Norfolk was established in 1682 as a colonial seaport. Strategically located at the confluence of theElizabeth River andChesapeake Bay, it quickly developed into a major center for trade and shipbuilding. During theAmerican Revolution andWar of 1812, its port and naval facilities made it a critical military target. Norfolk's prominence grew in the 20th century with the expansion of theU.S. Navy, particularly through the establishment ofNaval Station Norfolk in 1917, which remains the world's largest naval base.
In the late sixteenth century, the area that is now Norfolk was inhabited by the Chesepian people, who referred to the land as "K'che-sepi-ack." According to historical accounts from William Strachy, the Chesepian settlements were destroyed by the Powhatan shortly before the establishment of Jamestown in 1607.[citation needed]
Norfolk's lands were some of the first to draw settlers from theVirginia Colony, although Norfolk would not be incorporated as a town until the 1700s. When the establishment of theHouse of Burgesses introduced representative government to the colony in 1619, governorSir George Yeardley divided the developed portion of the colony into four incorporated jurisdictions, termedcitties. The land on which Norfolk now sits fell underElizabeth Cittie incorporation.[citation needed]
In 1634King Charles I reorganized the colony into a system ofshires, andElizabeth Cittie becameElizabeth City Shire. Elizabeth City Shire (now the city of Hampton) included all land that today comprises the cities of Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk. After persuading 105 people to settle in the colony,Adam Thoroughgood (who had immigrated to Virginia in 1622 fromKing's Lynn,Norfolk,England) was granted a large land holding, through the head rights system, along theLynnhaven River in 1636.[citation needed]
When theSouth Hampton Roads portion of the shire was separated, Thoroughgood suggested the name of his birthplace for the newly formedNew Norfolk County. One year later, it was divided into two counties,Upper Norfolk andLower Norfolk (the latter now incorporated into the City of Norfolk), chiefly on Thoroughgood's recommendation.[6] This area of Virginia became known as the place of entrepreneurs, including men of theVirginia Company of London.[7][8]
Norfolk developed in the late-seventeenth century as a "Half Moone" fort was constructed and 50 acres (200,000 m2) were acquired from local natives of thePowhatan Confederacy in exchange for 10,000 pounds of tobacco. The House of Burgesses established the "Towne of Lower Norfolk County" in 1680.[9][10] In 1691, a final county subdivision took place when Lower Norfolk County split to formNorfolk County (included in present-day cities of Norfolk,Chesapeake, and parts ofPortsmouth) andPrincess Anne County (present-dayVirginia Beach).[citation needed]
Norfolk was incorporated in 1705. In 1730, a tobacco inspection site was located here. According to theTobacco Inspection Act, the inspection was"At Norfolk Town, upon the fort land, in the County of Norfolk; andKemp's Landing, in Princess Anne, under one inspection." In 1736George II granted it a royal charter as a borough.[11] It was an important port for exporting goods to the British Isles and beyond.[citation needed]
After theAmerican Revolution forced theRoyal Governor of Virginia,John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, to flee from Williamsburg, he made Norfolk the new capital of Virginia in 1775. Norfolk's 6,250 residents were primarily Loyalist because the British government had granted trade monopolies to many of their businesses. After losing at theBattle of Great Bridge that December, Lord Dunmore partially destroyed the city with naval cannonading. On January 16, 1776, the Patriots'Fourth Virginia Convention agreed to destroy most remaining homes to prevent Dunmore from using the city to amass British troops and runaway slaves.[12]
Ultimately,Colonel Woodford drove Dunmore into exile, ending more than 168 years of British rule in Virginia.[13][14] Only the walls ofSaint Paul's Episcopal Church survived the bombardment and subsequent fires. A cannonball from the bombardment (fired by theLiverpool) remains within the wall of Saint Paul's.[15]
Norfolk, from Gosport, Virginia, New York Public Library
When the British occupied Norfolk,Thomas Jefferson ordered its destruction by fire.[16] Following recovery from the Revolutionary War's burning, Norfolk and its citizens struggled to rebuild. In 1804, another serious fire along the city's waterfront destroyed some 300 buildings and the city suffered a serious economic setback. In theWar of 1812 between America and Great Britain, Norfolk saw action between American militia led by Richard Lawson and the British navy. On July 13, 1813. A British landing party of 8 marines and 16 sailors landed at the beaches of Norfolk to construct a well and gather water. Richard Lawson concealed his company of militia behind a benign looking sandhill. Richard Lawson and his militia sprang their ambush by opening fire from their concealment behind the Sandhills. The British landing party who suffered three marines killed surrendered. Richard Lawson, who suffered none killed, had his militia destroy the British boat, take all provisions, and take the brass cannon. The American militia under Lawson returned to town with their prisoners.[17] During the 1820s, agrarian communities across theAmerican South suffered a prolonged recession, which caused many families to migrate to other areas. Many moved west into thePiedmont, or further intoKentucky andTennessee. This migration also followed the exhaustion of soil due totobacco cultivation in the Tidewater, where it had been the primary commodity crop for generations.[citation needed]
