though widespread slavery in the colony did not occur until the early 18th century, it should also be noted that by this time much of the West Indies and American Colonial products that flowed through the harbor were now being produced with the use of slave labor.

Revolutionary War Period (1775 - 1783)

Norfolk had been a strong base of Loyalist support throughout the start of the American Revolution. In the early summer of 1775, after having been forced to flee the colonial capitol of Williamsburg, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, tried to reestablish control of the colony from Norfolk. Throughout the summer and autumn of that year he was able to secure a number of smaller victories over the rebelling colonists in and around the South Hampton Roads region, mostly by means of small raiding parties which were used to reinforce his men. In November, a larger battle took place at Kemp's Landing which provided Dunmore and the loyalists a clear victory, but it was nonetheless clear by then that the rebellion was escalating into full scale war. The victory at Kemp's Landing emboldened the governor, who afterwards issued Dunmore's Proclamation, which most notably promised freedom to any slave who joined His Majesty's forces. The proclamation may have been a provocation to many moderates (in the sense of their loyalty to the crown) however, and Dunmore's victory would prove to be short lived.
Three weeks later, Dunmore's overconfidence proved to be his undoing when his forces attempted a surprise attack, but were instead decidedly routed at the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9th, 1775 by the fledlging 2nd Virginia Regiment. Under the command of Colonel Woodford, the rebels surprised the British troops with their larger than expected numbers (many of whom who had decided to support the rebellion after having read Dunmore's Proclamation) and proceeded to quickly deliver heavy losses to Dunmore's toops, including the loss or injury of 102 men, whilst only suffering one injured on their part. Dunmore retreated back to Norfolk, but the quickly advancing Regiment forced him and the remaining loyalists to flee to Dunmore's ship, ''Otter'', which was anchored in the harbor. Dunmore Street, in the historic residential neighborhood of Freemason, was named after him not as a tribute, but as having supposedly been the street down which he and the remaining Loyalists were last seen fleeing on their way to board ''Otter''. His forced exile effectively brought an end to over 168 years of British colonial rule in Virginia.
Shortly thereafter, on New Year's Day, 1776, Lord Dunmore's fleet of 3 ships shelled the city of Norfolk for over 8 hours. The damage from the shells and ensuing fires set by the British destroyed 800 buildings, almost two-thirds of the city. The rebels essentially completed the destruction of the city, burning another 400 buildings as part of a scorched earth policy. Only the walls of St. Paul's Episcopal Church survived the bombardment and subsequent fires. Even it did not escape unharmed however, as an unexploded cannonball lodged itself into the southeast wall of the church. Due to safety concerns over the unexploded ordnance the actual cannonball has since been removed, but a replica has been put in its place. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1827.

Rebirth, Fire, Disease, and War (1783-1861)

