Portsmouth, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Interactive map of Portsmouth | |
  Portsmouth  Portsmouth | |
| Coordinates:36°50′04″N76°20′30″W / 36.83444°N 76.34167°W /36.83444; -76.34167 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | None (Independent city) |
| Founded | 1752 |
| Named after | Portsmouth, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council–manager[1] |
| • Mayor | Shannon Glover |
| Area | |
• Total | 46.68 sq mi (120.91 km2) |
| • Land | 33.30 sq mi (86.25 km2) |
| • Water | 13.38 sq mi (34.66 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 97,840 |
| • Rank | 9th in Virginia |
| • Density | 2,940.39/sq mi (1,135.29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 23701-23709 |
| Area codes | 757, 948 |
| FIPS code | 51-64000[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1497102[4] |
| Website | www.portsmouthva.gov |
Portsmouth is anindependent city in southeasternVirginia, United States. It lies across theElizabeth River fromNorfolk. As of the2020 census, the population was 97,915.[5] It is theninth-most populous city in Virginia and is part of theHampton Roads metropolitan area. Due to its strategic location, the city has long been associated with theUnited States Armed Forces, particularly theNavy. TheNorfolk Naval Shipyard is a historic and active Navy facility located in Portsmouth.
In 1620, the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as a suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood, a shipbuilder, who petitioned KingJames I of England for a land grant. The surrounding area was soon settled as aplantation community.[6]
Portsmouth was founded byColonel William Crawford, a member of theVirginia House of Burgesses.[7] It was established as a town in 1752 by an act of theVirginia General Assembly and was named forPortsmouth, England.[6]
In 1767,Andrew Sprowle, ashipbuilder, founded the Gosport Shipyard adjacent to Portsmouth. The Gosport Shipyard at Portsmouth was owned by theCommonwealth of Virginia after theAmerican Revolutionary War and was sold to the new United States federal government.[citation needed] In 1779, Portsmouth was sacked by British forces during the Revolutionary War.[8]
Following the Revolutionary War, George Washington invitedMarquis de Lafayette to visit the United States. Lafayette accepted, and was celebrated with parades and balls all around the country.[9] In October 1824,Lafayette visited the town, stopping to have tea atHill House.[10][9] In 1836, the town of Portsmouth was incorporated.[11]
In 1855, the Portsmouth and Norfolk area suffered an epidemic ofyellow fever which killed 1 of every three citizens.[13] On June 6, 1855, theBenjamin Franklin vessel arrived in Hampton Roads for repairs.[13] The ship had just sailed from theWest Indies, where there had been an outbreak ofyellow fever.[13] The port health officer ordered the ship quarantined. After twelve days, a second inspection found no issues, so it was allowed to dock at the Gosport Shipyard in Portsmouth.[13] Workers from the shipyard began to fall ill, and it was later discovered that the ship's captain had concealed sailors who were suffering from the disease.[13] Some of the workers from the shipyard lived in Norfolk, and returned home by taking the ferry across the Elizabeth River, taking the yellow fever with them.[13] The poor and immigrants were the first to fall ill.[13] At the time, no one understood how the disease was transmitted, though it was later determined to have spread via mosquitoes and poor sanitation.[13] This lack of understanding led to widespread panic, and about one-third of Portsmouth's 10,000 residents fled the region in the hopes of escaping the epidemic.[13][14] New York banned all persons and vessels from the region, since both Norfolk and Portsmouth were infected.[13][14] Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Richmond, Petersburg, and Suffolk also banned persons from the region.[14]Mathews County and theEastern Shore remained open to those fleeing the illness.[14] The Gosport Navy Yard remained open, but more than 1,000 shipyard workers left.[14] By the end of August, only 3,000 residents remained in Portsmouth.[14] The number of infected reached 5,000 in September, and by the second week of September, a combined 1,500 had died in Norfolk and Portsmouth.[13][14] As fall arrived and the weather cooled, the outbreak began to wane, leaving a final tally of about 3,200 dead in the region.[14]
The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1857. During the 19th century, the church was part of theUnderground Railroad.Freedom seekers from Virginia and otherslave states used the church as a hiding place and refuge on their way to theabolitionist Northern United States.[15][16] Individuals would hide in the basement, attic, and behind the organ until moving on to the next location.[16]
In 1858, Portsmouth became anindependent city, but it remained the seat ofNorfolk County.[12]
During theAmerican Civil War, in 1861, Virginia joined theConfederate States of America. Fearing that the Confederacy would take control of the shipyard at Portsmouth, the shipyard commander ordered the burning of the shipyard. The Confederate forces did in fact take over the shipyard and did so without armed conflict through an elaborateruse orchestrated by civilianrailroad builderWilliam Mahone (soon to become a famous Confederate officer). TheUnion forces withdrew toFort Monroe across Hampton Roads, which was the only land in the area which remained under Union control.[citation needed]
In early 1862, the Confederateironclad warshipCSSVirginia was rebuilt using the burned-out hulk ofUSSMerrimack.Virginia engaged theUnion ironcladUSSMonitor in the famousBattle of Hampton Roads during the Union blockade ofHampton Roads. The Confederates burned the shipyard again when they left in May 1862.[citation needed]
Following the recapture of Norfolk and Portsmouth by the Union forces, the name of the shipyard was changed toNorfolk Naval Shipyard. The name of the shipyard was derived from its location inNorfolk County. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard today is located entirely within the city limits of Portsmouth, Virginia. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard name has been retained to minimize any confusion with thePortsmouth Naval Shipyard, which itself is actually located inKittery, Maine, across thePiscataqua River fromPortsmouth, New Hampshire.[citation needed]
By 1870, the population of the city was 10,590.
In 1894, the city annexed portions of Norfolk County North of the city.[17]
In 1909, the city annexed additional areas west of the city that were previously part of Norfolk County.[17] By 1910, due to the annexation and the city's growth, the population had increased to 33,190.
