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Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States of America. With a population of 234,403 as of the 2000 census, Norfolk is Virginia's second-largest incorporated city. Norfolk is also one of few urban areas in Virginia showing a resurgence in population, with an estimated population of 238,832 in 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau..

Norfolk is located in the Hampton Roads region, named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Norfolk is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA. The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. One of the oldest of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads, Norfolk is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region.

The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point. Norfolk is home to both the Norfolk Naval Base, the world's largest naval base, and corporate headquarters of the Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America's principal Class I railroads. As it is surrounded by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property, and is linked with its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes.

History

Colonial period
In 1619, the Governor for the Virginia Colony, Sir George Yeardley established 4 incorporations, termed citties (sic) for the developed portion of the colony. These citties were to form the basis for the government of the colony in the newly minted House of Burgesses, with the entire eastern portion of the Hampton Roads region falling under the Elizabeth Cittie incorporation, the remainder being in James Cittie, immediately to the west.

In 1622, Adam Thoroughgood (1604-1640) of King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, became one of the earliest Englishmen to settle in the area that was to become South Hampton Roads when, at the age of 18, he became an indentured servant to pay for passage to the Virginia Colony. After his period of contracted servitude was finished, he earned his freedom and soon became a leading citizen of the fledgling colony.

Meanwhile, after years of continuing struggles at Jamestown, the now bankrupt Virginia Company had its royal charter revoked by King James I in 1624 and Virginia became a crown colony. Also at this time, the King granted 500 acres (2 km²) of land to Thomas Willoughby, in what is now the Ocean View section of the city.

In 1629, Thoroughgood was elected to the House of Burgesses for Elizabeth Cittie. Five years later, in 1634, the King Charles I had the colony reorganized under a system of 8 shires, with much of the eastern Hampton Roads region becoming part of Elizabeth City Shire. In 1636, Thoroughgood was granted a large land holding along the Lynnhaven River (which he named) for having persuaded 105 people to settle in the colony. When the South Hampton Roads portion of Elizabeth City Shire was partitioned off in that same year, it was Thoroughgood who contributed the name of Norfolk, also in honor of his birthplace, to the newly formed New Norfolk County. It was also during this reorganization that King Charles granted a further 200 acres (0.8 km²) (present day downtown) to the Willoughby family; a portion of which would later form the basis for the future city of Norfolk. Shortly thereafter, in 1637, New Norfolk County was itself split into 2 counties, Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County, largely on Thoroughgood’s recommendation. The modern city of Norfolk is located in the latter.

In 1670, a royal decree was issued for the "building of storehouses to receive imported merchandise. . .and tobacco for export" for each of the Virginia colony's 20 counties. Norfolk’s protected harbor and natural deep water channels was quickly recognized for its potential as a major seaport, and in order to protect that potential, in 1673 the House of Burgesses called for the construction of a "Half Moone" fort at the site of what is now Town Pointe Park. The largest threat to the colony during this time was a potential attack by one of the other major European powers, and by the Dutch in particular. The ongoing Third Anglo-Dutch War, as well as the recent recapture of New York/New Amsterdam helped spur fears that the new port might also come under attack. Nonetheless, Norfolk quickly grew in size and by 1680 an act for the establishment of the "Towne of Lower Norfolk County" had been issued by the House. This act was subsequently fulfilled in 1682 when 50 acres were purchased by the county for 10,000 pounds of tobacco. The town initially encompassed a land area northeast of the point where the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River meets its southern branch, part of present-day downtown. In 1691, a final county subdivision took place when Lower Norfolk County was split to form Norfolk County (present day Norfolk, Chesapeake, and parts of Portsmouth) and Princess Anne County (present day Virginia Beach). Norfolk was incorporated in 1705 and in 1736 was granted a royal charter by George II as a borough.

By 1775, Norfolk had developed into what many contemporaries of the time argue was the most prosperous city in Virginia. It was a major shipbuilding center and an important trans-shipment point for the export of goods such as tobacco, corn, cotton, and timber from Virginia and North Carolina, to the British Isles and beyond. In turn, goods from the West Indies such as rum and sugar, and finished manufactured products from England were imported back through Norfolk to the rest of the lower colonies. Though widespread slavery in the colony did not occur until the early 18th century, it should also be noted that by this time much of the West Indies and American Colonial products that flowed through the harbor were now being produced with the use of slave labor.