Following the recovery from the Revolutionary War burning, the 19th century began auspiciously enough for Norfolk and her citizens. By 1800, the population was the 10th largest in the United States according to that year’s census. However, just 4 years later, another serious fire along the city’s waterfront destroyed some 300 buildings and the city experienced a serious economic setback as a result.
During the 1820’s many agrarian communities across the American South experienced a prolonged recession, resulting in the emigration of many families from the region to other areas. This is evidenced in the slight drop in overall population over the ten-year census period from 1820 to 1830 (~15,000 total persons) in Norfolk County, despite the fact that other urban areas experienced significant population growth at this time. Also notable during this period were the various attempts Virginia made to either phase out slavery through law (see Thomas Jefferson Randolph’s 1832 resolution) or through colonization of blacks to Africa. The largest of these organizations, the American Colonization Society (ACS), was founded in 1816 to this purpose and many of the subsequent immigrants from Virginia and North Carolina would later embark from Norfolk. One such immigrant was Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a native of Norfolk who would go on to become the first president of Liberia. Roberts Village in Norfolk is named for him. Active immigration through the ACS largely came to an end following the Civil War and subsequent lack of government funds.
By 1840, Norfolk had shown its resilience once again and boasted a population of 10,920 for the borough proper (not including the rest of the county). In 1845, Norfolk was incorporated as a city and by 1850 the city’s population was approximately 14,000 persons, including 4,000 slaves and 1,000 free blacks. In 1851, the Commonwealth authorized the charter of an railroad connecting Norfolk and Petersburg. Completed in 1858, this important line was the predecessor of today's Norfolk Southern railroad company.
On June 7, 1855, the ship ''Benjamin Franklin'' detoured into Portsmouth for urgent repairs to fix leaks, a broken boiler, and an unsteady mast. The ship was in route from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands to New York. The city's health officer inspected the ship, as was standard practice at the time, and suspected something was awry, despite assurances from the captain that ship was free of disease. The officer ordered that the ship be held at anchor in the harbor for 11 days. Afterwards, he returned to the ship and allowed it dock under the condition that the ship's hold not be broken. Within several days of docking however, the first cases of Yellow Fever had appeared in some people whose homes were near the wharf. By July, the epidemic was in full outbreak and would eventually result in the deaths of over 3,000 people in the region, 2,000 of them in Norfolk. At its peak, the epidemic was claiming more than 100 lives a day in Norfolk alone.^[1] Many more people fled the area, some never to return. The city's population would not reach its 1850 census population until after the Civil War.
In early 1861, Norfolk voters instructed their delegate to vote for ratification of the ordinance of secession. Soon thereafter, Virginia voted to secede from the Union. Richmond became the capitol of the Confederacy, and the American Civil War began in earnest.
===Civil War to World War I (1861-1917)===
Not long thereafter, in the spring of 1862, the remains of the USS ''Merrimac'' were rebuilt at Norfolk Navy Yard as an ironclad and renamed as the CSS ''Virginia''. Hoping to break the Union naval blockade of Virginia, the Battle of Hampton Roads began on March 8, 1862 off the northwest shore of the city's Sewell's Point Peninsula with the ''Virginia'' sinking the USS ''Cumberland'' and setting the USS ''Congress'' ablaze. The first day of the battle ended when, due to waning daylight, ''Virginia'' was unable to engage or destroy any more Union ships, and so returned to port for the evening to address minor damages. Overnight however, the USS ''Monitor'' made it to Union held Fort Monroe across the James River in Hampton, and so set the stage for the world's first battle between ironclads, pitting the CSS ''Virginia'' against the USS ''Monitor''. The battle would ultimately ended in a stalemate however, as neither ship was able to do significant damage to the other due to the heavy armor plating, but it was clear that the new technology utilized at the battle would forever change the course of naval warfare. Over the next several months, ''Virginia'' tried in vain to engage the ''Monitor'', but the ''Monitor'' was under strict orders not to fight unless absolutely necessary. When Norfolk, under Mayor William Lamb, surrendered the city to General John E. Wool and Union Forces at the city's Princess Anne Road and Church Street intersection in May, the decision was made to scuttle the ''Virginia'' rather than risk losing her to the Union Navy. For the duration of the Civil War, the city was held under Martial law and many private and public buildings were confiscated for federal use. Mayor Lamb did manage to successfully hide the city's colonial era silver mace underneath a fireplace hearth to avoid having it confiscated or melted down by union troops.
By 1870, the end of Reconstruction was at hand in Norfolk. Union occupation troops withdrew and Virginia was readmitted to the Union. During this time, African-Americans throughout Hampton Roads were elected to state and local offices, but would slowly come to face increasing legal discrimination through the development of Jim Crow Laws in the latter part of the century.
In 1883, the first car of coal arrived from the Pocahontas fields over Norfolk & Western Railway and by 1886 the tracks were extended right up to the coal piers at Lambert’s Point to handle the increasing volume, creating one of the largest coal transshipment ports in the world. In 1894, classes began in the city's first public high school. That same year the Electric trolley was introduced to Norfolk and would, within ten years, link Norfolk with Sewell's Point, Ocean View, South Norfolk, Berkley, Pinner's Point (all of which were independent communities within Norfolk county at that time), and the city of Portsmouth.

★ 1907 brings the Virginian Railway and the Jamestown Exposition to Sewell's Point. The large Naval Review at the Exposition demonstrated the peninsula's favorable location, laying the groundwork for the world's largest naval base.

★ In 1909, the incorporated town of Berkley was annexed.

World Wars, Cold War, Decline and Rebirth (1917-Present)

★ In 1917, Naval Station Norfolk was built as Naval Air Station Hampton Roads, during the height of World War I.

★ In 1923, the city limits were expanded to include Sewell's Point, Willoughby Spit, the town of Campostella, and Ocean View, adding the Navy Base and miles of beach property fronting on Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay. Wards Corner, then just outside Norfolk, became the first non-downtown shopping district in the country.

★ In 1930, Old Dominion University was established as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. ODU awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1956 and became an independent institution in 1962.

★ In 1935, Norfolk State University was founded as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia State University and became an independent institution in 1969.^[2]

★ In 1938, the Norfolk Municipal Airport was established.

★ On May 23, 1952, the Downtown Tunnel opened connecting Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth. A second parallel tube was built in 1987. The Downtown Tunnel currently flows in four lanes (two in each direction), carrying a portion of Interstate 264. In 1991, the new Downtown Tunnel/Berkley Bridge complex was completed, with a new system of multiple lanes of highway and interchanges connecting Downtown Norfolk and Interstate 464 with the Downtown Tunnel tubes.

★ In 1955, Tanners Creek was annexed. Ownership of Broad Creek Village transferred to Housing Authority. Norfolk became the largest city in state, with a population of 297,253.

★ On November 1, 1957, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel opened to traffic, connecting the Virginia Peninsula with the city, signed as State Route 168. The new two-lane toll bridge-tunnel connection became a portion of Interstate 64 by the end of 1957, connecting Norfolk westward with a limited access freeway. A second parallel tube was built in 1976, expanding the access to four lanes. The tolls were removed in December 1976.