The Key Road School, the first school for Black children in the area, was founded in 1921 byJulius Rosenwald andBooker T. Washington.[18] The school was open to students from first through seventh grade. In 1926, the school moved to a new building, with funding coming from the Black community, the Rosenwald Fund, and Norfolk County.[19] The school closed in 1965.[19] After the school ceased operations, the I.C. Norcom School Boosters briefly used the building as its headquarters.[19] In 1971, the Olympian Sports Club, which sponsors Black youth athletics, began using the building.[18] In 2017, the city sought to condem and raze the former school building, but the African-American Historic Society of Portsmouth fought for the building to receive historic designation, and the building was preserved.[19] It is marked with a Virginia Historical Highway Marker.[19]
During and afterWorld War II, the shipyard flourished, and suburban development surrounded both Norfolk and Portsmouth. ThePortsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum was established in 1949.[20] In 1948, Portsmouth annexed additional areas from the county, expanding the city boundary westward to the Western Branch area.[17] In 1960, Portsmouth annexed an additional ten square miles of Norfolk County, increasing the population by 36,000 residents. The total population in 1960 was 114,773.[17] Portsmouth continued as thecounty seat ofNorfolk County until 1963 when the newcity of Chesapeake was formed in a political consolidation with thecity of South Norfolk. In 1968, Portsmouth again annexed parts of Norfolk County, including ten square miles of land, 14 square miles of water area, and 11,000 residents.[17] The newly annexed parts were all within the northern third of the Western Branch Borough.[17] Portsmouth's other county neighbor, the formerNansemond County, also consolidated with a smaller city, forming the newcity of Suffolk in 1974.[citation needed]
During the 1998Hurricane Bonnie, the Naval Shipyard provided safe haven for vessels of the Atlantic Fleet that were unable to get underway.[21]
By 2000, the population of Portsmouth was 100,565.[22] As one of the older cities ofHampton Roads, in the early 21st century, Portsmouth was undergoing moderateurban renewal in the downtown.[citation needed]
The APM "MAERSK" marine terminal for container ships opened in 2007 in the West Norfolk section.[citation needed]
By 2010, the population had decreased to 95,535.[23] By 2020, the population had increased slightly for the first time in decades, with 97,915 residents.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, Portsmouth has a total area of 47 square miles (120 km2), of which 34 square miles (88 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (28.0%) is water. The city is in theHampton Roads region of Virginia, and is bisected by theWest Branch of theElizabeth River which flows from neighboringSuffolk.[52] The region is known for itsroadstead and low-lyingcoastal plains. The Hampton Roads region is the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the United States.[53] Several creeks run through the city, including Scott Creek, Owens Creek, Paradise Creek, and Baines Creek, which are tributaries of the Elizabeth River.
The city bordersNorfolk to the east, across the Elizabeth River. The river also runs along part of the city's southern border withChesapeake. Portsmouth shares a border withSuffolk to the west. To the north, the city is bordered by water, where theJames,Nansemond, andElizabeth rivers come together. North of that part of the roadstead are the cities ofNewport News andHampton, which are connected toSouth Hampton Roads by theMonitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel, which connects Newport News and Suffolk. The city is northeast of theGreat Dismal Swamp, with theDismal Swamp Canal nearly reaching Portsmouth. Porstmouth is also located 13 mi (21 km) west ofVirginia Beach, 18 mi (29 km) north of theNorth Carolina border, 79 mi (127 km) southwest ofRichmond, Virginia, and 148 mi (238 km) southwest ofWashington, D.C.
Portsmouth has sixhistoric districts:Cradock,Downtown,Olde Towne,Park View,Port Norfolk, andTruxtun.[54] The historic districts were created to promote and preserve the cultural, education, and economic interests of the ciy.[54] There is a historic rehabilitation tax credit available to citizens who work towards preserving and restoring homes in the neighborhoods.[54]
Cradock Historic District is a residential area that encompasses 759 buildings and 1 structure. Development of the neighborhood began in 1918, with plans for a community of Colonial Revival and Bungalow style single family residences. It was developed by theUnited States Housing Corporation as a result of the rapid influx of workers at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard duringWorld War I. The district was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places and theVirginia Landmarks Register in 1974.[34]
The Downtown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The area is bounded byInterstate 264, Middle Street, Primrose Street, and Queen Street. In contrast to the residential Olde Towne District, Downtown is acentral business district.[55] It is sometimes referred to as the High Street Corridor Historic District.