Virginia made some attempts to phase outslavery andmanumissions increased in the two decades following the war.Thomas Jefferson Randolph gained passage of an 1832 resolution for gradual abolition in the state. However, by that time the increased demand from the settlement of the lower South states had created a large internal market for slavery. The invention of thecotton gin in the late-eighteenth century had made profitable the cultivation of short-staple cotton in the uplands, which was widely practiced.[citation needed]
TheAmerican Colonization Society proposed to "repatriate" free blacks and freed slaves to Africa by establishing the new colony of Liberia and paying for transportation. But most African Americans wanted to stay in their birthplace of the United States and achieve freedom and rights there. For a period, many emigrants to Liberia from Virginia andNorth Carolina embarked from the port of Norfolk.Joseph Jenkins Roberts, afree person of color native to Norfolk, emigrated via the American Colonization Society and later was elected as the first president ofLiberia, establishing a powerful family.[18]
In 1845, Norfolk was incorporated as a city.[19] On June 7, 1855, the 183-foot vesselBenjamin Franklin put into Hampton Roads for repairs. The ship had just sailed from theWest Indies, where there had been an outbreak ofyellow fever. The port health officer ordered the ship quarantined. After eleven days, a second inspection found no issues, so it was allowed to dock. A few days later, the first cases of yellow fever were discovered in Norfolk, and a machinist died from the disease on July 8. By August, several people were dying per day, and a third of the city's population had fled in the hopes of escaping the epidemic. No one understood how the disease was transmitted. With both Norfolk and Portsmouth being infected, New York banned all traffic from those sites. Neighboring cities also banned residents from Norfolk. The epidemic spread through the city via mosquitoes and poor sanitation, affecting every family and causing widespread panic. The number of infected reached 5,000 in September, and by the second week, 1,500 had died in Norfolk and Portsmouth.[20] As the weather cooled, the outbreak began to wane, leaving a final tally of about 3,200 dead.[21] It took the city some time to recover.
On April 4, 1861, Norfolk city delegate to theVirginia Secession Convention, George Blow, voted against secession. Following theBattle of Fort Sumter, another vote occurred on April 17, where Blow voted for secession, the vote passed and Virginia seceded from theUnion. In the spring of 1862, theBattle of Hampton Roads took place off the northwest shore of the city'sSewell's Point Peninsula, marking the first fight between twoironclads, theUSSMonitor and theCSSVirginia. The battle ended in a stalemate but changed the course of naval warfare; from then on,warships were fortified with metal.[22]
In May 1862, Norfolk MayorWilliam Lamb surrendered the city to UnionGeneralJohn E. Wool and his forces. They held the city undermartial law for the duration of the Civil War. Thousands of slaves from the region escaped to Union lines to gain freedom; they quickly set up schools in Norfolk to start learning how to read and write, years before the end of the war.[23]
Granby Street from corner of City Hall Avenue, 1915
1907 brought both theVirginian Railway and theJamestown Exposition toSewell's Point. The largeNaval Review at the Exposition demonstrated the peninsula's favorable location and laid the groundwork for the world's largest naval base. Southern Democrats in Congress gained its location here. Commemorating the tricentennial anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the exposition featured many prominent officials, including PresidentTheodore Roosevelt,members of Congress, anddiplomats from twenty-one countries. By 1917, as the US prepared to enterWorld War I, the Naval Air Station Hampton Roads had been constructed on the former exposition grounds. This facility was established as an air training station and a patrol base to conduct experimental work in seaplane operations at the Naval Operation Base.[24][25]
In the first half of the twentieth century, the city of Norfolk expanded its borders through annexation. In 1906, the city annexed theincorporated town ofBerkley, making the city cross theElizabeth River.[26] In 1923, the city expanded to include Sewell's Point,Willoughby Spit, the town of Campostella, and theOcean View area. The city included the Navy Base and miles of beach property fronting onHampton Roads and theChesapeake Bay.[27] After a smaller annexation in 1959, and a 1988 land swap withVirginia Beach, the city assumed its current boundaries.[28]