★ In 1958, ten thousand children were locked out of school when the governor ordered that six Norfolk schools be closed to prevent integration.

★ In 1959, Norfolk's public schools were desegregated when 17 black children entered six previously all-white schools in Norfolk. ''Virginian-Pilot'' editor Lenoir Chambers editorialized against massive resistance, earning the Pulitzer Prize.

★ In 1959, JANAF Shopping Center opened at Military Highway and Virginia Beach Boulevard. It was one of the nation's first large shopping centers.^[3]

★ On December 1, 1967, the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway (Interstate 264 and State Route 44), a long toll road leading from Baltic Avenue in Virginia Beach to Brambleton Avenue in Norfolk, opened to traffic at a cost of $34 million. Many at the time believe the project was doomed to fail due to the cost of 10 to 25 cents to access the Expressway. Opponents argued that commuters would simply continue to use Virginia Beach Boulevard as the primary route to Virginia Beach. The Expressway is a resounding success however, perhaps too successful for Norfolk in that soon thereafter, many people begin to move to the neighboring city of Virginia Beach and commute back to work in Norfolk, a common practice which continues to this day. The tolls were removed on June 1, 1995, and State Route 44 portion of the freeway became I-264 in July 1999.

★ In 1968, Norfolk Municipal Airport becomes Hampton Roads' primary commercial passenger airline destination as Norfolk Regional Airport, located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits straddling neighboring Virginia Beach.

★ In 1968, a portion of land along Broad Creek next to I-264 was renamed Chalk Cove in honor of the Chalk Family who moved there from Broad Creek Village. The Chalk family continues to reside in the original residences along the Elizabeth River.

★ In April 1970, Norfolk reached its peak United States Census Bureau population estimate at 307,951.

★ In November 1970, Norfolk served as home court (along with Hampton, Richmond and Roanoke) for the Virginia Squires regional professional basketball franchise of the now-defunct American Basketball Association (ABA). From 1970 to 1971, the Squires played their Norfolk home games at the Old Dominion University Fieldhouse. In November 1971, the Virginia Squires played their Norfolk home games at the new Norfolk Scope arena, until the team and the ABA league folded in May 1976.

★ In 1971, Norfolk built the region's first entertainment and sports complex, featuring Chrysler Hall and the 13,800-seat Norfolk Scope indoor arena, located in the northern section of downtown.

★ On January 30, 1974, the city hosted its first professional basketball all-star game, courtesy of the American Basketball Association, at the Norfolk Scope. 10,624 spectators were in attendance, as Artis Gilmore won Most Valuable Player of this professional sports event.

★ On March 29, 1982, Norfolk hosted the first NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship (also known as the Women's Final Four). The Norfolk Scope served as the chief venue for the event. 9,531 spectators were in attendance at this inaugural event.

★ On April 3, 1983, Norfolk hosted the second NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship at the Norfolk Scope. 7,837 spectators were in attendance.

★ In 1983, Waterside Festival Marketplace opened in downtown Norfolk, developed by James W. Rouse, in which a festival marketplace concept helped transform a formerly seedy harbor area into a major catalyst for other redevelopment.

★ In April 1993, the 12,067-seat Harbor Park baseball stadium opens, hosting the Norfolk Tides Triple-A minor league baseball team. Designed by HOK Sport, it was instantly acclaimed as one of the best minor league ballparks in America, and received the honor of best minor league park in 1995 by ''Baseball America.'' Also, despite worries that a new downtown park would not draw fans from the region's other cities, Harbor Park continually posts one of the best attendance records in minor league baseball, and certainly far higher than at their previous stadium, Met Park.

★ In October 1999, Norfolk-based TRT merged with PENTRAN, becoming Hampton Roads Transit officially linking the city with the Virginia Peninsula with interurban public transportation.

Downtown Norfolk's decline and rebirth

Main articles: Downtown Norfolk, Virginia

As the traditional center of shipping and port activities in the Hampton Roads region, Norfolk's downtown waterfront historically played host to numerous and often noxious port and shipping-related uses. With the advent of containerized shipping in the mid-20th century, the shipping uses located on Norfolk's downtown waterfront became obsolete as larger and more modern port facilities opened elsewhere in the region. The vacant piers and cargo warehouses eventually became a blight on downtown and Norfolk's fortunes as a whole. But in the second half of the century, Norfolk had a vibrant retail community in its suburbs; companies like Smith & Welton, High's, Colonial Stores, Hofheimer's, Giant Open Air, Dollar Tree and K & K Toys were regional leaders in their respective fields. Norfolk was also the birthplace of Econo-Travel, now Econo Lodge, one of the nation's first discount motel chains.

