WELCOME TO HAMPTON ROADS! Hampton Roads is the
nation's 27th largest metropolitan, with over 1.5 million people. The
term "Hampton Roads" refers not to one central city, but to a region comprised
of nine cities and three counties. Those on the "Peninsula" north of
the James River are Williamsburg, Poquoson, Hampton, Newport News, James City
County, York County, and Gloucester County. Those on the "Southside"
or "Tidewater" are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk.
To confuse things further, the region is often referred to as the Tidewater
Area.
CHESAPEAKE
Chesapeake is a fast growing, family oriented
city, with a population of 208,799 as of July 2003, and cited as one of the
fastest growing cities in Virginia. The City covers 353 square miles; it is the
2nd largest city in land area in Virginia. Chesapeake was ranked the 4th safest
city (based on population) in the nation and the safest city in Virginia (FBI).
Chesapeake was highlighted in 50 Fabulous Places To Raise a Family. There are
many Public Schools in Chesapeake: 28 Primary/ Elementary/ Intermediate Schools;
10 Middle Schools; 6 High Schools, and 3 Centers for Special Programs.
For
more information on this subject: Visit the City of Chesapeake's official
website listed in the Contacts/Links section.
CURRITUCK COUNTY,
NC
Currituck County, North Carolina is the 8th fastest growing county in
North Carolina, it is a successful farming community, which devotes over 25% of
its land to agricultural pursuits. From May to September, fresh
fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon,
corn, tomatoes, broccoli, and asparagus are available at roadside markets
throughout the county. New residents will enjoy exploring the many historical
sites. Currituck County has over 22 miles of beaches along the
Atlantic Ocean, as well as sounds, rivers, and creeks. The county's northern
border is the Virginia State line, which includes part of NSA Norfolk -
Northwest Annex.
For more information on this subject: Visit the
Currituck County official website listed in the Contacts/Links
section.
NORFOLK
Norfolk Naval Base is the geographic center
of the Tidewater region and often acts as the Hub of military activities. The
base is homeport for over 115 ships. It is not unusual to see
aircraft carriers and guided missile cruisers sharing the cities busy harbor
with pedestrian ferries, sailboats, and commercial ships. These vessels
regularly glide by the one-mile square downtown area that is the financial and
legal center of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North
Carolina.
From the proud 23-story Norfolk Waterside Marriott and
Waterside Convention Center to the exciting world class Nauticus and the USS
Wisconsin which are attractions on Norfolk's waterfront, to the renovated
community of Ocean View and the Tides' baseball stadium, Harbor Park, Norfolk
shows how strongly it is focused on retaining and improving its ranking as ONE
OF THE TOP TEN MOST LIVABLE AREAS IN THE COUNTRY.
Housing opportunities
in Norfolk and its downtown area offer a variety not easily found in a younger
city. Norfolk is a city of established neighborhoods, new housing developments,
waterfront property, modern condominiums and townhouses, historic row houses,
beach cottages, and new homes in virtually every style and price
range. Norfolk's neighborhoods offer variety and hold the true
meaning of "neighborhood". The city is a home to the arts with several museums
and historic houses, including the Chrysler Museum, one of the nation's top art
museums.
PORTSMOUTH
Just take the ferry from Norfolk across the
Elizabeth River and you will disembark at Portside, Portsmouth's waterfront
marketplace with its brightly striped awnings and its shops, restaurants, and
parks. Nearby is the revitalized 18th century neighborhood, Olde Towne,
characterized by quaint winding streets, window boxes, cobblestones, and
bed-and-breakfast inns. Olde Towne has the largest concentration of
restored 18th century properties between Alexandria, Virginia, and Charleston,
South Carolina.
There is much more to Portsmouth than festival marketplaces
and colonial homes. An aggressive public/ private economic development effort
has resulted in projects like Port Center, a 70-acre business park being
marketed to high tech industries, government contractors, and professional
firms. Such centers will complement the gigantic ship repair
industry, which has been the major economic anchor of the city since its
founding as Gosport Yard during the colonial period. Norfolk Naval Shipyard,
located here is the largest ship repair facility in the U.S. The
influence of the military is as strong in Portsmouth, as it is in other Hampton
Roads cities. Portsmouth Naval Hospital's, Charette Health Care Center is now
the largest Naval Medical Facility on the East Coast.
SUFFOLK
Today Hampton Roads looks to Suffolk as the connector to
the west, to northeastern North Carolina and as the future growth hot spot for
the region. Already signs are there as major new industries in
increasing numbers consider Suffolk's land-rich environment. More
than 75 industries call Suffolk home. Future innovative, mixed-use
developments such as the planned community, Harbor View, are regularly the topic
of discussion among developers and planners. However, two-thirds of
Suffolk's land area is still rural and used for agriculture purposes, which
contributes to the 'big country' feel of the city. Only three percent
of the workforce, however, is actually employed in farming, forestry, or fishing
occupations; most are factory workers, technical workers, managers, and
professionals.
Peanuts are Suffolk's largest crop. The city is
Headquarters to Planters LifeSavers Company, which was established in 1912 and
home to the four-day annual Peanut Fest in the fall. Suffolk is proud of its
agricultural heritage.
VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach is the most
populated city in Virginia and one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Located on the Hampton Roads coastal plain, the city lays claim to 26 miles of
Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay beaches. Virginia Beach is best
known as one of the finest resort cities in the world, with excellent beaches,
fishing, and numerous other recreational activities. The most
prominent landmark is its mile of oceanfront and bay beaches including a
six-mile concentration of resort hotels, businesses, and beachfront
homes.
Virginia Beach combines business resources with a lifestyle that
is a pleasure in every season. It offers a wide selection of city-operated parks
and scores of privately developed businesses, industrial and commercial centers.
It boasts a competitive tax structure, a highly skilled, and affordable labor
force and is strategically located to all forms of transportation. Major sectors
of the economy include tourism/conventions, agriculture, construction/real
estate, retail and wholesale trade, business/industry, and the military.
Virginia Beach is considered to have one of the finest school systems and parks
and recreation systems in the state.
HAMPTON
Nestled in the
southeastern corner of the peninsula, Hampton has been nationally recognized for
its public schools, crime prevention, anti-drug programs, and physical
appearance. USA Today and Good Morning America reported that Hampton
ranked seventh in the country for quality of life. Hampton lays claim
to the first American Christmas, which was celebrated by Captain John Smith in
1609. Hampton has close ties with aviation and is home to Langley
AFB, NASA Langley, the Virginia Air and Space Museum, a celebration of man in
flight.
NEWPORT NEWS
Located across the harbor, where the
Chesapeake Bay meets the James River is the city of Newport News. The city's
working waterfront is the home of Newport News Shipbuilding, the states second
largest private employer, as well as the Newport News Marine Terminal, part of
the Virginia Marine Terminal, providing access to a global market. The city's
historic sites, museums, cultural, and recreational facilities complement the
quality of life found in Newport News.