With newsuburban developments beckoning, many white middle-class residentsmoved out of the city along new highway routes, and Norfolk's population declined, a pattern repeated in numerous cities during the postwar era independently of segregation issues. In the late-1960s and early-1970s, the advent of newer suburban shopping destinations along with freeways spelled demise for the fortunes of downtown'sGranby Street commercial corridor, located just a few blocks inland from the waterfront. The opening of malls and large shopping centers drew off retail business from Granby Street.[37]
Norfolk's city leaders began a long push torevive its urban core. While Granby Street underwent 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, along which many of the high-rise buildings in Norfolk'sskyline have been erected. In 1983, the city andThe Rouse Company developed theWaterside festival marketplace to attract people back to the waterfront and catalyze further downtown redevelopment.[40] Waterside was redeveloped in 2017. Additionally, the waterfront area hosts theNauticus maritime museum and science center,Hampton Roads Naval Museum,Half-Moone Cruise and Celebration Center, and theUSSWisconsin. Other facilities opened in the ensuing years, including theHarbor Park baseball stadium, home of theNorfolk Tides Triple-Aminor league baseball team. In 1995, the park was named the finest facility in minor league baseball byBaseball America.[41] 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 revenues and allowed the city to direct attention to other neighborhoods.[42]
In addition to extensive riverfront property, Norfolk has miles of bayfront resort property and beaches in theWilloughby Spit andOcean View communities.[citation needed]
Population density and elevation above sea level around theChesapeake Bay. Norfolk is especially vulnerable tosea level rise.
Being low-lying and largely surrounded by water, Norfolk is particularly vulnerable torising sea levels caused byclimate change.[43] In addition, the land on which it is built isslowly subsiding. Some areas already flood regularly at high tide, and the city commissioned a study in 2012 to investigate how to address the issue in the future: it reported the cost of dealing with a sea-level rise of one foot would be around $1,000,000,000. Since then, scientists at theVirginia Institute of Marine Science in 2013 have estimated that if current trends hold, the sea in Norfolk will rise by 5 and 1/2 feet or more by the end of this century.[44][45]
When Norfolk was first settled, homes were made of wood andframe construction, similar to most medieval English-style homes. These homes had widechimneys andthatch roofs. Some decades after the town was first laid out in 1682, theGeorgian architectural style, which was popular in theSouth at the time, was used.Brick was considered more substantial construction; patterns were made by brick laid andFlemish bond. This style evolved to include projecting center pavilions,Palladian windows,balustraded roof decks, and two-storyporticoes. By 1740, homes, warehouses, stores, workshops, and taverns began to dot Norfolk's streets.[citation needed]
Norfolk was burned down during theRevolutionary War. After theRevolution, Norfolk was rebuilt in theFederal style, based on Roman ideals. Federal-style homes kept Georgian symmetry, though they had more refined decorations to look likeNew World homes. Federal homes had features such as narrow sidelights with an embracingfanlight around the doorway, giant porticoes, gable or flat roofs, and projecting bays on exterior walls. Rooms were oval, elliptical or octagonal. Few of these federalrowhouses remain standing today. A majority of buildings were made of wood and had a simple construction.[citation needed]
In the early nineteenth century,Neoclassical architectural elements began to appear in the federal style row homes, such asioniccolumns in the porticoes and classic motifs over doorways and windows. ManyFederal-style row houses were modernized by placing a Greek-style porch at 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.[citation needed]
Greek-style homes gave way toGothic Revival in the 1830s, which emphasizedpointed arches, steepgable roofs, towers and tracer-lead windows. The Freemason Baptist Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church are examples of Gothic Revival.Italianate elements emerged in the 1840s includingcupolas,verandas, ornamentalbrickwork, orcorner quoins. Norfolk still had simple wooden structures among its more ornate buildings.[citation needed]
High-rise buildings were first built in the late nineteenth century when structures such as the current Commodore Maury Hotel and the Royster Building were constructed to form the initial Norfolk skyline. Past styles were revived during the early years of the twentieth century.Bungalows and apartment buildings became popular for those living in the city.[citation needed]
As theGreat Depression wore on,Art Deco emerged as a popular building style, as evidenced by the Post Office building downtown. Art Deco consisted of streamlinedconcrete faced appearance with smoothstone or metal, withterracotta, and trimming consisting ofglass and coloredtiles.[citation needed]
Taylor-Whittle House (c. 1790), now occupied by the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach and the Norfolk Historical Society[46]
