City of Norfolk
Downtown Norfolk as seen from Portsmouth. Portsmouth is an Independent city located in the US Commonwealth of Virginia.
Flag Seal
Motto: Crescas (Latin for, "Thou shalt grow. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. ")
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state
Coordinates: 36°54′36″N 76°12′6.72″W / 36.91, -76.2018667
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1682
Incorporated	1736
Government
- Mayor	Paul D. Fraim (D)
Area
- City	96. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to cities, counties, Towns A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to cities, counties, Towns A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Paul D Fraim is the current Mayor of the city of Norfolk Virginia. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status 3 sq mi (249. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 4 km²)
- Land	53. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² 7 sq mi (139. 2 km²)
- Water	42. 6 sq mi (110. 3 km²)
Elevation	7 ft (7 m)
Population (2000)
- City	234,403
- Density	4,362. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 6/sq mi (1,684. 4/km²)
- Urban	1,047,869
- Metro	1,569,541
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	757
FIPS code	51-57000[1]
GNIS feature ID	1497051[2]
Website: http://www.norfolk.gov/

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States of America. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks ImageArea code 757png|right|The area colored red indicates the southeast corner of Virginia served by area code 757poly 60 2 11 58 12 78 32 106 40 109 45 105 68 123 73 119 Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout An independent city is a City that does not form part of another general-purpose Local government entity The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The United States of America —commonly referred to as the With a population of 234,403 as of the 2000 census, it is Virginia's second-largest incorporated city, and is also one of few urban areas in Virginia showing a resurgence in population, with an estimated population of 238,832 in 2006, according to the U. S. Census Bureau. ^[3]

Norfolk is located in the Hampton Roads region, named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. It 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. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News VA-NC MSA is a US Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. The Elizabeth River is a short Tidal estuary forming an arm of Hampton Roads at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. Chesapeake is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads portion of the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in One of the oldest of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads, Norfolk is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region. The Seven Cities of Hampton Roads are seven independent cities located in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia in the United States

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 the corporate headquarters of the Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America's principal Class I railroads. Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, This article is about the present railroad formed in 1990 For the former regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina a small part of the new one see Norfolk Southern A Class I railroad in the United States and Mexico, or a Class I rail carrier in Canada, is a large freight Railroad, as classified As it is surrounded by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property. It is linked with its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes. The Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate System) A bridge is a Structure built to span a Gorge, Valley, Road, railroad track, River, Body of water A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 2.2 Cityscape 2.3 Notable Buildings 2.4 Neighborhoods 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Culture 6 Sports 7 Parks and Recreation 8 Government 9 Education 10 Media 11 Infrastructure 11.1 Transportation 11.2 Utilities 11.3 Healthcare 12 Sister Cities 13 See also 14 References 15 External links

History

Main article: History of Norfolk, Virginia

In 1619, the Governor for the Virginia Colony, Sir George Yeardley established 4 incorporations, termed citties (sic) for the developed portion of the colony, forming the basis for the colony government in the newly minted House of Burgesses. Pre-colonial 9500 BC - First evidence of humans inhabiting Virginia The Colony of Virginia (also known frequently as the Virginia Colony and occasionally as the Dominion and Colony of Virginia) was the English colony Sir George Yeardley (1587 - 1627 was a Plantation owner and three time colonial Governor of the British Colony of Virginia. The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected lower house in the legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in What would become Norfolk was put under the Elizabeth Cittie incorporation. Elizabeth City (or cittie as it was then called was one of four incorporations established in the Virginia Colony in 1619 by the proprietor the Virginia Company. In 1622, Adam Thoroughgood (1604-1640) of King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, came to Virginia as an indentured servant. Adam Thoroughgood (1604 &ndash 1640 was a Colonist and Community leader in the Virginia Colony who helped settle the area of South Hampton Roads King's Lynn is a town and Port in Norfolk, England. Over the years the town has been known variously as Bishop's Lynn and Lynn Regis Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to At the end of his contracted servitude, he earned his freedom and became a leading citizen of the fledgling colony. King Charles I reorganized the colony in 1634 into a system of shires. Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. The eight Shires of Virginia were formed in 1634 in the Virginia Colony. The former Elizabeth Cittie became Elizabeth City Shire. Elizabeth City (or cittie as it was then called was one of four incorporations established in the Virginia Colony in 1619 by the proprietor the Virginia Company. Elizabeth City Shire was one of eight shires created in colonial Virginia in 1634. After persuading 105 people to settle in the colony, Thoroughgood was granted a large land holding along the Lynnhaven River in 1636. When the South Hampton Roads portion of the Shire was partitioned off, Thoroughgood suggested the name of his birthplace for the newly formed New Norfolk County, which would split into two counties, Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County (present day Norfolk) one year later, largely on Thoroughgood’s recommendation. South Hampton Roads, also known as Southside, is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States. New Norfolk County is a long-extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1636 until 1637. Upper Norfolk County is an extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1637 until 1646. Lower Norfolk County is a long-extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1637 until 1691. ^[4]

Norfolk grew in the late 1600s as a "Half Moone" fort was constructed and 50 acres was acquired in exchange for 10,000 pounds of tobacco. The House of Burgesses established "Towne of Lower Norfolk County" in 1680. ^[5][6] In 1691, a final county subdivision took place when Lower Norfolk County split to form Norfolk County (present day Norfolk, Chesapeake, and parts of Portsmouth) and Princess Anne County (present day Virginia Beach). Princess Anne County is an extinct county which was located in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States from Norfolk was incorporated in 1705 and in 1736, George II granted Norfolk a royal charter as a borough. George II (George Augustus 10 November 1683 &ndash 25 October 1760 was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ( ^[7]

By 1775, Norfolk developed into what many contemporary observers argued was the most prosperous city in Virginia as it was an important port for exporting goods to the British Isles and beyond. In part because of its merchants' numerous trading ties with other parts of the British Empire, Norfolk served as a strong base of Loyalist support during the early part of the American Revolution. This article concerns Loyalists in the American Revolution. For information on the role of those Loyalists in Canadian history after their emigration see United Empire In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" After fleeing the colonial capitol of Williamsburg, Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, tried to reestablish control of the colony from Norfolk. Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia Earl of Dunmore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1686 for Lord Charles Murray second son of John Murray 1st Marquess of Atholl. Dunmore secured small victories at Norfolk but was forced by rebels, commanded by Colonel Woodford, into exile, bringing an end to over 168 years of British colonial rule in Virginia. This article is about the American general from the Revolutionary War ^[8]

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 fires started by the British and spread by the patriots, destroyed over 800 buildings, almost two-thirds of the city. The patriots destroyed the remaining buildings for strategic reasons in February. ^[9] Only the walls of St. Paul's Episcopal Church survived the bombardment and subsequent fires. A cannonball from the bombardment is still located and can be seen in the wall of St. Paul's. ^[10]