The Olde Towne Historic District is adjacent to the Downtown District, and features one of the largest collections of historically significant homes betweenAlexandria, Virginia andCharleston, South Carolina.[56] The EmanuelAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church was built by slaves and free men in 1857 and is the second-oldest building in Portsmouth and the city's oldest black church.[57][citation needed] The church was required by law to have a white minister, and did not have its first African-American pastor until Reverend James A. Handy took the position in 1864.[15] In 1871, the congregation affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and became known as the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.[15] The church was part of theUnderground Railroad, used byfreedom seekers to escape to theabolitionist Northern United States.[15][16] In 2022, the church was officially recognized as part of theCivil War Trails Program and the National Park Service'sNetwork to Freedom trail.[16] Olde Towne contains a number of other historic buildings, as well, including thePass House, which was built in 1841 by Judge James Murdaugh and occupied by Union troops from 1862 to 1865. Federal forces required Portsmouth residents to obtain a written pass to travel across the Elizabeth River and beyond. These passes were issued from theEnglish basement and thus the name "Pass House" was derived.[58][59]
Park View Historic District includes 295 buildings in a primarily residential section of northeast Portsmouth. The district was developed in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Architecture in the neighborhood includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and American Foursquare style single family residences. Park View was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[60][61]
Port Norfolk Historic District was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[60] The historic neighbhorhood encompasses 621 buildings and 1 site and was developed between 1890 and 1910. Like Cradock and Park View, Port Norfolk is primarily a residential neighborhood. Architecture in the area includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow, American Craftsman, and American Foursquare style single family residences.[62]
Truxtun Historic District encompasses 241 buildings. The district was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1980[63] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The neighborhood is primarily residential and was developed between 1918 and 1920 as a planned community of Colonial Revival style single family residences. Alongside Cradock, Truxtun was developed by the United States Housing Corporation as a result of the rapid influx of workers at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard during World War I; however, Truxtun was the first wartime government housing project constructed exclusively for African-American residents.[35] In 1921 the Federal Government sold the neighborhood.[64]
Portsmouth experiences ahumid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings. The mean annual temperature is 65 °F (18 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 3 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. No measurable snow fell in 1999. The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. The highest recorded temperature was 105.0 °F in 1980. The lowest recorded temperature was −3.0 °F onJanuary 21, 1985.[65]
Additionally, the geographic location of the city, with respect to the principal storm tracks, is especially favorable, as it is south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes, and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms.[66] Snow falls rarely, averaging 3 inches (76 mm) per season.[67]
Climate data forNorfolk International Airport, Virginia (1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1874–present[b]) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) | 82 (28) | 92 (33) | 97 (36) | 100 (38) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 105 (41) | 100 (38) | 95 (35) | 86 (30) | 82 (28) | 105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 72.4 (22.4) | 74.3 (23.5) | 80.7 (27.1) | 86.9 (30.5) | 91.5 (33.1) | 95.7 (35.4) | 98.4 (36.9) | 95.3 (35.2) | 92.0 (33.3) | 86.0 (30.0) | 78.9 (26.1) | 73.4 (23.0) | 99.3 (37.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 50.7 (10.4) | 53.4 (11.9) | 60.1 (15.6) | 70.0 (21.1) | 77.4 (25.2) | 85.2 (29.6) | 89.4 (31.9) | 86.9 (30.5) | 81.4 (27.4) | 72.3 (22.4) | 62.1 (16.7) | 54.7 (12.6) | 70.3 (21.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.2 (5.7) | 44.2 (6.8) | 50.7 (10.4) | 60.1 (15.6) | 68.3 (20.2) | 76.7 (24.8) | 81.1 (27.3) | 79.2 (26.2) | 74.0 (23.3) | 63.7 (17.6) | 53.3 (11.8) | 46.1 (7.8) | 61.6 (16.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) | 35.1 (1.7) | 41.3 (5.2) | 50.1 (10.1) | 59.1 (15.1) | 68.1 (20.1) | 72.8 (22.7) | 71.6 (22.0) | 66.6 (19.2) | 55.1 (12.8) | 44.4 (6.9) | 37.6 (3.1) | 52.9 (11.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 21.6 (−5.8) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 37.0 (2.8) | 46.9 (8.3) | 56.0 (13.3) | 64.7 (18.2) | 63.7 (17.6) | 55.5 (13.1) | 40.4 (4.7) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 16.8 (−8.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −3 (−19) | 2 (−17) | 14 (−10) | 23 (−5) | 36 (2) | 45 (7) | 54 (12) | 49 (9) | 40 (4) | 27 (−3) | 17 (−8) | 5 (−15) | −3 (−19) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.41 (87) | 2.90 (74) | 3.69 (94) | 3.37 (86) | 3.78 (96) | 4.43 (113) | 6.08 (154) | 5.88 (149) | 5.40 (137) | 3.86 (98) | 3.10 (79) | 3.28 (83) | 49.18 (1,249) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.2 (8.1) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.1 (2.8) | 6.2 (16) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.7 | 9.2 | 10.9 | 10.0 | 11.2 | 9.7 | 10.6 | 10.2 | 9.4 | 7.7 | 8.9 | 9.9 | 118.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 66.3 | 65.6 | 64.6 | 62.8 | 68.8 | 70.6 | 73.3 | 75.2 | 74.4 | 72.1 | 68.5 | 67.0 | 69.1 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 35.8 (2.1) | 43.2 (6.2) | 54.5 (12.5) | 63.1 (17.3) | 68.2 (20.1) | 68.0 (20.0) | 62.4 (16.9) | 51.3 (10.7) | 41.7 (5.4) | 32.7 (0.4) | 48.1 (9.0) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 171.5 | 175.2 | 229.3 | 252.8 | 271.7 | 280.1 | 278.3 | 260.4 | 231.4 | 208.3 | 175.7 | 160.4 | 2,695.1 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 56 | 58 | 62 | 64 | 62 | 64 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 57 | 53 | 61 |
| Averageultraviolet index | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Source 1:NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[65][68][69] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[70] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 6,477 | — | |
| 1850 | 8,626 | 33.2% | |
| 1860 | 9,496 | 10.1% | |
| 1870 | 10,590 | 11.5% | |
| 1880 | 11,390 | 7.6% | |
| 1890 | 13,268 | 16.5% | |
| 1900 | 17,427 | 31.3% | |
| 1910 | 33,190 | 90.5% | |
| 1920 | 54,387 | 63.9% | |
| 1930 | 45,704 | −16.0% | |
| 1940 | 50,745 | 11.0% | |
| 1950 | 80,039 | 57.7% | |
| 1960 | 114,773 | 43.4% | |
| 1970 | 110,963 | −3.3% | |
| 1980 | 104,577 | −5.8% | |
| 1990 | 103,910 | −0.6% | |
| 2000 | 100,565 | −3.2% | |
| 2010 | 95,535 | −5.0% | |
| 2020 | 97,915 | 2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[71] 1790–1960[72] 1900–1990[73] 1990–2000[74] 2010–2013[75] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[22] | Pop 2010[76] | Pop 2020[77] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 45,403 | 38,526 | 34,912 | 45.15% | 40.33% | 35.66% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 50,569 | 50,327 | 51,586 | 50.28% | 52.68% | 52.68% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 449 | 379 | 355 | 0.45% | 0.40% | 0.36% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 762 | 994 | 1,244 | 0.76% | 1.04% | 1.27% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 60 | 104 | 134 | 0.06% | 0.11% | 0.14% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 113 | 118 | 490 | 0.11% | 0.12% | 0.50% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,461 | 2,168 | 4,781 | 1.45% | 2.27% | 4.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,748 | 2,919 | 4,413 | 1.74% | 3.06% | 4.51% |