Norfolk has a variety of historic neighborhoods, notably Freemason and West Freemason. Some neighborhoods, such asBerkley, were formerly cities and towns. Others, includingWilloughby Spit andOcean View, have a long history tied to theChesapeake Bay. The city's revitalization in recent decades has transformed neighborhoods such asDowntown,Ghent andFairmount Park. Popular residential neighborhoods include Ghent, Colonial Place, Larchmont, North Shore, Edgewater, and Lafayette Shores.[47]
Narrative below is based on climate data from the 1991–2020 period. Norfolk has ahumid subtropical climate, typical of theSouthern United States, and its USDA Hardiness Zone is 8a. 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. Summers are consistently warm and humid, but the nearby Atlantic Ocean often exercises a slight cooling effect on daytime high temperatures, but a slight warming effect on nighttime low temperatures (compared to areas farther inland). As such, temperatures reach 90 °F (32 °C) or higher on an average 35 days annually,[48] and 100 °F (37.8 °C) are uncommon, occurring in fewer than one-third of all years.[49] On average, July is the warmest month, with a normal mean temperature of 81.1 °F (27.3 °C).[48] On average, July and August are the wettest months, due to frequent summer thunderstorm activity. In August and September, rainfall remains high, due to rising frequency of tropical activity (hurricanes and tropical storms), which can bring high winds and heavy rains. These usually brush Norfolk and only occasionally make landfalls in the area; the highest-risk period is mid-August to the end of September.Fall is marked by mild to warm days and cooler nights. Winter is usually mild in Norfolk, with average winter days featuring lows near or slightly above freezing and highs in the upper-40s to mid-50s (8 to 13 °C). On average, the coldest month of the year is January, with a normal mean temperature of 42.2 °F (5.7 °C),[48] Snow occurs sporadically, with an average winter accumulation of 6.2 in (15.7 cm).[48] Norfolk's record high was 105 °F (41 °C) on August 7, 1918, and July 24 and 25, 2010, and the record low was −3 °F (−19 °C) recorded onJanuary 21, 1985.[48]
Norfolk city, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition Note: The U.S. Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of thecensus[61] of 2010, there were 242,803 people, 86,210 households, and 51,898 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 4,362.8 people per square mile (1,684.5 people/km2). There were 94,416 dwelling units at an average density of 1,757.3 per square mile (678.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 47.1%White, 43.1%African American, 0.5%Native American, 3.3%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 2.2% fromother races, and 3.6% from two or more races.Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.6% of the population.Non-Hispanic Whites were 44.3% of the population in 2010,[62] down from 68.5% in 1970.[63]
There were 86,210 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% weremarried couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06.[64]
The age distribution was 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 aged 18 and over, there were 104.8 males. This largegender imbalance is due to the military presence in the city, most notably Naval Station Norfolk.[citation needed]
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. Theper capita income for the city was $17,372. About 15.5% of families and 19.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those ages 65 or over.[citation needed]
For the year of 2007, Norfolk had a total crime index of 514.7 per 100,000 residents. This was above the national average of 320.9 that year. For 2007, the city experienced 48 homicides, for a murder rate of 21.1 per 100,000 residents. Total crime had decreased when compared to the year 2000, which the city had a total crime index of 546.3. The highest murder rate Norfolk has experienced for the 21st century was in 2005 when its rate was 24.5 per 100,000 residents. For the year 2007 per 100,000, Norfolk experienced 21.1 murders, 42.6 rapes, 399.3 robberies, 381.3 assaults, 743.3 burglaries, and 450.6 automobile thefts.[65] According to the Congressional Quarterly Press '2008 City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America, Norfolk, Virginia, ranked as the 87th most dangerous city larger than 75,000 inhabitants.[66]
Since Norfolk serves as the commercial and cultural center for the unusual 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.[citation needed]
The waterways which almost completely surround the Hampton Roads region play an important part in the local economy. As a strategic location at the mouth of theChesapeake Bay, its protected deep-water channels serve as a major trade artery for theimport andexport of goods from across theMid-Atlantic,Mid-West, and internationally.[citation needed]
In addition to commercial activities, Hampton Roads is a major military center, particularly for theUnited States Navy, and Norfolk serves as the home forNaval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval installation. Located onSewell's Point Peninsula, in the northwest corner of the city, the station is the headquarters of theUnited States Fleet Forces Command (formerly known as the Atlantic Fleet), which compromises over 62,000 active-duty personnel, 75 ships, and 132 aircraft. The base also serves as the headquarters toNATO'sAllied Command Transformation.[69][70]