Following the recovery from the Revolutionary War burning, the 19th century began auspiciously enough for Norfolk and her citizens. However, in 1804, 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, agrarian communities across the American South experienced a prolonged recession, causing many families to immigrate to other areas. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive Virginia made various attempts to phase out slavery, either through law (see Thomas Jefferson Randolph’s 1832 resolution) or through "repatriation" of blacks to Africa. Thomas Jefferson Randolph ( September 12, 1792 – October 8, 1875) of Albemarle County served in the Virginia House of Delegates Many emigrants to Africa from Virginia and North Carolina embarked from the port of Norfolk. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a native of Norfolk, was an emigrant who became the first president of Liberia. Joseph Jenkins Roberts ( March 15, 1809 &ndash February 24, 1876) was the first (1848–1856 and seventh (1872–1876 president Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire ^[11]

In early 1861, Norfolk voters instructed their delegate to vote for ratification of the ordinance of secession. Virginia voted to secede from the Union. During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three In the spring of 1862, the Battle of Hampton Roads took place off the northwest shore of the city's Sewell's Point Peninsula. The Battle of Hampton Roads, often called the Battle of Monitor and Merrimack, was a Sewell's Point is a Peninsula of land in the Independent city of Norfolk Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water The battle ended in a stalemate but forever changed the course of naval warfare, as from then on warships were made from metal. ^[12] In May 1862, Norfolk Mayor William Lamb surrendered the city to General John E. Wool and Union Forces, who held the city under martial law for the duration of the Civil War. John Ellis Wool ( February 20, 1784 &ndash November 10, 1869) was an officer in the United States Army during three consecutive U Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect when the military takes control of the normal administration of justice ^[13]

1907 brought both the Virginian Railway and the Jamestown Exposition to Sewell's Point. The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many World's fairs and Expositions that were popular in the United States early part of the 20th century Sewell's Point is a Peninsula of land in the Independent city of Norfolk Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water The large Naval Review at the Exposition demonstrated the peninsula's favorable location and laid the groundwork for the world's largest naval base. This page describes reviews of the US Fleet For Fleet Reviews of the Royal Navy, see Fleet Review Royal Navy, or for reviews of other national navies see Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the exposition featured many prominent officials, including President Theodore Roosevelt, congressmen, senators, and diplomats from 21 countries. Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T Ten years later in 1917, as the US built up to enter World War I, the Naval Air Station Hampton Roads opened on the former exposition grounds. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All ^[14]

Norfolk continued to grow in the first half of the twentieth century as the City expanded its borders through annexation. In 1906, the City annexed the incorporated town of Berkley, which stretched the city limits across the Elizabeth River. An incorporated town is a Town that is a Municipal corporation. Berkley was an Incorporated town in Norfolk County Virginia. It was located directly across the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River from the City ^[15] In 1923, the city expanded to include Sewell's Point, Willoughby Spit, the town of Campostella, and the Ocean View area. Willoughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the Independent city of Norfolk Virginia in the United States. Ocean View Virginia is a community in the Independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. The City now included the Navy Base and miles of beach property fronting on Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. ^[16] After a smaller annexation in 1959, and a 1988 land swap with Virginia Beach, the city assumed its current boundaries. Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in ^[17]

With the dawn of the Interstate Highway System, new highways opened in the region. The Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate System) A series of bridges and tunnels constructed during fifteen years linked Norfolk with the Peninsula, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The Virginia Peninsula is a Peninsula in southeast Virginia, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Portsmouth is an Independent city located in the US Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in In 1952, the Downtown Tunnel opened to connect Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth. The Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area In 1991, the new Downtown Tunnel/Berkley Bridge complex opened a new system of multiple lanes of highway and interchanges connecting Downtown Norfolk and Interstate 464 with the Downtown Tunnel tubes. The Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area The Berkley Bridge is a double-leaf Bascule bridge across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk Virginia, United States. Interstate 464 ( I-464) is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Virginia. ^[18] Additional bridges and tunnels included the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in 1957,^[19] the Midtown Tunnel in 1962,^[20] and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway (Interstate 264 and State Route 44) in 1967. The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT is the -long (56 km Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 64 and U The Midtown Tunnel crosses the main channel of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area Interstate 264 (abbreviated I-264) is an Interstate Highway in the U ^[21]

In reaction to the 1954 U. S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, Virginia pursued the policy of Massive Resistance, prohibiting state funding for integrated public schools. Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954 was a Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned earlier Massive Resistance was a policy declared by US Senator Harry F Norfolk's private schools voluntarily integrated four years previous choosing to comply with the Brown decision. In 1958, Federal District Courts in Virginia ordered schools to open for the first time on a racially integrated basis. In response, Virginia Governor J. Lindsay Almond Jr. ordered the schools closed. The Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term James Lindsay Almond Jr ( June 15, 1898 – April 15, 1986) was Governor of Virginia from 1958 until 1962 Six Norfolk Public Schools serving ten thousand Norfolk children were closed. The Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals declared the state law to be in conflict with Virginia's state constitution and ordered all public schools to be funded, whether integrated or not. The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the US state of Virginia. About 10 days later, Governor Almond capitulated and asked the General Assembly to rescind several "Massive Resistance" laws. The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. ^[22] In September 1959, 17 black children entered six previously segregated Norfolk's public schools. Virginian-Pilot editor Lenoir Chambers editorialized against massive resistance and earned the Pulitzer Prize. The Virginian-Pilot is a daily Newspaper based in Norfolk Virginia and serving southeastern Virginia, Virginia's Eastern Shore Lenoir Chambers (1891-1970 was a writer biographer and newspaper editor Massive Resistance was a policy declared by US Senator Harry F The Pulitzer Prize, ˈpʊlɨtsɚ PULL-it-sər is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in Newspaper journalism, ^[23]

After desegregation, White flight took place causing Norfolk to lose population. White flight is a term for the demographic trend in which working and Middle-class White people move away from Suburbs In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the advent of newer suburban shopping destinations along with freeways spelled demise for the fortunes of downtown's Granby Street commercial corridor, located just a few blocks inland from the waterfront. South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. A street in Norfolk Virginia. This street is the historic commercial corridor of Norfolk and also the community heart of the city has been undergoing major redevelopment for the past The opening of malls and large shopping centers drew off retail business from Granby Street. ^[24]

Norfolk's city leaders began a long push to revive its urban core. While Granby Street experienced decline, Norfolk city leaders focused on the waterfront and its collection of decaying piers and warehouses. Many obsolete shipping and warehousing facilities were demolished. In their place, planners created a new boulevard, Waterside Drive, and new parcels on which most of the high rise buildings in Norfolk's skyline were erected. A skyline is best described as the overall or partial view of a Silhouette of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many Skyscrapers The Waterside served to catalyze further downtown redevelopment. The Waterside, a Festival marketplace on the Elizabeth River in downtown Norfolk Virginia, opened June 1 1983 ^[25] Other facilities opened in the ensuing years, including the Harbor Park baseball stadium, home of the Norfolk Tides Triple-A minor league baseball team. Harbor Park is a Stadium along the Elizabeth River, in downtown Norfolk Virginia, USA The Norfolk Tides are a Minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North In 1995, the Park was named the finest facility in minor league baseball by Baseball America. Baseball America is a Magazine which covers Baseball at every level with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in High school, College ^[26]