Norfolk had been a strong base of Loyalist support throughout the start of the American Revolution. After fleeing the colonial capitol of Williamsburg, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, tried to reestablish control of the colony from Norfolk. Dunmore was able to secure small victories at Norfolk emboldening him to issue Dunmore's Proclamation, which most notably promised freedom to any slave who joined His Majesty's forces. Dunmore's victory would prove to be short lived.

Three weeks later, Dunmore's overconfidence proved to be his undoing when his forces attempted a surprise attack, but were instead decidedly routed at the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9th, 1775 by the fledlging 2nd Virginia Regiment. Dunmore was routed, with a 102 casualties to the rebels' one casualty. The rebels, commanded by Colonel Woodford, forced Dunmore and the remaining loyalists to flee to Dunmore's ship, Otter, which was anchored in the harbor. Dunmore's forced exile effectively brought an end to over 168 years of British colonial rule in Virginia.

Shortly thereafter, on New Year's Day, 1776, Lord Dunmore's fleet of 3 ships shelled the city of Norfolk for over 8 hours. The damage from the shells and ensuing fires set by the British destroyed 800 buildings, almost two-thirds of the city. Only the walls of St. Paul's Episcopal Church survived the bombardment and subsequent fires with cannonball damage to its southeast corner.

Rebirth, Fire, Disease, and War
Following the recovery from the Revolutionary War burning, the 19th century began auspiciously enough for Norfolk and her citizens. However, in 1804, another serious fire along the city’s waterfront destroyed some 300 buildings and the city experienced a serious economic setback as a result.

During the 1820’s many agrarian communities across the American South experienced a prolonged recession, resulting in the emigration of many families from the region to other areas. Notable during this period were the various attempts Virginia made to either phase out slavery through law (see Thomas Jefferson Randolph’s 1832 resolution) or through colonization of blacks to Africa. The largest of these organizations, the American Colonization Society (ACS), was founded in 1816 to this purpose and many of the subsequent immigrants from Virginia and North Carolina would later embark from Norfolk. One such immigrant was Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a native of Norfolk who would go on to become the first president of Liberia.

In 1845, Norfolk was incorporated as a city and by 1850 the city’s population was approximately 14,000 persons, including 4,000 slaves and 1,000 free blacks. In 1851, the Commonwealth authorized the charter of an 80-mile (130 km) railroad connecting Norfolk and Petersburg, which would be completed in 1858. A Yellow Fever epidemic broke in 1855 claiming more than 100 lives a day in Norfolk alone. The city's population would not reach its 1850 census population until after the Civil War.

In early 1861, Norfolk voters instructed their delegate to vote for ratification of the ordinance of secession. Soon thereafter, Virginia voted to secede from the Union.

Logo for Jamestown Exposition in 1907Not long thereafter, in the spring of 1862, the remains of the USS Merrimac were rebuilt at Norfolk Navy Yard as an ironclad and renamed as the CSS Virginia. Hoping to break the Union naval blockade of Virginia, the Battle of Hampton Roads began on March 8, 1862 off the northwest shore of the city's Sewell's Point Peninsula damaging many Union warships. On the second day of the battle, the USS Monitor made it to Union held Fort Monroe across the James River in Hampton. The battle would ultimately ended in a stalemate however, as neither ship was able to do significant damage to the other due to the heavy armor plating. This battle forever changed the course of naval warfare as warships from then on would be made from metal.Norfolk Mayor William Lamb surrendered the city to General John E. Wool and Union Forces, and scuttled the Virginia. For the duration of the Civil War, the city was held under Martial law and many private and public buildings were confiscated for federal use.

After Reconstruction, African-Americans throughout Hampton Roads were elected to state and local offices, but would slowly come to face increasing legal discrimination through the development of Jim Crow Laws in the latter part of the century.

The following years would bring new milestones to the city including the first car of bituminous coal arriving from the Pocahontas fields over the Norfolk & Western Railway in 1883. Tracks were extending to the coal piers at Lambert's Point creating one of the largest coal transshipment ports in the world. In 1894, classes began in the city's first public high school. The electric street railway was introduced to Norfolk and would link Norfolk with its neighboring communities (present day neighborhoods), and the neighboring City of Portsmouth.

1907 brought both the Virginian Railway and the Jamestown Exposition to Sewell's Point. The large Naval Review at the Exposition demonstrated the peninsula's favorable location, laying the groundwork for the world's largest naval base. Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the exposition brought many prominent people including President Theodore Roosevelt, congressmen, senators, and diplomats from 21 countries. The area where the exposition took would become Naval Air Station Hampton Roads, later Naval Station Norfolk, ten years later in 1917, during the height of World War I.