| Total | 100,565 | 95,535 | 97,915 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 97,915 people living in the city. The census reported the city as 52.7%Black or African American (51,586 people), 35.7%White (34,912), 4.9% two or more races (4,781), 1.3% Asian (1,244), 0.4% Native American or Alaska Native (355), and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (134).[77] Approximately 4.5% wereHispanic or Latino, of any race (4,413).[77] It was the first census since 1960 in which the population of Portsmouth increased. The gender makeup was 52% female.[77] There were 8,612 veterans living in the city, making up approximately 8.7% of the population.[77]
There were 39,678 households, with an average of 2.38 people per household.[77] The census reported that 23.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 15.2% of the population was over the age of 65, and the median age was estimated to be 35.5 years old.[77] The median household income was $58,972, and the per capita income was $32,915, with 17.6% of the population living in poverty.[77] While 89.2% of the people over the age of 25 were high school graduates, only 23.2% of those people had abachelor's degree or higher.[77]
As of the2010 census,[78] there were 95,535 people, 38,170 households, and 25,497 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,032.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,170.9/km2). There were 41,605 housing units at an average density of 1,254.7 units per square mile (484.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 53.3%African American, 41.6%White, 0.4%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.1% of the population.
There were 38,170 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% have a female household with no husband present and 33.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,340, and the median income for a family was $53,769. Males had a median income of $39,871 versus $33,140 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $23,108. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.[79]
Crime in the city is much higher than elsewhere in Virginia or the United States generally.[80] Along withNewport News andNorfolk, Portsmouth typically reports higher numbers of homicides than other cities in theHampton Roads area.[81][82][83] In 2021, Portsmouth reported 35 homicides, its highest number in years.[81] In 2022, Portsmouth police investigated 42 homicides, a record number for the city.[82] The police chief at the time stated that the department estimated only twenty percent of gunshots in the city were reported to the police.[81] The homicide numbers dropped slightly in 2023 and 2024, but as of 2025, Portsmouth ranked highest among the seven Hampton Roads cities for the most homicides.[83]
Portsmouth has a long history as aport town and city. TheOlde Towne Business and Historic District is located adjacent to theDowntown Portsmouth Historic District, where a combination of preservation and redevelopment has been underway. The Hawthorn Hotel & Suites at The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel was renovated and reopened in 2005 after being closed for more than 10 years. It has been recognized byHistoric Hotels of America, a program of theNational Trust for Historic Preservation that identifies hotels that have maintained their historical integrity, architecture and ambiance and provides resources for their preservation.[84] The historic hotel was named forGovernorRobert Dinwiddie, who was the administrative head of theColony of Virginia during the time Portsmouth was founded in 1752. It was largely through his efforts that Virginia survived theFrench and Indian War relatively well.[85]
Other points of interest include the Portsmouth City Park, featuring the2 ft (610 mm)narrow-gauge[citation needed] Portsmouth City Railroad with an operatingChance RidesC.P. Huntington locomotive namedPokey Smokey II. The originalPokey Smokey locomotive was built byCrown Metal Products and ran at the park for many years before being sold at auction. It now runs on the Mideast Railroad in Ederville inCarthage, North Carolina.[86][87]
TheRailroad Museum of Virginia located at Harbor Center Way features vintage railroad artifacts, rolling stock, and an operatingmodel train layout.[88]
TheChildren's Museum of Virginia is located in Portsmouth at 221 High Street. It is the largest children's museum in the state. The museum is busiest in the summer, receiving up to 1,000 visitors per day.[89]
Completed in 2023, theRivers Casino Portsmouth boasts a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) casino floor with slots, table games, poker tables, and a sportsbook.[90] It is the second casino in Virginia and the first casino in Virginia with a permanent facility.[90]
Located at 1 High Street in the Olde Towne Historic District, theSeaboard Coastline Building is a historic train station and former headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line railroad company.[citation needed]
Hill House is a four-story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings. The Hill family were avid collectors and lived graciously over a period of 150 years. The house remains in its original condition, with limited renovation through the years.[citation needed]
Established in 1832,Cedar Grove Cemetery is the oldest city-owned cemetery in Portsmouth. Listed on theNational Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth, Virginia, the cemetery is noted for itsfunerary art and the civic, business, maritime, religious and military leaders who are buried there. Historical markers placed throughout the cemetery allow for self-guided tours. The cemetery is located between Effingham Street and Fort Lane in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Entrance is through the south gate to the cemetery, located on London Boulevard.[citation needed]
In 1895, Portsmouth became home to thePortsmouth Truckers, aminor league professional baseball team. The team played in the Virginia State League. In 1896, the team was renamed the Portsmouth Browns and competed in theVirginia League.[91] In 1900, the team competed in the Virginia League as the Portsmouth Boers.[91] They again competed as the Browns in 1901 in the Virginia-North Carolina League.[91] From 1906 to 1909, the team played once again as the Portsmouth Truckers.[91] In 1911, they competed in the Tidewater League.[91] From 1912 to 1935, the team played in the Virginia League. They were the Portsmouth Pirates in 1912 and 1913, but returned to the mascot Truckers in 1914.[91] In 1920, under managers Jim Barton andJim Viox, the team won the first of multiple league championships. They won their next title the next season, also under Viox's guidance. They won their third and final league championship in 1927, under the leadership ofZinn Beck. In 1935, they were affiliated with theChicago Cubs and began competing in thePiedmont League.[91] Because of the affiliation, they began competing as the Portsmouth Cubs in 1936. The team was affiliated with thePhiladelphia Phillies from 1939 to 1940, but was again affiliated with the Cubs from 1941 to 1947.[92][91] From 1953 until 1955 the team was known as the Portsmouth Merrimacs.[91]
Portsmouth hosted the Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides from 1961 to 1968, who played in the Class A levelSouth Atlantic League from 1961 to 1962 and the Class ACarolina League from 1963 to 1968. The franchise played its last season in Portsmouth when theJacksonville Suns of the Class AAA levelInternational League moved there in 1969. In 1970, the franchise relocated permanently toNorfolk, becoming theTidewater Tides of theInternational League from 1969 to 1992. That team later evolved into today's Class AAANorfolk Tides.[92][93][94][95]
Each April since 1953, the city hosts thePortsmouth Invitational Tournament, wherecollege basketball seniors play in front of scouts from theNBA and top European leagues. Many top basketball stars played in the PIT before successful pro careers, includingJimmy Butler,Scottie Pippen,Dennis Rodman, andJohn Stockton.