Norfolk's efforts to revitalize its downtown have attracted acclaim from economic development and urban planning circles throughout the country. Downtown's rising fortunes helped to expand the city's coffers and to allow the city to direct its attention to other City neighborhoods. ^[27]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 96. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 3 square miles (249. 4 km²), of which, 53. 7 square miles (139. 2 km²) of it is land and 42. 6 square miles (110. 3 km²) of it (44. 22%) is water. Norfolk is located at 37°54′36″N, 76°12′25″W (36. 885747° N, 76. 2599° W)

The city is located at the southeastern corner of the tidewater region of Virginia (also known as Hampton Roads), at the junction of the Elizabeth and James Rivers, bordering the Chesapeake Bay. The Tidewater region of Virginia is a term used to refer to the eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area (officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA) is the 34th largest in the United States, with a total population of 1,576,370. Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasIn the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB has produced Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News VA-NC MSA is a US Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget See also Metropolitan Statistical Area, Core Based Statistical Area Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasThe United States Census Bureau has defined The area includes the Virginia cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg, and the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Surry, and York, as well as the North Carolina county of Currituck. Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in Chesapeake is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads portion of the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the Hampton is an Independent city in Virginia, and therefore not part of any Virginia county Newport News is an Independent city in Virginia. It is at the south-western end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River Poquoson (pəˈkoʊsən is an Independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Portsmouth is an Independent city located in the US Commonwealth of Virginia. Suffolk is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area of eastern Virginia. Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia Gloucester is a county of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. Isle of Wight County is a county located in the South Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the James City County (formally the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region of the Mathews County is a County located on the Middle Peninsula in the U Surry County is a county located in the South Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United York County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Currituck County is a County located in the US state of North Carolina. The city of Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach oceanside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily centers of tourism. Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia Virginia Beach is the most populated city within the MSA though it currently functions more as a suburb.

In addition to extensive riverfront property, Norfolk has miles of bayfront resort property and beaches in the Willoughby Spit and Ocean View communities. Willoughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the Independent city of Norfolk Virginia in the United States. Ocean View Virginia is a community in the Independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States.

Climate

Norfolk has a humid subtropical climate with moderate changes of seasons. Humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa or Cwa) is a climate zone characterized by hot humid summers and chilly to mild winters Spring arrives in March with mild days and cool nights, and by late May, the temperature has warmed up considerably to herald warm summer days. Summer temperatures can be unpleasantly hot, often topping 90 °F (32 °C) with high humidity. On average, July is the warmest month of the year, with the maximum average precipitation. Days stay warm to mild until October, and fall is marked by nights once again becoming cooler. Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four Temperate Seasons Autumn marks the transition from Summer Winter is usually mild in Norfolk, with the coldest days featuring lows in the mid-upper 30s and highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. On average, the coolest month of the year is January. Norfolk's record high was 105 °F (40 °C) on August 7, 1918, and record low was -3 °F (-19 °C) recorded on January 21, 1985. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) ^[28] Snow falls every winter, averaging 7 inches (180 mm) per season. ^[29]

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Record high	84°F (29°C)	82° (28°)	92° (33°)	97° (36°)	100° (38°)	102° (39°)	104° (40°)	105° (41°)	100° (38°)	95° (35°)	86° (30°)	80° (27°)
Normal high	48° (9°)	50° (10°)	58° (14°)	67° (19°)	75° (24°)	83° (28°)	87° (31°)	85° (29°)	79° (26°)	69° (21°)	61° (16°)	52° (11°)
Normal low	32° (0°)	34° (1°)	38° (3°)	40° (4°)	58° (14°)	66° (19°)	71° (22°)	70° (21°)	65° (18°)	53° (12°)	44° (7°)	36° (2°)
Record low	-3° (-19°)	2° (-17°)	14° (-10°)	23° (-5°)	36° (2°)	45° (7°)	54° (12°)	49° (9°)	40° (4°)	6° (-14°)	17° (-8°)	5° (-15°)
Precipitation	3. 9 in. (10 cm. )	3. 3 (8. 5)	4. 1 (10. 4)	3. 4 (8. 6)	3. 7 (9. 5)	3. 8 (9. 6)	5. 2 (13. 1)	4. 8 (12. 2)	4. 1 (10. 3)	3. 5 (8. 8)	3 (7. 6)	3 (7. 7)
Source: The Weather Channel[28]

Cityscape

When Norfolk was first settled, homes were made of wood and frame construct iron, similar to most medieval English style homes. These homes had wide chimneys and thatch roofs. After the town was first laid out in 1682, Georgian architecture began to emerge as it gained popularity in The South, as it had a more aristocratic feel and was built of brick laid and Flemish bond. This style would evolve to include projecting center pavilions, Palladian windows, balustraded roof decks, and two-story porticoes. By 1740, homes, warehouses, stores, workshops, and taverns began to dot Norfolk's streets.

Norfolk was burnt down during the Revolutionary War. After the American revolution, Norfolk was rebuilt using homes with federal style architecture which was based on Roman ideals. Chester TownshipJPG|thumb|right|A federal style colonial home in Chester Township New Jersey]] Federal-style architecture occurred in the United States between 1780 Federal style homes kept the Georgian style symmetry, though had more refined decorations to look more like new world homes. Federal homes had features such as narrow sidelights with an embracing fanlight around the doorway, giant porticoes, gable or flat roofs, and projecting bays on exterior walls. A fanlight is a window semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape with Glazing bars or Tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over Rooms are oval, elliptical or octagonal. Few of these federal row houses remain standing today. Still, a majority of buildings were made of wood and had simple construction.