Similarly, the advent of newer suburban shopping destinations spelled demise for the fortunes of downtown's Granby Street commercial corridor, located just a few blocks inland from the waterfront. Granby Street traditionally played the role as the premiere shopping and gathering spot in the Hampton Roads region and numerous department stores such as Smith & Welton (1898-1988), Rice's (1918-1985) and Ames and Brownley (1898-1973), fine hotels and theaters once lined its sidewalks. However, new suburban shopping developments promised more convenience and comfort. The opening of Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach, the region's first climate controlled shopping mall, and JANAF Shopping Center in Norfolk's Military Circle area, helped foment Granby Street's spiral into commercial obsolescence. With amenities such as ample free parking at the door of one's favorite store, and in the case of Pembroke Mall, climate control, the businesses of downtown's Granby Street found it harder and harder to compete.
Beginning in the 1970s, Norfolk's city leaders began what would be a long push to revive the fortunes of its urban core. While Granby Street experienced its decline, Norfolk city leaders were also focused on the waterfront and its collection of decaying piers and warehouses. Federal urban renewal programs such as the Housing Act of 1949 promised cities around the country millions of dollars in government grants for the purpose of removing blight conditions and preparing urban land for redevelopment. Norfolk, as with many other cities, took full advantage of these Federal urban renewal funds and began large-scale demolitions of broad swaths of downtown. This included slum housing that, in the mid-20th century, did not have indoor plumbing or access to running water. However, Norfolk's urban renewal also included the demolition of many prominent city buildings, including the former City Market, Norfolk Terminal Station (the Union railroad station), The Monticello Hotel, and large swaths of urban fabric that, were they still in existence today, might be the source of additional historic urban character, including the East Main Street district (where the current civic complex is located).
At the water's edge, nearly all of the obsolete shipping and warehousing facilities were demolished. In their place, planners created a new boulevard, Waterside Drive. In place of the piers and warehouses rose: the Waterside Festival Marketplace, an indoor mall created by the Rouse Company and similar to Baltimore's Inner Harbor Pavilions; the waterfront Town Point Park - an esplanade park with wide open riverfront views; and the Norfolk Omni Hotel. On the inland side of Waterside Drive, the demolition of the warehouses and wharves created new parcels on which most of the high rise buildings in Norfolk's skyline now stand.

Norfolk's efforts to revitalize its downtown have attracted acclaim in economic development and urban planning circles throughout the country. Publications such as the American Planning Association's monthly ''Planning Magazine'', have hailed the tremendous rebound in the downtown residential population, and ''Money Magazine'' proclaimed Norfolk as the number one city in which to live in the South in 1999.
The rising fortunes of the downtown area have helped expand the city's coffers which has in turn been able to direct its attention to revitalizing other neighborhoods of the city. Located just northwest of downtown, the Ghent district of Norfolk is one of the Hampton Roads region's premier urban residential communities. Ghent has the highest residential densities of any other area in Hampton Roads, and is home to a diverse array of people - artists, strivers, lower income to wealthy, etc. Many other areas of Norfolk are also being revitalized, including Fairmount Park, Ocean View and East Beach, the latter both on the Chesapeake Bay.

Government and Law

Norfolk governs itself through a city council with a mayor and a city manager. Paul Fraim serves as mayor. Norfolk is an independent city with services that both counties and cities provide.

Economy

Since Norfolk serves as the commercial and cultural center for the somewhat unique geographical region of Hampton Roads (and in its political structure of independent cities), it can be difficult to separate the economic characteristics of Norfolk, from that of the region as a whole. In any case, it is no surprise that the waterways which almost completely surround the Hampton Roads region also play an important part in the local economy. As a strategic location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, its protected deep water channels serve as major arteries for the import and export of goods from across the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, and international destinations, as well as playing host to the world's largest naval base.^[4]
:''See also: List of foreign consulates in Norfolk''

Military

Hampton Roads is a major military center, particularly for the United States Navy, and Norfolk serves as the home for the most important of these regional installations, Naval Station Norfolk. Located on Sewell's Point Peninsula, in the northwest corner of the city, the installation is the current headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet, as well as being home port for the 2nd Fleet, which compromises approximately 62,000 active duty personnel, 75 ships, and 132 aircraft. The base also serves as the headquarters to the Allied Command Transformation (NATO) and the United States Joint Forces Command.
The region also plays an important role in defense contracting, with particular emphasis in the shipbuilding and ship repair businesses for the city of Norfolk. Major private shipyards located in Norfolk include: BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Metro Machine Corp., and Colonna's Shipyard Inc.. Most contracts fulfilled by these shipyards are issued by the Navy, though some private commercial repair also takes place.
When combined with other important regional military installations such as Naval Air Station Oceana, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (in Portsmouth), Langley Air Force Base, and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, and along with other important defense contractors, the military serves as the region's economic backbone and cultural focal point. In fact, it is estimated that over 35% of Gross Regional Product (which includes the entire Norfolk-Newport News-Virginia Beach MSA), is attributable to defense spending, and that 75% of all regional growth since 2001 is attributable to increases in defense spending.^[5]