The Portsmouth Cavaliers were a basketball team founded in 2010 and played in theAmerican Basketball Association for the 2011–12 season. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Cavaliers played their home games at theChick-fil-A Fieldhouse on the campus of Portsmouth Catholic Regional School. The club spent one season in the American Professional Basketball League (APBL) before folding.[citation needed]
Portsmouth is one of the most consistentlyDemocratic ofall Virginia's cities and counties. It has only voted for aRepublican twice since 1900 (in 1928 and 1972), both of which were national landslides. It has voted for the Democratic candidate by over 60% since 1996, and in 2012Barack Obama reached 70% of the vote for the first time since 1948.[96]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 1,024 | 44.64% | 1,270 | 55.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 1,344 | 50.60% | 1,312 | 49.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 1,107 | 43.07% | 1,439 | 55.99% | 24 | 0.93% |
| 1892 | 1,052 | 37.41% | 1,728 | 61.45% | 32 | 1.14% |
| 1896 | 769 | 34.89% | 1,380 | 62.61% | 55 | 2.50% |
| 1900 | 566 | 24.27% | 1,743 | 74.74% | 23 | 0.99% |
| 1904 | 247 | 17.31% | 1,151 | 80.66% | 29 | 2.03% |
| 1908 | 407 | 25.92% | 1,154 | 73.50% | 9 | 0.57% |
| 1912 | 64 | 3.31% | 1,529 | 79.02% | 342 | 17.67% |
| 1916 | 376 | 20.76% | 1,368 | 75.54% | 67 | 3.70% |
| 1920 | 1,061 | 24.40% | 3,228 | 74.24% | 59 | 1.36% |
| 1924 | 604 | 17.70% | 2,206 | 64.64% | 603 | 17.67% |
| 1928 | 3,474 | 57.32% | 2,587 | 42.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,840 | 34.76% | 3,344 | 63.17% | 110 | 2.08% |
| 1936 | 861 | 13.23% | 5,617 | 86.30% | 31 | 0.48% |
| 1940 | 675 | 11.73% | 5,053 | 87.83% | 25 | 0.43% |
| 1944 | 1,129 | 16.42% | 5,735 | 83.39% | 13 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 2,056 | 27.86% | 4,612 | 62.48% | 713 | 9.66% |
| 1952 | 3,621 | 36.74% | 6,188 | 62.79% | 46 | 0.47% |
| 1956 | 5,390 | 47.13% | 5,683 | 49.69% | 363 | 3.17% |
| 1960 | 6,900 | 40.64% | 9,902 | 58.32% | 178 | 1.05% |
| 1964 | 8,420 | 34.31% | 16,073 | 65.49% | 51 | 0.21% |
| 1968 | 9,402 | 25.15% | 15,734 | 42.09% | 12,245 | 32.76% |
| 1972 | 20,090 | 58.49% | 13,124 | 38.21% | 1,136 | 3.31% |
| 1976 | 12,872 | 35.51% | 22,837 | 63.01% | 537 | 1.48% |
| 1980 | 13,660 | 38.00% | 20,900 | 58.14% | 1,389 | 3.86% |
| 1984 | 18,940 | 46.42% | 21,623 | 53.00% | 238 | 0.58% |
| 1988 | 16,087 | 44.61% | 19,698 | 54.63% | 274 | 0.76% |
| 1992 | 12,575 | 33.45% | 20,416 | 54.30% | 4,608 | 12.26% |
| 1996 | 10,686 | 30.18% | 22,150 | 62.55% | 2,573 | 7.27% |
| 2000 | 12,628 | 35.62% | 22,286 | 62.86% | 541 | 1.53% |
| 2004 | 15,212 | 38.48% | 24,112 | 60.99% | 210 | 0.53% |
| 2008 | 13,984 | 29.97% | 32,327 | 69.27% | 354 | 0.76% |
| 2012 | 12,858 | 28.00% | 32,501 | 70.77% | 563 | 1.23% |
| 2016 | 12,795 | 29.58% | 28,497 | 65.87% | 1,969 | 4.55% |
| 2020 | 12,755 | 28.61% | 30,948 | 69.42% | 879 | 1.97% |
| 2024 | 12,370 | 29.91% | 28,306 | 68.45% | 677 | 1.64% |
Portsmouth is governed under theCouncil-Manager form of government. The current mayor is Navy veteran and businessman Shannon Glover.[98] In 2024, Glover was re-elected for a second four-year term.[99] The City Council is a legislative body served by six members, elected for four-year terms.[99]
In 1846, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act that established a "free education for all classes." In 1848, Portsmouth began organizing a public education system for primary school and elected a board for that purpose. A small tuition was required, but poorer students were paid for by funds from the sale of the Glebe lands. During the 1969-1970 session of the General Assembly,Portsmouth Public Schools was established. The district is made up of twenty-four schools. There are three public high schools in Portsmouth, located at three corners of the city. In the northwest section of the city, off Cedar Lane, isChurchland High School. In the downtown section of the city, between London Blvd and High Street, isI.C. Norcom High School. In the southwest section of Portsmouth, on Elmhurst Lane, isManor High School. There are also three middle schools, thirteen elementary schools, three preschools, an alternative education center, and an adult education center. There are approximately 13,000 students enrolled in Portsmouth Public Schools, and the district employs approximately 2,100 people.[103] The district has struggled with staff retention and teacher vacancies.[104]