In the early 1800s, Greek architectural elements began to appear in the federal style row homes, such as iconic columns in the porticoes and classic motifs over doorways and windows. Many old federal style row houses were modernized by placing a Greek style porch to the front. Greek and Roman elements were integrated into public buildings such as the old City Hall, the old Norfolk Academy, and the Customs House. Greek style homes gave way to a Gothic revival in the 1830s, which had emphasis on pointed arches, steep gable roofs, towers and tracer led windows. The Freemason Baptist Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church are examples of this Gothic revival. Italianate elements emerged in the 1840s including cupolas, verandas, ornamental brickwork, or corner quoins. Norfolk still had simple wooden structures amongst its more ornate buildings. High rise buildings began to emerge in the late 1800s as structures such as the current Commodore Maury Hotel and the Royster Building emerged to form the initial Norfolk skyline. Revivals of past styles took place over the first years of the 20th century. Bungalows and apartment buildings became popular for individuals living in the City. As the Great Depression wore on, Art Deco emerged as a popular building style, as evidenced by the Post Office building downtown. Art Deco was a popular international design movement from 1925 until 1939 affecting the decorative arts such as Architecture, Interior design, and Industrial Art Deco consisted of streamlined concrete faced appearance with smooth stone or metal, with terra cotta, and trimming consisting of glass and colored tiles. Art Deco was a popular international design movement from 1925 until 1939 affecting the decorative arts such as Architecture, Interior design, and Industrial

Notable Buildings

• Scope, designed by Pier Luigi Nervi
• MacArthur Memorial, final resting place of Douglas MacArthur
• The Norfolk Academy, original building, modeled after the Parthenon
• The Customs House

Neighborhoods

See also: List of Neighborhoods in Norfolk

Norfolk has a variety of historic neighborhoods, some with a unique style to the City. The Norfolk Scope is a 12600-seat multipurpose Arena at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk Virginia, designed by renowned Italian architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi ( June 21, 1891 - January 9, 1979) was an Italian Engineer and Architect. General MacArthur redirects here for other meanings see General MacArthur (disambiguation. The Parthenon ( Ancient Greek:) is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, built in the 5th century BC on the Athenian Acropolis Norfolk has many neighborhoods of historic nature including Algonquin Park Ballentine Berkley Some neighborhoods, such as Berkley of which were formerly cities and towns themselves. Berkley was an Incorporated town in Norfolk County Virginia. It was located directly across the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River from the City Others, such as Willoughby Spit and Ocean View have a long history tied to the Chesapeake Bay. Willoughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the Independent city of Norfolk Virginia in the United States. Ocean View Virginia is a community in the Independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. Today, neighborhoods such as Downtown and Ghent have transformed with the revitalization that the city has undergone. Http//i196photobucketcom/albums/aa306/shane012photo/NorfolkjpgAs the traditional center of Shipping and Port activities in the Hampton Roads region The Ghent District includes the various Ghent neighborhoods (Ghent West Ghent East Ghent in

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	2,959		—
1850	14,326		—
1900	46,624		—
1920	115,777		—
1930	129,710		12. 0%
1940	144,335		11. 3%
1950	213,513		47. 9%
1960	305,872		43. 3%
1970	307,951		0. 7%
1980	266,979		-13. 3%
1990	261,229		-2. 2%
2000	234,403		-10. 3%
Est. 2003	241,727	[30]	3. 1%
Population 1790 - 1990[31]

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 234,403 people, 86,210 households, and 51,898 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 4,362. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8 people per square mile (1,684. 4/km²). There were 94,416 housing units at an average density of 1,757. 3/sq mi (678. 5/km²). 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. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 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. This is visible on a population distribution pyramid (above, left) and can be explained by the fact that as a Naval base, Norfolk has a large contingent of soldiers and sailors within its population, two groups normally made up of young 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. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 15. 5% of families and 19. 4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 9% of those under age 18 and 13. 2% of those age 65 or over.

Norfolk has the second largest population of Naval retirees in the U. S. after San Diego. ^[32] Historically, Norfolk reached its peak United States Census Bureau population count at 307,951 in April 1970. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census

Economy

Main article: Economy of Norfolk, Virginia

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. 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 Ship history 1970s Kennedy' s maiden voyage and several of her subsequent voyages were on deployments to the Mediterranean during much of the 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. ^[33] 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. Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, 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. Sewell's Point is a Peninsula of land in the Independent city of Norfolk Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM of the United States Navy is the part of the Navy responsible for operations in and around the Atlantic Ocean. The US Second Fleet is one of six numbered fleets in the United States Navy. The base also serves as the headquarters to the Allied Command Transformation (NATO) and the United States Joint Forces Command. Allied Command Transformation (ACT is a military command, which was originally formed in 1952 as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The North Atlantic Treaty United States Joint Forces Command ( USJFCOM) is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military. ^[34]

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 or the Hampton Roads area include: Northrop Grumman Newport News in Newport News, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Metro Machine Corporation, and Colonna's Shipyard Inc. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding ( NGS) formerly called Northrop Grumman Newport News ( NGNN) or Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company BAE Systems Ship Repair of Norfolk Virginia is a major non-nuclear ship repair business in the United States formerly known as United States Marine Repair. , while the US Navy's Norfolk Naval Shipyard is just across the Downtown Tunnel in Portsmouth. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY is a U The Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area Portsmouth is an Independent city located in the US Commonwealth of Virginia. Most contracts fulfilled by these shipyards are issued by the Navy, though some private commercial repair also takes place. 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. ^[35]

After the military, the second 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. The Virginia Port Authority (VPA is an autonomous agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia that owns the Port of Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state In Norfolk, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) represents one of those three facilities and is home to the world's largest and fastest container cranes. The Virginia Port Authority (VPA is an autonomous agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia that owns the Port of Virginia ^[36] Together, the three terminals of the VPA handled a total of over 2 million TEUs and 475,000 tons of breakbulk cargo in 2006, making it the second busiest port on the east coast of North America by total cargo volume after the Port of New York and New Jersey. Containerization (or containerisation) is a system of Intermodal freight transport Cargo Transport using standard ISO containers ^[37]

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. ^[38] Bituminous coal is primarily sourced from the Appalachian mountains in western Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Bituminous coal is a relatively soft Coal containing a tarlike substance called Bitumen. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. 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.

Between 1925 and 2007, Ford operated Norfolk Assembly, a manufacturing plant located on the Elizabeth River that had produced the Model T, sedans and station wagons before building F-150s. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Norfolk Assembly was a manufacturing plant operated by Ford beginning April 20 1925 and most recently producing the Ford F150 truck ^[39] Before it closed, the plant employed more than 2,600 people at the 2,800,000-square-foot (260,000 m²) facility. ^[39][39]

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. A business park or business estate is an area of land in which many Office buildings are grouped together The French firm CMA CGM, the Israeli firm Zim Integrated Shipping Services, and Maersk Line Limited, a subsidiary of the world's largest shipping line, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, have their North American headquarters in Norfolk. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. CMA CGM SA is a French container transportation and shipping company headed by Mr The A P Moller-Maersk Group ( AP Møller-Mærsk Gruppen) is an international Business conglomerate more commonly known simply as Maersk. ^[40][41][42] Major companies headquartered in Norfolk include Norfolk Southern,^[43] Landmark Communications,^[44] Dominion Enterprises,^[45] FHC Health Systems (parent company of ValueOptions),^[46] Portfolio Recovery Associates,^[47] and BlackHawk Products Group. This article is about the present railroad formed in 1990 For the former regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina a small part of the new one see Norfolk Southern Landmark Communications is a Privately held media company headquartered in Norfolk Virginia and specializing in Cable television, Dominion Enterprises is a Norfolk VA based media and information services company for real estate apartment automotive specialty vehicle employment and travel industries ValueOptions, Inc is the largest privately-owned behavioral Health maintenance organization (BHMO in the United States. ^[48]