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 theHampton Roads area include:Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Newport News) in Newport News,BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair,General DynamicsNASSCO Norfolk, and Colonna's Shipyard Inc., while the US Navy'sNorfolk Naval Shipyard is just across theDowntown Tunnel inPortsmouth. 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.[71]
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, theVirginia Port Authority (VPA) is aCommonwealth of Virginia owned entity that, in turn, owns and operates three major port facilities in Hampton Roads for break-bulk and container type cargo. In Norfolk,Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) represents one of those three facilities and is home to the world's largest and fastest container cranes.[72] Together, the three terminals of the VPA handled a total of over 2 millionTEUs 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.[73]
In addition to NIT, Norfolk is home to the Lambert's Point docks, the largest coal trans-shipment point in the Northern Hemisphere,[citation needed] with an annual capacity of approximately 48,000,000 tons.[74]Bituminous coal is primarily sourced from the Appalachian mountains in western Virginia,West Virginia, andKentucky. 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.[citation needed]
Between 1925 and 2007,Ford Motor Company operatedNorfolk Assembly, a manufacturing plant located on theElizabeth River that had produced the Model-T, sedans and station wagons before building F-150 pick-up trucks.[75] Before it closed, the plant employed more than 2,600 people at the 2,800,000 sq ft (260,000 m2) facility.[75]
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 theNorfolk World Trade Center building or have constructed buildings in the Lake Wright Executive Centeroffice park. The French firmCMA CGM, the Israeli firmZim Integrated Shipping Services, andMaersk Line Limited, a subsidiary of the world's largest shipping line,A. P. Moller-Maersk Group, have their North American headquarters in Norfolk.[76][77][78] Major companies headquartered in Norfolk includeNorfolk Southern,[79]Landmark Communications,[80]Dominion Enterprises,[81] FHC Health Systems (parent company ofValueOptions),[82] Portfolio Recovery Associates,[83] and BlackHawk Products Group.[84]
Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center
ThoughVirginia Beach andWilliamsburg 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 ofNauticus in downtown has driven tourism to become an increasingly important part of the city's economy. The number of cruise ship passengers who visited Norfolk increased from 50,000 in 2003, to 107,000 in 2004 and 2005. Also in April 2007, the city completed construction on a $36 million state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal alongside the pier.[85] 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.[86]
Hampton Roads is home to four Fortune 500 companies. Representing the food industry, transportation, retail and shipbuilding, these four companies are located inSmithfield, Norfolk,Chesapeake andNewport News.
26% of the 130,000 people working in Norfolk live in the city, while 74% commute in. 37% of those come from Virginia Beach and 20% come from Chesapeake. An additional 51,575 people commute outside for work, with 35% going to Virginia Beach and 20% going to Chesapeake.[88]
Due to its urban density, Norfolk acts as the cultural hub of the Hampton Roads region. In addition to its museums, Norfolk is the principal home for several major performing arts organizations. The city hosts numerous annual festivals and parades, many inTown Point Park or elsewhere in downtown.
The nationally acclaimedChrysler Museum of Art, the area's most comprehensive art museum, has its campus at the intersection of theGhent district, the Freemason neighborhood, and the NEON district.[89] Since opening in 1933, the museum's main building has been expanded six times to allow for larger glass galleries, generous space forImpressionist andBaroque works, and more. Major improvements were completed in 2014, and today the museum features more than 50 galleries, a restaurant, and catering facilities, as well as galleries for traveling exhibits.[90][91] Of particular note are the Americanneoclassical marble sculptures, the extensive glass collection, and the Glass Studio, which has live demonstrations daily.[92]
The Chrysler Museum of Art also administers the 1792 Moses Myers House Museum in the Freemason District, next to MacArthur Mall. This museum interprets Norfolk's history and the lives and legacy of Norfolk's first Jewish family. Seventy percent of the objects in the home are original to the Myers in the early nineteenth century.[93] The museum offers weekend tours and special monthly programming. In October 2022, the council of City of Norfolk, which owns the property, voted to proceed with the possibility of selling it, conjecturing the entirety of the property—the main house, the attached dwelling of the Myers’ enslaved servants, and the historic garden—could be sold as part of a package to developers, perhaps to operate as a bed and breakfast.[94] Multiple entities, including the Norfolk Historical Society, have expressed distress and outrage.