Commercial Ports

After the military, the 2nd largest and most important industry for Hampton Roads and Norfolk based on economic impact are the region's cargo ports. Headquartered in Norfolk, the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is a Commonwealth of Virginia owned-entity that, in turn, owns and operates three major port facilities in Hampton Roads for break-bulk and container type cargo. In Norfolk, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) represents one of those three facilities and is home to the world's largest and fastest container cranes.^[6] Together, the 3 terminals of the VPA handled a total of over 2 million TEUs and 475,000 tons of breakbulk cargo in 2006, making it the 2nd
★ busiest port on the east coast of North America by total cargo volume after the Port of New York and New Jersey. In addition, just across the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Maersk is spending $450 million to open the largest container terminal on the East Coast sometime in late 2007.^[7]
In addition to NIT, Norfolk is home to Lambert's Point Docks, the largest coal trans-shipment point in the Northern Hemisphere, with annual throughput of approximately 48 million tons.^[8] Bituminous coal is primarily sourced from the Appalachian mountains in western Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The coal is loaded onto trains and sent to the port where it is unloaded onto large breakbulk cargo ships and destined for New England, Europe, and Asia primarily.
Most major shipping lines have a permanent presence in the region with some combination of sales, distribution, and/or logistical offices, many of which are located in Norfolk. In addition, many of the largest international shipping companies have chosen Norfolk as their North American headquarters. These companies are either located at the Norfolk World Trade Center building or have constructed buildings in the Lake Wright Executive Center office park. Among them include:

★ CMA CGM - The French firm and world's 3rd largest shipping line has its North American headquarters in Norfolk.^[9]

★ Zim Integrated Shipping Services - An Israeli owned shipping line and the 13th largest in the world, also has its North American headquarters in Norfolk.^[10]

★ Maersk Line Limited - A subsidiary of the world's largest shipping line, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, specializing in US government shipping contracts,.

Tourism

Though Virginia Beach and Williamsburg have traditionally been the centers of tourism for the region, the rebirth of downtown Norfolk and the construction of a cruise ship pier at the foot of Nauticus in downtown has driven tourism to become an increasingly important part of the city's economy. The number of cruise ship passengers who visited Norfolk increased from 50,000 in 2003, to 107,000 in 2004 and 2005. Also in April of 2007, the city completed construction on a $36 million state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal alongside the pier.^[11] Partly due to this construction, passenger counts dropped to 70,000 in 2006, but is expected to rebound to 90,000 in 2007, and higher in later years. Unlike most cruise ship terminals which are located in industrial areas, the downtown location of Norfolk's terminal has received favorable reviews from both tourists and the cruise lines who enjoy its proximity to the city's hotels, restaurants, shopping, and cultural amenities.^[12]

Other Major Companies Headquartered in Norfolk

★ Norfolk Southern Ticker: NS, a Fortune 500 company and one of the country's largest railroad operators, is headquartered in downtown Norfolk.

★ Landmark Communications, one of the country's largest privately owned media companies with ownership of several daily newspapers, local TV stations, specialty publications, and most famously, The Weather Channel and weather.com.

★ Dominion Enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary of Landmark Communications, a print and internet media group that includes numerous specialty publications and online classifieds. The company recently finished construction on a headquarters in downtown.

★ FHC Health Systems, one of the top 250 largest private companies in the US, specializing in health care management, health services, and online medical reports.

★ Portfolio Recovery Associates Ticker: PRAA, primary business is the purchase, collection, and management of defaulted customer receivables.

★ BlackHawk Products Group - provides tactical gear such as holsters, body armor, and backpacks to the U.S. Defense Department and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Media

Newspapers

Norfolk's daily newspaper is the Virginian-Pilot. Other papers include the Port Folio Weekly, the New Journal and Guide, the Hampton Roads Business Journal, Old Dominion University's Crown and Mace, Norfolk State University's The Spartan Echo, and Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlin Chronicles.^[13]

Magazines

Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area.^[14]

Television

Norfolk is also served by several television stations. Major network television affiliates include:

'Channel'	'Callsign'	'Network(s)'	'Website'
3	WTKR	(CBS)	http://www.wtkr.com/
10	WAVY	(NBC)	http://www.wavy.com
13	WVEC	(ABC)	http://www.wvec.com/
15	WHRO	(PBS)	http://www.whro.org/
27	WGNT	(CW)	http://www.cw27.com/
33	WTVZ	(MyNetworkTV)	http://www.mytvz.com
43	WVBT	(Fox)	http://www.myfoxhamptonroads.com/
49	WPXV	(ION Television)	http://www.ionline.tv/

Norfolk residents also are able to receive independent stations such as WSKY broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and WGBS broadcasting on channel 7 from Hampton. Norfolk is served by Cox Cable which provides LNC 5, a local 24-hour cable news network. DirecTV and Dish Network are also very popular as an alternative to cable television in Norfolk.