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. Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia Nauticus is a maritime-themed science center and Museum located in Norfolk Virginia. 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. ^[49] 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. ^[50]

Culture

Main article: Culture in Norfolk, Virginia

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. Arts The Chrysler Museum of Art, located in the Ghent District, is the region's foremost art museum and is considered by The New York Times to be Northern Virginia (colloquially referred to as "NOVA" or "NoVA" consists of several The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive People who have grown up in the Hampton Roads area have a unique Tidewater accent which sounds different than a stereotypical Southern accent. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. Tidewater Accent is an American English Accent and is also a Dialect. Southern American English is a group of Dialects of the English language spoken throughout the Southern region of the United States, from Southern Vowels have a longer pronunciation than in a regular southern accent. For example, "house" is pronounced "hoose" in the Tidewater accent. ^[51]

Norfolk has a history of racial conflict dating back to its colonial days. Past conflicts have contributed to racial tensions within the highly diversified city that have been slow to heal. Those tensions still occasionally arise as school fights or neighborhood protests. Nevertheless, racial tensions have been slowly subsiding over time, especially as younger generations who have come up in legal freedom have reached adulthood and started families of their own. ^[52]

Norfolk remains the region's cultural heart. In addition to having several outstanding museums, it is the principal home for several major performing arts companies. Norfolk also plays host to numerous yearly festivals and parades, mostly at Town Pointe Park in downtown.

The Chrysler Museum of Art, located in the Ghent District, is the region's foremost art museum and is considered by the New York Times to be the finest in the state. The Chrysler Museum of Art is an Art museum in the Ghent district of Norfolk Virginia. The Arrondissement of Ghent (Arrondissement Gent Arrondissement de Gand is the largest of the six administrative arrondissements in the Province of East ^[53] Of particular note is the extensive glass collection and American neoclassical marble sculptures. Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and

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. Nauticus is a maritime-themed science center and Museum located in Norfolk Virginia. It is also noted for being the home to the battleship USS Wisconsin, the last battleship to be built in the United States. Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Wisconsin was one of the " Fast battleship It briefly served in World War II, and later in the Korean and Gulf wars. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the ^[54] The General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, located in the former Norfolk city hall rotunda in downtown, 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. General MacArthur redirects here for other meanings see General MacArthur (disambiguation. ^[55]

The Hermitage Foundation Museum, located in an early 20th century Tudor style home on a twelve-acre estate fronting the Lafayette River, features an eclectic collection of Asian and Western art, including Chinese bronze and ceramics, Persian rugs, and ivory carvings. The Tudor style in architecture is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period (1485&ndash1603 and even beyond for conservative college The Lafayette River is a short Tidal estuary which empties into the Elizabeth River just south of Sewell's Point near its mouth at Hampton Roads ^[56]

Norfolk has a variety of performing groups with regular seasons. The Virginia Opera, the Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was founded in 1974. Virginia Opera is an Opera company based in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its current artistic director is Peter Mark. Though performances are statewide, the company's principal venue is the Harrison Opera House in the Ghent District. The Edythe C and Stanley L Harrison Opera House, also known as the Harrison Opera House, is the official home of the Virginia Opera in the Ghent district The Arrondissement of Ghent (Arrondissement Gent Arrondissement de Gand is the largest of the six administrative arrondissements in the Province of East ^[57] The Virginia Stage Company, founded in 1968, is one of the country's leading regional theaters and produces a full season of plays in the Wells Theatre downtown. The Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in downtown Norfolk Virginia. The Company shares facilities with the Governor's School for the Arts. Founded in 1987 The Governor's School for the Arts is one of 18 magnet Governor's Schools in Virginia. ^[58] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1920 and directed by JoAnn Falletta, has been a regular staple on the regional fine arts scene. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is an American regional Orchestra in Hampton Roads, Virginia. JoAnn Falletta (born February 27, 1954, in Queens New York City) is an American classical Musician and Orchestral Most performances take place at Chrysler Hall in downtown. Chrysler Hall is a performing arts venue in Norfolk Virginia. The orchestra also provides musicians for many other performing arts organizations in the area. ^[59] Large scale concerts are held at either Norfolk Scope or the Ted Constant Convocation Center while The Norva provides a more intimate atmosphere for smaller groups. The Norfolk Scope is a 12600-seat multipurpose Arena at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk Virginia, designed by renowned Italian architect/engineer Ted Constant Convocation Center is a 9520-seat (219330 square feet multi-purpose Arena in Norfolk Virginia, located on the campus of Old Dominion University The NorVA is a performing theatre located in Norfolk Virginia, with a maximum occupancy of 1500 Norfolk has a number smaller, facilities including the Attucks Theatre, Naro Expanded Cinema, Jeanne and George Roper PAC (formerly Loew's State Theater), and the Riverview Theatre. The Attucks Theatre, located in Norfolk Virginia, USA, was financed designed and constructed by African American entrepreneurs in 1919 The Free Reign Theatre provides independent theatre.

The revitalization of downtown Norfolk has helped to improve 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 the Granby Theater, which formerly hosted plays but now is a restaurant and club. Not far away, the Waterside Festival Marketplace has also continued to be successful as a nightclub and bar venue. The Waterside, a Festival marketplace on the Elizabeth River in downtown Norfolk Virginia, opened June 1 1983 ^[60]

Sports

Main article: Sports in Norfolk, Virginia

From 1970 to 1976, 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). Club Sport The Norfolk Scope is a 12600-seat multipurpose Arena at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk Virginia, designed by renowned Italian architect/engineer Hampton is an Independent city in Virginia, and therefore not part of any Virginia county This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. For the metropolitan area see Roanoke Metropolitan Area. Roanoke is an Independent city located in the Roanoke Metropolitan Area in The Virginia Squires was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from 1967 through 1976 The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National From 1970 to 1971, the Squires played their Norfolk home games at the Old Dominion University Fieldhouse. Old Dominion University Fieldhouse was a 5200 seat multi-purpose Arena in Norfolk Virginia. 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. The Norfolk Scope is a 12600-seat multipurpose Arena at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk Virginia, designed by renowned Italian architect/engineer ^[61]

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. Chrysler Hall is a performing arts venue in Norfolk Virginia. The Norfolk Scope is a 12600-seat multipurpose Arena at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk Virginia, designed by renowned Italian architect/engineer Norfolk Scope has served as a venue of major events including the American Basketball Association's All-Star Game in 1974, ^[62] and the first and second NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships (also known as the Women's Final Four) in 1982 and 1983. The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual Basketball tournament for women ^[63][64]