TheHermitage Foundation Museum, located in an early 20th-centuryTudor-style home on a 12-acre (49,000 m2) estate fronting theLafayette River, is found in the Lochaven neighborhood near the northern terminus of the Elizabeth River Trail that connects many of the city's sites of cultural interest.[95] The Hermitage features an eclectic collection of Asian and Western art, includingChinese bronze and ceramics,Persian rugs, andivory carvings, as well as changing exhibitions, arts classes, and special events.[96] The Hermitage Foundation Museum is the onlySmithsonian Affiliate in the Hampton Roads region.[97]
Downtown Norfolk has several other museums of national significance.[citation needed]
Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, opened on the downtown waterfront in 1994. It features hands-on exhibits, interactive theaters,aquaria, digital high-definition films and an extensive variety of educational programs. Since 2000, Nauticus has been home to the battleshipUSSWisconsin, the last battleship to be built in the United States. It served briefly inWorld War II and later in theKorean andGulf Wars.[98]Wisconsin Square is nearby.
TheMacArthur Memorial, located in the nineteenth-century Norfolk courthouse and city hall in downtown, contains the tombs of GeneralDouglas MacArthur and his wife, a museum and a vast research library, personal belongings (including his famouscorncob pipe) and a short film that chronicles his life.[99]
The city is 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.[100]
The NEON district has dozens of murals, many of which are supported through the City of Norfolk's Public Arts Commission.[101]
Norfolk has a variety of performing groups with regular seasons and which also make appearances in the city's annual festivals. TheVirginia Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1920, has been leader in the regional arts scene. Directed byJoAnn Falletta from 1991 until 2020, the orchestra's music director is nowErik Jacobsen.[102] Most Norfolk performances take place atChrysler Hall in theScope complex downtown. The orchestra provides musicians for many other performing arts organizations in the area.[103]
The Virginia Stage Company, founded in 1968, is one of the country's leading regional theaters and produces a full season of plays in theWells Theatre downtown. The company shares facilities with theGovernor's School for the Arts.[104]'
TheVirginia Opera was founded in Norfolk in 1974. Its artistic director since its inception has been Peter Mark,[105] who conducted his 100th opera production for the VOA in 2008. Though performances are staged statewide, the company's principal venue is theHarrison Opera House in theGhent district.[106]
Large-scale concerts are held at either theNorfolk Scope arena or theTed Constant Convocation Center atODU, whileThe Norva provides a more intimate atmosphere for smaller groups. Other Norfolk cultural venues include theAttucks Theatre, the Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center (formerly the Loew's State Theater) and the Naro Expanded Cinema.[citation needed]
A range of arts and cultural festivals take place annually in Norfolk. TheVirginia Arts Festival, founded in 1997, is based in Norfolk and has events throughout the region, drawing in arts from around the world and featuring local talent. One of the key events of the festival is theVirginia International Tattoo.[107][108] TheNorfolk NATO Festival, formerly the International Azela Festival, has taken place each spring since 1951 and is the longest continually running festival in the Hampton Roads Region. The Norfolk NATO Festival highlights Norfolk's role as the North American Headquarters ofNATO and fosters cultural exchange and appreciation of NATO allies.[109] The Stockley Gardens Art Festival, which takes place in parks the historic Ghent neighborhood, occurs twice yearly, in May and October. The festival draws vendors from well beyond the region and attracts upwards of 20,000 visitors.[110] TheSt. Patrick's Day annual parade in the city'sOcean View neighborhood, on the northern edge of the city, celebrates Ocean View's rich Irish heritage.[111]
Harborfest, the region's largest annual festival, celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2006. It is held during the first weekend of June in Town Point Park and celebrates the region's proximity and attachment to the water. The Parade of Sails (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.[112] Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival, a celebration of theCajun people and culture, had small beginnings. This three-day festival during the third week of June has become one of the largest in the region and, in addition to serving upCajun cuisine, also featuresCajun music.[112] Norfolk'sFourth of July celebration of American independence contains a spectacular fireworks display and a special Navy reenlistment ceremony.[112] TheNorfolk 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.[112] The Town Point 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.[112]
The revitalization of downtown Norfolk has helped to improve the Hampton Roads cultural scene. Many of Norfolk's attractions are now connected by the 10.5-mile (16.9 km) long Elizabeth River Trail, a pedestrian and bike trail that winds along the city's waterfront. The trail's first segment of opened in 2003 on land donated by Norfolk Southern.[113] A large number of clubs, representing a wide range of music interests and sophistication now line the lower Granby Street area.[114] The nearbyWaterside Festival Marketplace has also continued to be successful as a nightclub and bar venue.[115]
Norfolk has a variety of parks and open spaces in its city parks system.[116] The city maintains three beaches on its north shore in theOcean View area. Five additional parks contain picnic facilities and playgrounds for children. The city also has some community pools open to city residents.[117]Town Point Park in downtown plays host to a wide variety of annual events from early spring through late fall.