Radio

Norfolk is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials with towers located all over the Hampton Roads area.^[15]

Culture and Contemporary Life

As with most of Virginia (the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C metro area being the notable exception), Norfolk is most often associated with the larger American South. However, due to the large presence of the military in the region, which has brought people to Hampton Roads from across all regions of the country, some traditions and cultural aspects have changed more so than in other southern regions. One of the most notable differences is the relative lack of presence of the Southern accent. While it is not uncommon to hear someone speak with a Southern accent, especially older persons or persons from other southern regions, it is heard less frequently in Hampton Roads than some other parts of the south due, in large part, to the transient military and maritime population. Still, some elements of the southern dialect and culture have remained firmly in place, and newcomers often quickly adapt to these cultural differences. For instance, the expressions ''ya'll'' as a plural second-person pronoun, 'honey' or 'hon' as a term of endearment, sweetened ice tea, Southern fried chicken, grits, and other traditional southern food dishes remain a part of the daily culture.
Norfolk was historically part of the slave-holding South, and was later segregated along racial lines until the 1960s. This has led to racial tensions within the highly diversified city that have been slow to heal, and those tensions still occasionally flare up. As recently as January of 2007, controversial city councilman Paul Riddick (who is black) accused white city police of, “...shooting blacks and white cops need to stop shooting black police officers” - a reference to the death of a black undercover police officer that was ruled accidental.^[16] Nevertheless, racial tensions have been slowly subsiding overtime as younger generations who have no firsthand recollection of segregation have reached adulthood and started families of their own.
Norfolk remains the region's cultural heart and in addition to several outstanding museums, is the principle home for several major performing arts companies. Norfolk also plays host to numerous yearly festivals and parades, mostly at Town Pointe Park in downtown.

Museums

★ Chrysler Museum of Art - Located in the Ghent District just outside of downtown, this is the region's foremost art museum and is considered by The New York Times to be the finest in the entire state.^[17] Of particular note is the extensive glass collection and American neoclassical marble sculptures.

★ Nauticus, located on the downtown waterfront, is a maritime-themed museum featuring hands-on exhibits, high definition films, and educational programs designed to increase awareness of the importance of the world's waterways. It is also noted for being the home to the battleship USS ''Wisconsin'', the last battleship to be completed in the United States, and which briefly served in World War II, and later in the Korean and Gulf wars.^[18]

★ Hermitage Foundation Museum - Located in an early 20th century Tudor style home, on a twelve acre estate fronting the Lafayette River, this museum features an eclectic collection of Asian and Western art including Chinese bronze and ceramics, Persian rugs, and ivory carvings.

★ General Douglas MacArthur Memorial - Located in the former Norfolk city hall rotunda in downtown, the museum contains the tombs of the late General and his wife, along with personal belongings (including his famous corncob pipe), and a short film that chronicles the life of the famous American army general.

Performing Arts

★ Virginia Opera - The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, founded in 1974. Current artistic director is Peter Mark. Though performances are statewide, the company's principal venue is the Harrison Opera House in the Ghent District.^[19]

★ Virginia Stage Company - Founded in 1968, the company is one of the country's leading regional theaters and produces a full season of plays in the beautiful Wells Theatre downtown.^[20]

★ Virginia Symphony Orchestra - Founded in 1920, current musical director is JoAnn Falleta. Most performances take place at Chrysler Hall in downtown. Also provides musicians for many other performing arts organizations in the area.^[21]

Festivals and Parades

Town Pointe Park in downtown plays host to a wide variety of annual events from early spring through late fall. Among the most notable are:

★ Harborfest - The region's largest annual festival celebrated its 30th year in 2006. Harborfest is held during the first weekend of June and celebrates the region's proximity and attachment to the water. The Parade of Sail (numerous tall sailing ships from around the world form in line and sail past downtown before docking at the marina), music concerts, regional food, and a large fireworks display highlight this 3 day festival.^[22]

★ Bayoo Boogaloo and Canjun Food Festival - A celebration of the Cajun people and culture. From small beginnings, this 3 day festival during the 3rd week of June has become of the largest in the region, and in addition to serving up Cajun cuisine also features Cajun music.^[22]

★ Fourth of July - The annual celebration of American independence, marked by a spectacular fireworks display and a special Navy reenlistment ceremony.^[22]

★ Norfolk Jazz Festival - Though smaller by comparison to some of the big city jazz festivals, the Norfolk version still manages to attract the country's top jazz performers. Held in August.^[22]

★ St. Patrick's Day - Annual parade in the city's Ocean View neighborhood, celebration of Ocean View's rich Irish heritage.^[26]

★ Town Pointe Virginia Wine Festival - A showcase for Virginia produced wines that has enjoyed increasing success over the years as Virginia's burgeoning wine industry has become increasingly noted both within the United States, and on an international level. Wines can be sampled and then purchased by the bottle and/or case directly from the winery kiosks. Held during the 3rd weekend of October.^[22]

Gardens and Public Spaces

★ Norfolk Botanical Garden - Opened in 1939, the botanical garden and arboretum is located near the Norfolk International Airport and is open year round.^[28]

★ Virginia Zoological Park - Opened in 1900, the 65 acre zoo has hundreds of animals on display including the critically endangered Siberian Tiger and threatened White Rhino, among others.