Currently, Norfolk serves as home to two professional franchises, the Norfolk Tides of the International League and the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. The Norfolk Tides are a Minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. The International League ( IL) is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary On the collegiate level, the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Norfolk State University Spartans provide many sports including football (coming to Old Dominion in 2009), basketball, and baseball. Old Dominion University (ODU is a large public Research university located in historic Norfolk Virginia. Norfolk State University (NSU is a four-year state-supported coed liberal arts historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. Virginia Wesleyan College also provides sports at the NCAA Division III level. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist Liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia offering a Bachelor ^{[65][66][67][68][69]}

Parks and Recreation

Town Pointe Park in downtown plays host to a wide variety of annual events from early spring through late fall. Harborfest, the region's largest annual festival, celebrated its 30th year in 2006. It 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 three-day festival. ^[70] Bayoo Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival, a celebration of the Cajun people and culture, had small beginnings. Cajuns ('keʒən les Cadiens are an Ethnic group mainly living in Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles and peoples of other This three-day festival during the third week of June has become one of the largest in the region and, in addition to serving up Cajun cuisine, also features Cajun music. See also [[Cajun]] Cajun cuisine (in French Cuisine cadienne) originates from the French-speaking Acadian or "Cajun" immigrants deported ^[70] Norfolk's Fourth of July celebration of American independence, contains a spectacular fireworks display and a special Navy reenlistment ceremony. In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July (or the Fourth) is a Federal holiday commemorating the adoption ^[70] The Norfolk Jazz Festival, though smaller by comparison to some of the big city jazz festivals, still manages to attract the country's top jazz performers. It is held in August. ^[70] The Town Pointe Virginia Wine Festival has become a showcase for Virginia-produced wines and has enjoyed increasing success over the years. Virginia's burgeoning wine industry has become noted both within the United States and on an international level. The festival has grown with the industry. Wines can be sampled and then purchased by the bottle and/or case directly from the winery kiosks. This event takes place during the third weekend of October. There is also a Spring Wine Festival held during the second weekend of May. ^[70] The St. Patrick's Day annual parade in the city's Ocean View neighborhood, celebrates Ocean View's rich Irish heritage. Saint Patrick's Day (Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig) colloquially St ^[71]

Norfolk has a variety of parks and open spaces in its city parks system. The city maintains three beaches on its north shore in the Ocean View area. Ocean View Virginia is a community in the Independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. Five additional parks contain picnic facilities and playgrounds for children. The city also has some community pools open to city citizens. ^[72] The Norfolk Botanical Garden, opened in 1939, is a 155-acre (0. The Norfolk Botanical Garden (155 acres is a Botanical garden with Arboretum located at 6700 Azalea Garden Road Norfolk Virginia. 6 km²) botanical garden and arboretum located near the Norfolk International Airport. Botanical gardens grow a wide variety of Plants primarily to categorize and document for scientific purposes An arboretum is a collection of trees Related collections include a fruticetum (from the Latin frutex, meaning shrub and a viticetum a collection of vines It is open year round. ^[73] The Virginia Zoological Park, opened in 1900, is a 65 acre zoo with hundreds of animals on display, including the critically endangered Siberian Tiger and threatened White Rhino. Virginia Zoological Park is a Zoo located in Norfolk Virginia, USA. A zoological garden, shortened to zoo, is an institution in which living animals are exhibited in captivity The Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) also known as the Amur tiger, Manchurian tiger, or Ussuri tiger, is a rare Subspecies The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum) is one of the five species of Rhinoceros that still exist and is one of the few ^[74] The city is also known for its "Mermaids on Parade," a public art program launched in 2002 to place mermaid statues all over the City. Tourists can take a walking tour of downtown and locate 17 mermaids while others can be found further afield. ^[75]

Government

Norfolk is an independent city with services that both counties and cities in Virginia provide, such as a sheriff, social services, and a court system. An independent city is a City that does not form part of another general-purpose Local government entity SHERIFF is a telecom fraud detection and management system originally developed by BT and MCI. Norfolk operates under a council-manager form of government.

Norfolk city government consists of a city council with representatives from seven districts serving in a legislative and oversight capacity, as well as a popularly elected, at-large mayor. A city council is a form of Local government, usually covering a City or other Urban area, such as a Town. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government The city manager serves as head of the executive branch and supervises all City departments and executing policies adopted by the Council. A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a City, in a council-manager form of city government In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Citizens in each of the six wards elect one council representative each to serve a four-year term. An additional council member is elected from a city wide "Superward 7. " The city council meets at City Hall weekly^[76] and, as of September, 2007, consists of: Mayor Paul D. Fraim; Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, Ward 3; Daun S. Hester, Superward 7; Paul R. Riddick, Ward 4; Dr. Theresa W. Whibley, Ward 2; Donald L. Williams, Ward 1; Barclay C. Winn, Ward 6; W. Randy Wright, Ward 5. ^[76]

City government has infrastructure to create close working relationships with its citizens. Norfolk's city government provides services for neighborhoods, including service centers and civic leagues that interact directly with members of City Council. Such services include preserving area histories, home rehabilitation centers, outreach programs, and a university that trains citizens in neighborhood clean-up, event planning, neighborhood leadership, and financial planning. ^[77] Norfolk's police department also provides support for neighborhood watch programs including a citizens' training academy, security design, a police athletic program for youth, and business watch programs. ^[78]

Norfolk also has a federal courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse in Norfolk has four judges, four magistrate judges, and two bankruptcy judges. ^[79] Additionally, Norfolk has its own General District and Circuit Courts which convene downtown. ^[80]

Norfolk is located in the Virginia's 2nd congressional district, served by U. Virginia's second congressional district is a US congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. S. Representative Thelma Drake and in the Virginia's 3rd congressional district, served by U. Thelma D Drake (born November 20 1949 in Elyria Ohio) is a member of the Republican party from the state of Virginia. Virginia's third congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. S. Representative Robert C. Scott. Robert Cortez "Bobby" Scott (born April 30, 1947) is a Democratic Politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia, currently

Education

Main article: Education in Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk City Public Schools, the public school system, comprises 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 34 elementary schools, and 9 special-purpose/preschools. Norfolk Virginia offers many educational opportunities Schools public and private are located all over the city 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". ^[81] 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. For the film of this title see Private School (film. Private schools, or Independent schools are Schools not administered Notable alumni Hunter R Rawlings III, (Class of 1962 American classics scholar 10th president of Cornell University, former president of the Religious schools located in the City include St. Pius X Catholic School, Holy Trinity Parish School, Alliance Christian School, Christ the King School, and Norfolk Christian School. ^[82] The City also hosts the Governor's School for the Arts which holds performances and classes at the Wells Theatre. Founded in 1987 The Governor's School for the Arts is one of 18 magnet Governor's Schools in Virginia. The Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in downtown Norfolk Virginia.