In 2023, the superintendent of Portsmouth Public Schools announced the development of a Career and Technical Education Center.[105] In July 2024, the city began construction on the center, named the Portsmouth Advanced Career Education (PACE) Center.[106]
Portsmouth is home to the Tri-Cities Higher Education Center ofOld Dominion University (ODU), a public research university founded in 1930 whose main campus is located in Norfolk, Virginia.[107] Portsmouth is also home to the Fred W. Beazley Portsmouth Campus ofTidewater Community College, a two-year higher education institution founded in 1968 in South Hampton Roads with additional campuses located in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.[108]Angelos Bible College was established in 1984, under the name Angelos Bible Institute. In August 2000, the school received approval from the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia to begin offering degrees, and the first class graduated in 2001.[109]
Portsmouth's daily newspaper is theVirginian-Pilot with The Currents being the Portsmouth edition of the Sunday paper. Other papers include theNew Journal and Guide, andInside Business.[110]Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Portsmouth and theHampton Roads area.[111] TheHampton Roads Times is an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties. Portsmouth is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around theHampton Roads area.[112]
The major network television affiliates areWTKR-TV 3 (CBS),WAVY 10 (NBC),WVEC-TV 13 (ABC),WGNT 27 (Independent),WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV),WVBT 43 (Fox, withThe CW on DT2), andWPXV 49 (ION Television). ThePublic Broadcasting Service stations areWHRO-TV 15, Hampton/Norfolk andWUND-TV 2, Edenton, NC. Two additional stations also receivable in Portsmouth include independent stationWSKY-TV, which broadcasts on channel 4 from theOuter Banks of North Carolina andWGBS-LD broadcastingpaid programming on channel 7 fromCarrollton. Portsmouth is served byCox Cable andVerizon FIOS.DirecTV andDish Network are also popular as an alternative tocable television in Portsmouth. The Hampton Roadsdesignated market area (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.).[113]
From the earliest development, Portsmouth has been oriented to the water. In the 1830s, it was the first community in Hampton Roads to receive a new land transportation innovation, railroad service. ThePortsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, a predecessor of theSeaboard Air Line Railroad, extended to the rapids of theRoanoke River on its fall line nearWeldon, North Carolina. It was to be 20 more years before its bigger neighbor, the city of Norfolk, also received a rail line, in 1858, when theNorfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed.[citation needed] TheAtlantic Coast Line Railroad operated passenger trains #36 and #5 to and from its North Portsmouth Station to Rocky Mount, North Carolina until 1954. In earlier years ACL ran trains including theTar Heel all the way south to Wilmington, North Carolina.[114][115]
FromSeaboard Terminal the Seaboard Air Line and then theSeaboard Coast Line Railroad operated #17 and #18 to and fromRaleigh, North Carolina, where the train joined with those companies'Silver Comet. The SAL also operated a local all-coach train (#3-11 southbound/#6-10 northbound) to Atlanta from the terminal.[116][117] The 17/18 trains ended in 1968.[118]
Portsmouth is primarily served by theNorfolk International Airport (IATA:ORF,ICAO:KORF,FAALID:ORF), now the region's major commercial airport. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits of neighboringNorfolk andVirginia Beach.[119] 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.[120]Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA:PHF,ICAO:KPHF,FAALID:PHF) also provides commercial air service for theHampton Roads area.[121] TheChesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles (8.0 km) outside the city limits.[122]
In the 21st century, the city has access to lines ofCSX Transportation,Norfolk Southern and threeshort line railroads.Amtrak provides service to points along theNortheast Corridor fromNewport News station across the Hampton Roads, and fromNorfolk station across the Elizabeth River.