Nightlife

Hampton Roads had long been derided for its lack of nightlife (quality clubs, bars, and lounges in particular) both by locals, and those who came to the region by way of the military. Over the course of the last several years, however, the revitalization of downtown Norfolk (and the established clubs and bars can claim to have contributed to this success) has helped to significantly improve this aspect of the Hampton Roads cultural scene. In particular, a large number of clubs, representing a wide range of music interests and sophistication, now line the lower Granby Street area. Some of the clubs include the newly opened Club Seven and Granby Theater. Not far away, the Waterside Festival Marketplace has also continued to be successful as a nightclub and bar venue.

Education

Elementary, secondary

Norfolk City Public Schools, the public school system, comprises 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 34 elementary schools, and 9 special-purpose/preschools. In 2005, Norfolk Public Schools won the $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Education award for having demonstrated, "the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps for poor and minority students".^[29] The city had previously been nominated in 2003 and 2004.
There are also a number of private schools located in the city, the oldest of which, Norfolk Academy, was founded in 1728.

Post Secondary

Norfolk is home to three public universities and one private. It also hosts a community college campus in downtown.

★ Old Dominion University - Founded as a branch of The College of William and Mary in 1930, ODU became an independent institution in 1962 and now offers degrees in 68 undergraduate and 95 (60 masters/35 doctoral) graduate degree programs.

★ Eastern Virginia Medical School- Founded as a community medical school by the surrounding jurisdictions in 1973, EVMS is noted for its research into reproductive medicine and is located in the region's major medical complex in the Ghent District.

★ Norfolk State University - The country's fifth largest majority black university, offers degrees in a wide variety of liberal arts.

★ Virginia Wesleyan College - Small private liberal arts college, shares its eastern border with the neighboring city of Virginia Beach.

★ Tidewater Community College - Community college offering two-year degrees and specialized training programs, located in downtown.

Medicine

Because of the prominence of the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and V.A. Hospital in Hampton, Norfolk has had a strong role in medicine. Norfolk is served by Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, and the Lake Taylor Hospital. The City is also home to the Children's Hospital for the King's Daughters.^[30]
It is known for its specialists in diabetes, dermatology, and obstetrics. It achieved international fame on March 1, 1980, when Drs. Georgianna and Howard Jones opened the first in vitro fertilization clinic in the U.S. at EVMS. The country's first in vitro test-tube baby was born there in December of 1981.^[31]
The international headquarters of Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that specializes in repairing facial deformities in underprivileged children from around the globe is based in the city.^[32]

Geography and Climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 249.4 km² (96.3 mi²). 139.2 km² (53.7 mi²) of it is land and 110.3 km² (42.6 mi²) of it (44.22%) is water.
In addition to extensive riverfront property, Norfolk has miles of bayfront resort property and beaches in the Willoughby Spit and Ocean View communities.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec High °F	80	82	88	97	100	101	103	104	99	95	86	80
Norm High °F	47.8	50.3	57.8	67	74.9	82.8	86.8	84.7	79.4	69.4	60.9	52.3
Norm Low °F	32.3	33.6	40.1	47.8	57.6	66.2	71.4	70.1	64.8	52.8	43.7	36.1
Rec Low °F	-3	8	18	28	36	45	54	49	45	27	20	7
Precip (in)	3.93	3.34	4.08	3.38	3.74	3.77	5.17	4.79	4.06	3.47	2.98	3.03
''Source: USTravelWeather.com [1]''

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 234,403 people, 86,210 households, and 51,898 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,684.4/km² (4,362.8/mi²). There were 94,416 housing units at an average density of 678.5/km² (1,757.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.36% White, 44.11% African American, 0.46% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.80% of the population.
There were 86,210 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.07.
The age distribution is 24.0% under the age of 18, 18.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,815, and the median income for a family was $36,891. Males had a median income of $25,848 versus $21,907 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,372. About 15.5% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. Forbes magazine listed Norfolk at #34 out of 40 best cities for young professionals with the bottom ten noted as the worst.
Norfolk has the second largest population of Naval retirees in the U.S. after San Diego.^[33]

Transportation

Norfolk is linked with its neighbors through an extensive network of arterial and Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes. The major east-west routes are Interstate 64, U.S. Route 58 and U.S. Route 460. The major north-south routes are U.S. Route 13 and U.S. Route 17. The Hampton Roads Beltway (I-64 and its spurs I-264, I-464, and I-664) makes a loop around Norfolk.