Norfolk is home to three public universities and one private. It also hosts a community college campus in downtown. A community college is a type of Educational institution. The term has different meanings in different countries Old Dominion University, founded as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary in 1930, became an independent institution in 1962 and now offers degrees in 68 undergraduate and 95 (60 masters/35 doctoral) graduate degree programs. Old Dominion University (ODU is a large public Research university located in historic Norfolk Virginia. The College of William and Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, also known as William & Mary or W&M) is a Public university Eastern Virginia Medical School, founded as a community medical school by the surrounding jurisdictions in 1973, is noted for its research into reproductive medicine^[83] and is located in the region's major medical complex in the Ghent District. Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS, in Norfolk, Virginia is a public-private medical school founded by the collective "Seven Cities" of Hampton The Arrondissement of Ghent (Arrondissement Gent Arrondissement de Gand is the largest of the six administrative arrondissements in the Province of East Norfolk State University is the largest majority black university in Virginia and offers degrees in a wide variety of liberal arts^[84]. Norfolk State University (NSU is a four-year state-supported coed liberal arts historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. The term liberal arts refers to a particular type of educational Curriculum broadly defined as a Classical education. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private liberal arts college, and shares its eastern border with the neighboring city of Virginia Beach. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist Liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia offering a Bachelor The term liberal arts refers to a particular type of educational Curriculum broadly defined as a Classical education. ^[85] Tidewater Community College offers two-year degrees and specialized training programs, and is located in downtown. Tidewater Community College is a two-year Higher education institution in South Hampton Roads consisting of multiple campuses in the cities of

Norfolk Public Library, Virginia's first public library, offer ten locations around the city and a bookmobile. The library also has a local history and genealogy room and contains government documents dating back to the 19th century. The libraries offer services such as computer classes, book reviews, tax forms, and online book clubs. ^[86]

Media

Norfolk's daily newspaper is the Virginian-Pilot. The Virginian-Pilot is a daily Newspaper based in Norfolk Virginia and serving southeastern Virginia, Virginia's Eastern Shore Norfolk's alternative weekly papers include the Port Folio Weekly and the New Journal and Guide. Port Folio Weekly is a free weekly Alternative newspaper serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The New Journal and Guide is a regional weekly publication based out of Norfolk Virginia and serves the Hampton Roads area The Hampton Roads Business Journal serves the regional business community with local business news. The Hampton Roads Business Journal is a regional publication serving Norfolk Virginia and the Hampton Roads area ^[87]

Local universities publish their own newspapers: Old Dominion University's Mace and Crown, Norfolk State University's The Spartan Echo, and Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlin Chronicles. Old Dominion University (ODU is a large public Research university located in historic Norfolk Virginia. Norfolk State University (NSU is a four-year state-supported coed liberal arts historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist Liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia offering a Bachelor ^[87] Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area. Hampton Roads Magazine is a regional bi-monthly magazine that serves Norfolk Virginia and the Hampton Roads area Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. ^[88]Norfolk is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. These cater to many different interests, including news, talk radio, and sports, as well as an eclectic mix of musical interests. News is any new information or information on Current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or Word of mouth Talk radio is a Radio format containing discussion about topical issues Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. ^[89]

Norfolk is also served by several television stations. The Hampton Roads designated market area (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U. A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area, DMA or simply market is a region where the Population S. with 712,790 homes (0. 64% of the total U. S. ). ^[90] The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WGNT 27 (CW), WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV), WVBT 43 (FOX), and WPXV 49 (ION Television). WTKR is the CBS affiliate serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, officially known as the Norfolk - Portsmouth - Newport News CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. WAVY-TV is the NBC affiliate serving the Norfolk / Portsmouth / Newport News Virginia television market ( DMA) The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's WVEC-TV is the ABC affiliate for the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which includes Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. WGNT, channel 27 is a CW Television Network -owned and operated station licensed to Portsmouth Virginia, and serving the Portsmouth- Norfolk - Virginia WTVZ-TV is the My Network TV affiliate serving the Norfolk - Portsmouth - Newport News Virginia (or Hampton Roads) television market MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyNet or MNT) is a Television network in the United States, owned by the Fox Broadcasting Company WVBT, channel 43 is the Fox -affiliated Television station for the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia that is licensed WPXV is the ION Television affiliate for Hampton Roads, licensed to Norfolk Virginia. Ion Television is a broadcast television network first broadcast on August 31 1998 The Public Broadcasting Service station is WHRO-TV 15. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the WHRO-TV channel 15 is the PBS member for Hampton Roads, Virginia (the Norfolk &ndash Portsmouth &ndash Newport News television Norfolk residents also can 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. WSKY-TV, which launched in October 2001 is a full-power/full market independent station serving the Norfolk - Portsmouth - Newport News VA television market WGBS-LP is a low-power Television station in Hampton Virginia, broadcasting locally on channel 7 and serving the Greater Hampton Roads area Hampton is an Independent city in Virginia, and therefore not part of any Virginia county

Several major motion pictures have been filmed in and around Norfolk include Rollercoaster (filmed at the former Ocean View Amusement Park), Navy Seals, and Mission Impossible III (partially filmed at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel). Rollercoaster is a summer 1977 disaster-suspense Film directed by James Goldstone. Ocean View Amusement Park was located at the end of Granby Street at Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk Virginia. Navy SEALs is a 1990 film directed by Lewis Teague. The writers were Chuck Pfarrer and Gary Goldman. Mission Impossible III (abbreviated MiIII) is the third 2006 Action film based on the spy-themed television series Mission The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT is a 23-mile (37-km long facility that connects the Delmarva Peninsula with southeastern Virginia in the United States ^[91]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main articles: Transportation in Norfolk and Hampton Roads Transit

Norfolk is linked with its neighbors through an extensive network of arterial and Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes. Norfolk is served by a variety of transportation modes This is the article that explains them Hampton Roads Transit (HRT formed in October 1999 by the merging of PENTRAN ( Peninsula Transportation District Commission) on the Virginia Peninsula and The Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate System) A bridge is a Structure built to span a Gorge, Valley, Road, railroad track, River, Body of water A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon The major east-west routes are Interstate 64, U.S. Route 58 (Virginia Beach Boulevard) and U.S. Route 60 (Ocean View Avenue). Interstate 64 in Virginia runs west to east through the middle of the state from West Virginia to the Hampton Roads region a total of 298 miles US Route 58 is an east-west US Highway that runs for 508 miles (818 km from U Virginia Beach Boulevard is a major connector highway which carries U US Route 60 in Virginia runs 312 miles west to east through the central part of the state generally close to and paralleling the Interstate 64 corridor The major north-south routes are U.S. Route 13 and U.S. Route 460, also known as Granby Street. US Route 13 in Virginia runs north-south through the Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore regions of the state using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel US Route 460 in Virginia runs east-west through the southern part of the state A street in Norfolk Virginia. This street is the historic commercial corridor of Norfolk and also the community heart of the city has been undergoing major redevelopment for the past Other main roadways in Norfolk include Newtown Road, Waterside Drive, Tidewater Drive, and Military Highway. State Route 403 is a primary State highway in Norfolk Virginia, United States. State Route 337 ( SR 337, also called Virginia Route 337, VA 337, or simply Route 337) is a primary State highway in the South State Route 168 is a primary State highway in the South Hampton Roads region of the U Military Highway is a four-lane roadway built in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia, USA during World War II. The Hampton Roads Beltway (I-64 and its spurs I-264, I-464, and I-664) makes a loop around Norfolk.