Portsmouth is served byInterstate 264 and Interstate 664, which is part of theHampton Roads Beltway.U.S. Route 17 andU.S. Route 58 pass through. The Elizabeth River is crossed via theMidtown Tunnel, theDowntown Tunnel andBerkley Bridge combination.[citation needed]
Hampton Roads Transit is the regional bus service.[123]
In 2019, the Portsmouth Police Department had about 255 swornlaw enforcement officers and 380 total employees.[124] In May 2019, Police Chief Tonya Chapman resigned from her position, claiming she was forced to resign and had experienced systemic racism during her tenure.[125][126] She was replaced by Angela Greene who served as interim chief.[127]
In June 2020, aBlack Lives Matter protest took place in Portsmouth and resulted in the vandalism of thelocal Confederate monument. In August 2020, nineteen people, including state senatorLouise Lucas, Chief Public DefenderBrenda Spry, two additionalpublic defenders, Portsmouth School Board member LaKeesha Atkinson, and threeNAACP representatives were charged with felony vandalism of the monument.[49][128] The charges were announced on August 17, 2020, by Police Chief Angela Greene, one day prior to a special legislative session pushing for policing reform.[49][128] In order to obtain the charges, the police department circumvented thecommonwealth's attorney, taking the charges directly to themagistrate.[128] JudgeClaire G. Cardwell dismissed the charges in November 2020.[49][129] Cardwell found the charges concerning and believed the police did not take out the charges out of concern for public safety.[129][130] Police Chief Angela Greene was fired shortly before the dismissal of the charges.[129][130] Ten of the individuals who were charged sued the city for violating their rights, claiming that they were improperly defamed. In October 2021 the city settled the lawsuit, writing them checks for $15,000 each.[129][131]
In September 2021, Renado Prince was promoted from Assistant Police Chief to Police Chief.[132] At the end of 2021, Portsmouth reported 35 homcides, its highest number in years, up from 34 in 2020 and 16 in 2019.[81] At the time, the police department had approximately 80 unfilled officer positions.[81] In July 2022, former-Police Chief Tonya Chapman started a position as City Manager.[125] Chapman fired Prince after he sent a text message criticizing her, only one week after she started as city manager.[132] Prince was replaced with Stephen Jenkins.[125][132] Chapman was later fired by the Portsmouth City Council in January 2023, and Prince was re-hired in June 2023 as an Assistant Police Chief.[132]
Ten Portsmouth policemen have died in the line of duty, the first in 1871. Four of these died from gunshot wounds.[133]
The sheriff's office oversees the management of the Portsmouth City Jail and the Portsmouth Judicial Center. In 2021, the Porstmouth Sheriff's Office also began overseeing theschool resource officer program for the city, providing officers to public schools.[134] As of April 2023, the deputies at the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office were the lowest paid in Hampton Roads.[134]
In September 2019, JudgeJohnny E. Morrison approved the condemnation of the buildings at the Portsmouth Civic Center Complex, but allowed the Portsmouth City Jail located at the complex to continue operating.[135] Sheriff Michael Moore sued the city for condemning the buildings without warning, arguing that it was the city's job to maintain the jail and stated the city had not maintained the building.[135] At the time, the jail housed 250 inmates and employed 80 individuals.[135] In January 2020, Morrison ruled that the city could not close the jail, stating that the jail must be "repaired and maintained."[136] At the time, a privately owned facility, Hampton Roads Regional Jail HRRJ, was also operating in the city.[135] The city's attorneys argued that the sheriff's office should send inmates to the regional jail, since the city already paid for spots at the jail.[135] The sheriff's attorney argued that the Portsmouth City Jail was in relatively good condition and just needed a few repairs.[135] Sheriff Moore stated that he refused to send inmates to Hampton Roads Regional Jail due to civil rights violations, medical problems, and inmate deaths that were investigated by theUnited States Department of Justice in 2018.[135][137] In March 2020, the Portsmouth City Council voted 4–3 in favor of closing the jail due to its poor conditions.[136] Following the vote, Morrison ruled once again that the jail could not be closed, despite the decision of the city council.[136] The jail remained open. In April 2023, a woman sued the sheriff's office, claiming that, while at the Portsmouth City Jail, she was forced to pull down her pants in order to prove that she was menstruating and receive menstrual products.[138]
On May 26, 2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a fire broke out in the basement of the Portsmouth City Jail.[139][140] The fire started in a tool room in the basement and moved up an elevator shaft, spreading to the eighth floor.[140][141] Sheriff Moore stated that the building was old and its internal workings were "starting to deteriorate pretty quickly."[141] The jail moved inmates from the top floor to the bottom floor and began evacuating.[141] More than 150 inmates were evacuated and transported to the facility that previously operated as the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.[140][141] The city had purchased the property after its closure on April 1, 2024. No injuries were reported from the incident, but inmates and deputies were evaluated by medical teams.[141]
Portsmouth does not have a juvenile detention facility.[142] For more than thirty years, Portsmouth youth charged with crimes were held in the neighboring city of Chesapeake, at Chesapeake Juvenile Services.[142] In the spring of 2023, Chesapeake Juvenile Services terminated its agreement with the Porstmouth Sheriff's Office. Since then, Portsmouth youth have been housed in Williamsburg, Northern Virginia, andBristol.[142] Bristol is a 15-hour round trip drive.[142]
The Hampton Roads Regional Jail began operating in Portsmouth in June 1998.[143] It took three years and $66 million to construct the 385,000-foot facility.[143] At the time it was constructed, it was Virginia's third-largest correctional facility and could house up to 1,300 inmates.[143] It was built in response to overcrowding at other facilities in the area, and housed inmates from Portsmouth, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, and Chesapeake.[143] TheUnited States Marshals Service also used the facility.[143] The jail housed the highest mentally ill inmate population across the state of Virginia.[144] The facility was managed by a 15-member board and the Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority, which was made up of the city manager, the sheriff, and one council member from each of the five cities that used the jail.[143]
In August 2015, JaMycheal Mitchell died while incarcerated at the jail.[145] Mitchell was held at the jail due to allegations that he stole $5.05 worth of sweets from a7-Eleven convenience store.[145] Mitchell was mentally disabled, and lost over forty pounds over the course of his four months at the facility.[145] A doctor had deemed Mitchellincompetent to stand trial in May 2015, and an order was entered requiring Mitchell to be sent to Eastern State Hospital to receive restoration services.[145] For some reason, the hospital did not receive the order and Mitchell was not transported from the jail to the hospital.[145] In May 2016, Mitchell's aunt alleged that jail staff had allowed Mitchell to starve to death while incarcerated.[146] Other inmates stated that they had pleaded with the guards to help Mitchell, but were ignored.[145] Mitchell's official cause of death was a heart condition andcachexia.[145] The allegations stated that Mitchell had been denied many meals and left him naked with no bedding in a dirty cell.[145] In March 2017, the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney received allegations regarding Mitchell's death and asked theVirginia State Police to investigate.[145]