In 1971, Norfolk built an entertainment and sports complex, featuringChrysler Hall and the 13,800-seatNorfolk Scope indoor arena, located in the northern section of downtown. Norfolk Scope has served as a venue for major events including the American Basketball Association All-Star Game in 1974,[125] and the first and secondNCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships (also known as theWomen's Final Four) in 1982 and 1983.[126][127]
Norfolk is also home to theNorfolk Blues Rugby Football Club. Their home playing fields are Lafayette Park in Norfolk and theVirginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach.[128]
Virginia Beach City FC is an American professional soccer club based in Norfolk playing in theNational Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the Northeast Region. Home matches are played at Powhatan Field.[129]
Norfolk is heavily Democratic. Since 1900 it has only voted Republican in four elections, each of which was a national landslide. The last time it supported a Republican presidential candidate was in 1972, and since the turn of the century it has voted Democratic by over 60% in every election.[132]
United States presidential election results for Norfolk, Virginia[133]
Norfolk is anindependent city with services that both counties and cities in Virginia provide, such as asheriff, social services, and a court system. Norfolk operates under a council-manager form of government.
Norfolk city government consists of acity council with representatives from seven districts serving in alegislative and oversight capacity, as well as a popularly elected, at-largemayor. Thecity manager serves as head of theexecutive branch and supervises all city departments and executing policies adopted by the council. Citizens in each of the five wards elect one council representative each to serve a four-year term. There are two additional council members elected from two citywide "superwards." The city council meets at City Hall weekly[134] and, as of May 2023, consists of: Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander; Mamie Johnson, Ward 3; Danica Royster, Superward 7; John E. Paige, Ward 4; Courtney Doyle, Ward 2; Vice-Mayor Martin Thomas, Ward 1; Andria McClellan, Superward 6; Thomas R. Smigiel Jr. Ward 5.[134]
The city government has an 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.[135]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.[136]
Norfolk City Public Schools, the public school system, comprises five high schools, eight middle schools, 34 elementary schools, and nine special-purpose/preschools. In 2005, Norfolk Public Schools won the $1 millionBroad Prize for Urban Education for having demonstrated, "the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps for poor and minority students".[139] The city had previously been nominated in 2003 and 2004. There are also a number ofprivate schools located in the city, the oldest of which,Norfolk Academy, was founded in 1728.[140] Religious schools located in the city include St. Pius X Catholic School, Alliance Christian School, Christ the King School,Norfolk Christian Schools and Trinity Lutheran School.[141] The city also hosts theGovernor's School for the Arts which holds performances and classes at theWells Theatre.
Norfolk is home to three public universities and one private. It also hosts acommunity college campus in downtown.Old Dominion University, founded as the Norfolk Division of theCollege of William & 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.[142]Eastern Virginia Medical School, founded as a community medical school by the surrounding jurisdictions in 1973, is noted for its research intoreproductive medicine[143] and is located in the region's major medical complex in theGhent district.Norfolk State University, founded in 1935 is the second largest HBCU, in Virginia. Norfolk State offers degrees in a wide variety ofliberal arts, Social Work, Nursing, and Engineering.Virginia State University being the first largest HBCU in Virginia, which was founded in 1882.[144]Virginia Wesleyan College is a small privateliberal arts college and shares its eastern border with the neighboring city of Virginia Beach.[145]Tidewater Community College offers two-year degrees and specialized training programs and is located in downtown. Additionally, several for-profit schools operate in the city.