Local Transit

A transit bus system and paratransit service are provided by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), a regional public transport system headquartered in Hampton. HRT buses run all over Norfolk and South Hampton Roads and onto the Peninsula all the way up to Williamsburg. Other routes travel to Smithfield, Virginia. HRT offers a free ferry service from downtown Norfolk to Old Town Portsmouth. ^[34] Additional services include an HOV express bus to the Norfolk Naval Base, paratransit services, park and ride lots, and the Norfolk Electric Trolley, which provides service in the downtown area. ^[35]
A light rail service has recently received final approval with construction expected to begin in late 2007 with operations beginning in 2010.^[36] The light rail will be called "The Tide" and will have a starter route running along the southern portion of Norfolk, commencing at Newtown Road and passing through stations serving areas such as Norfolk State University and Harbor Park before going through the heart of downtown Norfolk and terminating at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. ^[37]

Air, rail, bus services, and cruise ships

Norfolk is served by Amtrak through the Newport News station, via connecting buses. The line runs west along the Virginia Peninsula to Richmond and points beyond. A high speed rail connection at Richmond to both the Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor are also under study.
Greyhound provides service from a central bus terminal in downtown Norfolk. Bus services to New York City via the Chinatown bus, Today's Bus, which is located on Newtown road.
Norfolk is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport, the region's major commercial airport, and the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport to a lesser extent.
The city recently completed construction (April 2007) of the new $36M 'Half Moone Cruise Terminal' in downtown adjacent to the Nauticus museum, providing a state-of-the-art permanent structure for various cruise lines and passengers wishing to embark from Norfolk. Previously, makeshift structures were used to embark/disembark passengers, supplies, and crew.

Major Streets and Roadways

★ 21st Street

★ 35th Street

★ Boush Street

★ City Hall Avenue

★ Chesapeake Avenue

★ Church Street

★ Colley Avenue

★ Commercial Place

★ Duke Street

★ Freemason Street

★ Granby Street

★ Hampton Boulevard

★ Little Creek Road

★ Main Street

★ Military Highway

★ Monticello Avenue

★ Ocean View Avenue

★ Princess Anne Road

★ Saint Paul's Boulevard

★ Tidewater Drive

★ Virginia Beach Boulevard

★ Waterside Drive

Historic Neighborhoods

★ Algonquin Park

★ Ballentine

★ Berkley

★ Chesterfield Heights

★ Colonial Place

★ Downtown Norfolk

★ Fairmount Park

★ Ghent district

★ Larchmont-Edgewater

★ Lafayette/Winona

★ Larrymore Lawns

★ Lochhaven

★ Meadowbrook

★ North Ghent

★ Norview

★ Ocean View

★ Park Place

★ Riverview

★ Sewell's Point

★ Titustown

★ West Freemason

Theatres and Performance Venues

★ Attucks Theatre

★ Chrysler Hall

★ Free Reign Theatre

★ Granby Theatre

★ Governor's School for the Arts

★ Jeanne and George Roper PAC

★ Harrison Opera House

★ Naro Expanded Cinema

★ Riverview Theatre

★ Norfolk Scope

★ Ted Constant Convocation Center

★ Wells Theatre

★ The Norva

Sports

'Club'
'Sport'
'League'
'Venue'

Norfolk Tides
Baseball
International League
Harbor Park


Norfolk Admirals
Ice Hockey
American Hockey League
Norfolk Scope

Sister cities

Norfolk has seven sister cities:^[38]

★ Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (1963)

★ Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany (1976)

★ Norfolk (County), United Kingdom (1986)

★ Toulon, France (1989) (Europe's largest military harbour)

★ Kaliningrad, Russia (1992)

★ Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia (2006)

See also

★ List of famous people from Hampton Roads (Norfolk)

References

1. http://www.norfolk.gov/Neighborhoods/Services/histories_1845_87.asp
2. About NSU
3. History of JANAF Shopping Center
4. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/norfolk.htm
5. http://www.odu.edu/bpa/forecasting/2004chapter1.pdf
6. Norfolk International Terminals
7. The Port of Hampton Roads
8. Lamberts Point
9. CMA-CGM Picks Norfolk, Va., as Port of Call for 376-Employee HQ
10. Zim American Israeli Shipping in Hampton Roads
11. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCP/is_5_27/ai_n16104639
12. Cruise Norfolk
13. http://www.abyznewslinks.com/unitevanr.htm
14. Hampton Roads Magazine
15. http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/Norfolk_VA.aspx
16. http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=117342&ran=21869
17. Norfolk Travel Guide
18. Nauticus
19. Virginia Opera
20. Virginia Stage Company
21. Virginia Symphony
22. Festevents
23. Festevents
24. Festevents
25. Festevents
26. Norfolk St. Patrick's Day Parade
27. Festevents
28. Festevents
29. http://www.broadprize.org/frequent.shtml
30. Virginia Hospitals and Medical Centers
31. Jones Institute - About Us
32. Operation Smile
33. City Data
34. Schedules and Service
35. About HRT
36. The Tide in Last Stage of Review
37. Norfolk Light Rail Project
38. Sister Cities designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI). Retrieved on August 18, 2006.

External links

★ City of Norfolk

★ Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (serving Norfolk)

★ Norfolk Virginia Real Estate

★ Norfolk Convention and Visitor's Bureau

★ Downtown Norfolk Council

★ Lucadea.com - Some images of Norfolk

★ ''Cosmopolitan Makeover for a Tidewater Backwater'' - New York Times

★ Live Norfolk Police audio & community forum

★ Noncommercial community forum for geeks in Norfolk, VA

★ ''Norfolk Highlights 1584 - 1881'' by George Holbert Tucker