Norfolk is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF), now the region's major commercial airport. Norfolk International Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the Central business district of Norfolk, a city An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits straddling neighboring Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in ^[92] Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty five destinations. ORF had 3,703,664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities. ^[93] Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also provides commercial air service for the Hampton Roads area. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is an airport located 9 mi (14 km northwest of downtown Newport News Virginia, and serves the entire Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. ^[94] The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles (8 km) outside the city limits. Chesapeake Regional Airport is a double runway airport located near Chesapeake Virginia, serving the entire Hampton Roads area

Norfolk is served by Amtrak through the Newport News station, via connecting buses. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Newport News is an Independent city in Virginia. It is at the south-western end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River The line runs west along the Virginia Peninsula to Richmond and points beyond. The Virginia Peninsula is a Peninsula in southeast Virginia, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. A high speed rail connection at Richmond to both the Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor are also under study. The Northeast Corridor ( NEC) is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States by ridership and service frequency Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor ( SEHSR) is a passenger rail transportation project in the United States to extend high speed passenger rail services from ^[95]

Greyhound provides service from a central bus terminal in downtown Norfolk. Bus services to New York City via the Chinatown bus, Today's Bus, is located on Newtown road. The City of New York ^[96]

In April 2007, construction of the new $36 million Half Moone Cruise Terminal was completed 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. ^[97]

The Intracoastal Waterway passes through Norfolk. The Intracoastal Waterway is a 4800-km (3000-mile Waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Norfolk also has extensive frontage and port facilities on the navigable portions of the Western and Southern branches of the Elizabeth River. The Elizabeth River is a short Tidal estuary forming an arm of Hampton Roads at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the

A transit bus system and paratransit service are provided by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), a regional public transport system headquartered in Hampton. Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules Hampton Roads Transit (HRT formed in October 1999 by the merging of PENTRAN ( Peninsula Transportation District Commission) on the Virginia Peninsula and HRT buses operate throughout Norfolk and South Hampton Roads and onto the Peninsula all the way up to Williamsburg. Other routes travel to Smithfield, Virginia. Smithfield is the name of several places In the UK Smithfield Cumbria Smithfield London (sometimes referred to as West Smithfield HRT offers a ferry service from downtown Norfolk to Old Town Portsmouth. ^[98] 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. Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, ^[99] A light rail service has recently begun construction with operations beginning in 2010. The Tide is the Light rail service under construction in Norfolk, Virginia, United States that is set to begin service in 2010 ^[100] 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. The Tide is the Light rail service under construction in Norfolk, Virginia, United States that is set to begin service in 2010 Norfolk State University (NSU is a four-year state-supported coed liberal arts historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. Harbor Park is a Stadium along the Elizabeth River, in downtown Norfolk Virginia, USA For the similarly named hospital in Simcoe Ontario see Norfolk General Hospital. ^[101]

Utilities

Water and sewer services are provided by the City's Department of Utilities. Norfolk receives its electricity from Dominion Virginia Power which has local sources including the Chesapeake Energy Center (a gas power plant), coal-fired plants in Chesapeake and Southampton County, and the Surry Nuclear Power Plant. Dominion Virginia Power is a power company primarily located in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Chesapeake is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads portion of the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the Southampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Norfolk headquartered Virginia Natural Gas, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, distributes natural gas to the City from storage plants in James City County and Chesapeake. AGL Resources Inc is a Fortune 1000, Forbes 2000 energy services holding company AGL Resources Inc is a Fortune 1000, Forbes 2000 energy services holding company Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, James City County (formally the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region of the Chesapeake is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads portion of the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the

Norfolk's water quality has been recognized as the fourth best in the United States by Men's Health Magazine. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Men's Health ( MH) published by Rodale Inc in Emmaus Pennsylvania, United States, is the world’s largest men’s ^[102] The City of Norfolk owns nine reservoirs: Lake Whitehurst, Little Creek Reservoir, Lake Lawson, Lake Smith, Lake Wright, Lake Burnt Mills, Western Branch Reservoir, Lake Prince and Lake Taylor. ^[103] The Virginia tidewater area has grown faster than the local freshwater supply. The river water has always been salty, and the fresh groundwater is no longer available in most areas. Currently, water for the tidewater area is pumped from Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia-North Carolina borderm along with the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers. Lake Gaston is a manmade reservoir located in the US states of North Carolina and Virginia. The pipeline is 76 miles (122 km) long and 60 inches (1,500 mm) in diameter. Much of its follows the former right-of-way of an abandoned portion of the Virginian Railway. A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted – through an Easement or other mechanism – for Transportation purposes such as for a Rail line or The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. ^[104] It is capable of pumping 60 million gallons of water per day(60MGD), Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are partners in the project. ^[105]

The City provides wastewater services for residents and transports wastewater to the regional Hampton Roads Sanitation District treatment plants. ^[102]

Healthcare

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. ^[106]

Norfolk is home to Eastern Virginia Medical School, which is known for its specialists in diabetes, dermatology, and obstetrics. Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS, in Norfolk, Virginia is a public-private medical school founded by the collective "Seven Cities" of Hampton Diabetes mellitus (ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz or /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtəs/ /məˈlaɪtəs/ or /ˈmɛlətəs/ often referred to simply as diabetes ( Ancient Greek: grc It achieved international fame on March 1, 1980, when Drs. Georgianna and Howard Jones opened the first in vitro fertilization clinic in the U. In vitro fertilisation ( IVF) is a process by which S. at EVMS. The country's first in vitro test-tube baby was born there in December of 1981. In vitro fertilisation ( IVF) is a process by which ^[107]

The international headquarters of Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that specializes in repairing facial deformities in underprivileged children from around the globe, is also based in the city. Operation Smile is a not-for-profit medical service organization based in Norfolk, Virginia (USA founded in 1982 ^[108]

Sister Cities

Norfolk has six sister cities:^[109]

• 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

External links

• City of Norfolk
• Norfolk Sheriff's Office
• Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (serving Norfolk)
• Norfolk Convention and Visitor's Bureau
• Norfolk Historical Society
• Downtown Norfolk Council
• Cosmopolitan Makeover for a Tidewater Backwater - New York Times
• Norfolk Highlights 1584 - 1881 by George Holbert Tucker

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