Norfolk Public Library, Virginia's first public library, consists of one main library, two anchor libraries, nine branch libraries and abookmobile. 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.[146]
The Slover Library, centrally located in the heart of downtown Norfolk, holds over 133,000 books and resources available for borrowing, hosts numerous classes and community events, houses the history Sargeant Memorial Collection, and offers patrons the use of cutting-edge technologies and studio spaces. Technology areas include a Sound Studio, Design Studio, Production Studio, YOUmedia lab, Maker Studio (Selden Market), and Computer Room and Training Lab.[147]
Coastal Virginia Magazine is a bi-monthly regional magazine for Norfolk and theHampton Roads area.[150]
Hampton Roads Times is an online magazine for Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area.[citation needed]
Norfolk is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around theHampton Roads area. These cater to many different interests, includingnews,talk radio, andsports, as well as an eclectic mix ofmusical interests.[151]
Norfolk is served by several television stations. 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.).[152] Major network television affiliates include:
Norfolk 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 the Chesapeake Bay, along with the city limits straddling neighboringVirginia Beach.[155] 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.[156]Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also provides commercial air service for theHampton Roads area.[157] NNWIA is also the only airport in the region with direct international flights, as of February 2013. TheChesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located 5 mi (8.0 km) outside the city limits.[citation needed]
Greyhound Lines provides service from a central bus terminal in downtown Norfolk.[159]
In April 2007, construction of the new $36 million Half Moone Cruise Terminal was completed downtown adjacent to the Nauticus Museum, providing astate-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.[85]
Light rail,bus,ferry andparatransit services are provided byHampton Roads Transit (HRT), the regionalpublic transport system headquartered in Hampton. HRT buses operate throughout Norfolk and South Hampton Roads and onto the Peninsula all the way up to Williamsburg. Other routes travel toSmithfield. HRT's ferry service connects downtown Norfolk to Old Town Portsmouth.[160] Additional services include an HOV express bus to theNorfolk Naval Base, paratransit services, park-and-ride lots, and the Norfolk Electric Trolley, which provides service in the downtown area.[161]TheTide light rail service began operations in August 2011.[162] The light rail is a starter route running along the southern portion of Norfolk, commencing at Newtown Road and passing through stations serving areas such asNorfolk State University andHarbor Park before going through the heart of downtown Norfolk and terminating atSentara Norfolk General Hospital.[163] Hampton Roads Transportation, Inc. dispatches Black and White Cabs of Norfolk, Yellow Cab of Norfolk and Norfolk Checker Cab.[citation needed]
Norfolk's water quality has been recognized one of the cleanest water systems in the United States and ranked as the fourth best in the United States byMen's Health.[164] The city of Norfolk has a tremendous capacity for clean fresh water. The city 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.[165] 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 cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach is pumped fromLake Gaston (which straddles the Virginia-North Carolina border) into the City of Norfolk's reservoir system and then diverted to the City of Chesapeake for treatment by the City of Chesapeake. Virginia Beach's portion of water is treated by the City of Norfolk at Moores Bridges water treatment plant and then piped into Virginia Beach. The pipeline is 76 mi (122 km) long and 60 in (1,500 mm) in diameter. Much of its follows the formerright-of-way of an abandoned portion of theVirginian Railway.[166] It is capable of pumping 60 million gallons of water per day; Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are partners in the project.[167]
The city provides wastewater services for residents and transports wastewater to the regional Hampton Roads Sanitation District treatment plants.[164]
The international headquarters ofOperation Smile, a nonprofit organization that specializes in repairing facial deformities in underprivileged children from around the globe, is located in the city.[171]
Physicians for Peace,[172] a non-profit that focuses on providing training and education to medical professionals in the developing world, is based in Norfolk.
Norfolk Four, four US Navy men stationed at Norfolk in 1997: Danial Williams, Joseph J. Dick, Eric Wilson, and Derek Tice, and who werewrongfully convicted in 1999 and 2000 in a rape/murder case based onfalse confessions and sentenced to life. They were released from prison in 2009 under a conditional pardon. The last convictions were overturned in 2016, and they were granted full pardons in 2017 by GovernorTerry McAuliffe. In December 2018 they received a settlement from the city and state.[178][179]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Official records for Norfolk kept January 1874 to December 1945 at the Weather Bureau Office in downtown, and at Norfolk Int'l since January 1946. For more information, seeThreadex.
^Hannings, Bud (2012).The War of 1812: A Complete Chronology with Biographies of 63 General Officers (Illustrated ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 138.ISBN978-0786463855.
^"xmACIS2".NOAA Regional Climate Centers.1) "Single-Station → Seasonal time series"; 2) Annual max temp "maximum" or "number of days" ≥ 100; 3) "ORFthr" in the Station selection ID.
^"Station: NORFOLK INTL AP, VA".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. RetrievedMay 18, 2021.
Core cities are metropolitan core cities of at least a million people. The other areas are urban areas of cities that have an urban area of 150,000+ or of a metropolitan area of at least 250,000+. Satellite cities are in italics.
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