In 2016, theU.S. Department of Justice began investigating the jail for possible civil rights violations.[143] In 2018, the Department of Justice released a report detailing the jail's failures. The jail had ignored inmates' requests for medical treatment and sometimes left inmates in their cells for 22 hours or more.[144] The Department of Justice found that the jail had violated theAmericans with Disabilities Act and theEighth Amendment to the United States Constitution due to its use ofcruel and unusual punishment.[143][147] The jail faced ongoing staffing challenges as the costs of operating increased, and in 2021 had more than 100 vacant positions.[144][147] Between 2015 and 2024, more than twenty-five inmates died while incarcerated at the jail.[144] Due to these violations, Hampton Roads Regional Jail was the only jail in the United States placed under Department of Justice oversight and a federalconsent decree during the firstTrump Administration.[147] In 2020, under the consent decree, the jail agreed to implement changes to hire additional staff and reduce its use of solitary confinement; however, the sheriffs' offices in Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake stated that they would cut back the number of inmates that they housed at the regional jail.[143]
In March 2021, theAmerican Correctional Association revoked the jail's accreditation.[147] In April 2021, a Virginia Jail Review Committee recommended the closure of Hampton Roads Regional Jail.[148] The committee's preliminary findings determined that the jail failed to meet minimum standards for supervision of inmates and did not provided twenty-four hour emergency medical and mental health care as required.[148] The committee also believed that the jail knowingly withheld information and gave inaccurate case summaries in the deaths of three inmates.[148]
By October 2023, the jail housed only 202 inmates, despite having room for up to 1,300.[143] Portsmouth and Norfolk were rarely using the facility, with the Portsmouth sheriff stating that he refused to use the facility due to the civil rights violations.[135][137][143] On April 1, 2024, Hampton Roads Regional Jail permanently closed after operating as a private jail in the city for twenty-five years.[144]
After its closure, the city purchased the property. The Portsmouth City Jail moved its operations to the location in May 2024, after a fire broke out and rendered the original jail building inoperable.[140]
The primary hospital serving the citizens of Portsmouth is Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center. It is a non-profit hospital with 346 beds, managed byBon Secours Health System.[149] The hospital was dedicated on March 4, 1945, and is located on High Street. During World War II, thousands of new shipyard workers and their families moved to the area, and the city saw a need for a new hospital. When it opened, the hospital was named Glensheallah Hospital. It was funded by the Federal Government. After the war, the government sold the hospital to the Catholic Church'sDiocese of Richmond for $85,000. The Dioscese of Richmond agreed to operate the hospital with theDaughters of Wisdom.[150] After its sale, the Daughters of Wisdom considered naming the hospital "Glensheallah" or "Glenmary", but they eventually settled on the name "Maryview" to honor theVirgin Mary and the Waterview area adjacent to the hospital.[150] In 1984, the Diocese of Richmond transferred the hospital to the Sisters of Bon Secours Health Systems, Inc. in Marriottsville, Maryland, and the hospital became part of the Bon Secours Health Network.[150][151]
TheNaval Medical Center Portsmouth (NCMP) is a United States Navy medical center adjacent to the Olde Towne Historic District andPark View Historic District. Founded in 1827, it is the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system with the motto "First and Finest."[152] At the time of its founding, the hospital was known as the Norfolk Naval Hospital. Later, the name was changed to Naval Hospital Portsmouth and eventually, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Building 1 of the center was built in 1830.[153][154] Building 3, which was originally named Building 215, was built in 1959.[154] Building 3 operated as the main hospital until Charette Building opened on April 30, 1999.[154] The Charette building is 1.02 million square feet and has 353 inpatient beds.[154] Due to its proximity to many military bases, the medical center has more than 100,000 beneficiaries enrolled for care.[155]
In 1886, The Daughters of the King, a women's organization, was formed at Trinity Episcopal Church located in what is now Olde Towne Portsmouth.[32] In 1895, the organization began reaching out to women in other churches across Portsmouth, hoping to open a hospital.[32] In 1897, an eight-room house at 49 Court Street opened as King's Daughters' Hospital Home for the Sick. In 1898, the small hospital changed its name to the King's Daughters Hospital.[32] By 1903, the hospital had outgrown its location on Court Street, and the hospital moved to a house on Emmet Street.[32] The location was razed in 1914, so that a larger 3-story hospital could be built.[32] In 1904, the hospital established a School of Nursing, located a block away from the hospital.[32] In 1955, a fire destroyed part of the hospital, and it required extensive repairs.[32] The hospital was renamed Portsmouth General Hospital in 1956.[32] The School of Nursing operated until 1984, when the board of Portsmouth General voted to close the school due to financial problems.[32] The last class of twelve nurses graduated from the school in 1986.[32]
In 1988, Bon Secours attempted to purchase Portsmouth General, but it was instead sold to the nonprofitTidewater Health Care.[151] There were nine hospitals in South Hampton Roads at the time, and Portsmouth General could no longer sustain itself.[151] In 1994, the hospital lost almost $200 on every patient admission.[151] In May 1996, the sale of the hospital to Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center was announced, with Maryview stating that it intended to transfer services and then close the hospital.[151] At the time of the sale, Portsmouth General Hospital employed 830 people, 350 of whom were expected to be laid of as the hospital closed.[151] From 1996 to 1999, hospital services were gradually transferred to Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth andBon Secours Harbour View Medical Center in nearby Suffolk.[32] The hospital officially ceased operations in 1999, after serving the people of Portsmouth for over 100 years.[32]
Portsmouth, United Kingdom[184][185][186]
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)During the Civil War, the basement of the house was used as an office for the provost-marshal. It was here that the Union occupation issued passes to cross the ferry to Norfolk. Citizens had to swear allegiance to the Union to be permitted to leave the city. This house is an excellent example of an English basement house.
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