Norfolk continued to grow in the first half of the twentieth century as it expanded its borders through annexation. In 1906, the incorporated town of Berkley was annexed, stretching the city limits across the Elizabeth River. The town became a borough along with the neighborhoods of Beacon Light and Hardy Field.[10]

In 1923, the city limits were expanded to include Sewell's Point, Willoughby Spit, the town of Campostella, and Ocean View, adding the Navy Base and miles of beach property fronting on Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay. The Norfolk Naval Base grew rapidly as a result of World War I and this created a housing shortage in the area. These newly incorporated areas grew rapidly along with the 1906-created Larchmont neighborhood, five miles from downtown.

By 1950, Norfolk was the fifth fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. After a smaller annexation in 1959, and a 1988 land swap with Virginia Beach, the city assumed its current boundaries.

With the dawn of the Interstate Highway System, new highways opened and a series of bridges and tunnels opening over fifteen years would link Norfolk with the Peninsula, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. In 1952, the Downtown Tunnel opened connecting Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth. In 1991, the new Downtown Tunnel/Berkley Bridge complex was completed, with a new system of multiple lanes of highway and interchanges connecting Downtown Norfolk and Interstate 464 with the Downtown Tunnel tubes. Additional bridges and tunnels included the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in 1957, the Midtown Tunnel in 1962, and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway (Interstate 264 and State Route 44) in 1967.

A City Struggles With Integration
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case determined that racial segregation in public schools (and public accommodations) was unconstitutional. However, Virginia, under the leadership of U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd and the Byrd Organization, pursued a policy to avoid desegregation which came to be called Massive Resistance. Among the actions were new state laws which prohibited state funding for integrated public schools, even as some school districts began to contemplate them. This set the stage for a conflict, but it was a few years after Brown before the policy was tested.

Norfolk's private schools had been integrated four years before as they chose to voluntarily comply with the Brown decision. However, a number of public school divisions (school districts) around the state had been reluctant to do so for fear of losing state funds. In 1958, Federal District Courts in Virginia ordered schools in Arlington County, Charlottesville, Norfolk, and Warren County, to desegregate. In the fall of 1958, a handful of public schools in three of these widespread areas opened for the first time on a racially integrated basis. In response, Virginia Governor J. Lindsay Almond Jr. ordered the schools to be closed, which included six of the Norfolk Public Schools.

In Norfolk, the state action had the community impact of locking ten thousand children out of school, which raised outcry by the public to a high level. As some children attended makeshift schools in churches, etc., the citizens voted whether to reopen the public schools. The ballot made clear that the Commonwealth of Virginia would stop funding integrated schools. However, on January 19, 1959, the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals made that issue irrelevant as declared the state law to in conflict with Virginia's state constitution. The Court of Appeals ordered all public schools be funded, whether integrated or not. Governor Almond capitulated about ten days later, asking the General Assembly, which was in session, to rescind several "Massive Resistance" laws. In September 1959, Norfolk's public schools were desegregated when 17 black children entered six previously all-white schools in Norfolk. Virginian-Pilot editor Lenoir Chambers editorialized against massive resistance, earning the Pulitzer Prize.

Downtown Norfolk's Decline and Rebirth

The advent of newer suburban shopping destinations spelled demise for the fortunes of downtown's Granby Street commercial corridor, located just a few blocks inland from the waterfront. The opening of Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach, the region's first climate controlled shopping mall, and JANAF Shopping Center, one of the nation's first large shopping centers in 1959 helped foment Granby Street's spiral into commercial obsolescence. Beginning in the 1970s, Norfolk's city leaders began what would be a long push to revive the fortunes of its urban core. While Granby Street experienced its decline, Norfolk city leaders were also focused on the waterfront and its collection of decaying piers and warehouses. Nearly all of the obsolete shipping and warehousing facilities were demolished. In their place, planners created a new boulevard, Waterside Drive, creating new parcels on which most of the high rise buildings in Norfolk's skyline now stand. Waterside created a precedent in which a festival marketplace concept produced a major catalyst for other redevelopment.

Other facilities opened in the upcoming years, including the Harbor Park baseball stadium, home of the Norfolk Tides Triple-A minor league baseball team. Also, despite worries that a new downtown park would not draw fans from the region's other cities, Harbor Park continually posts one of the best attendance records in minor league baseball.

Norfolk's efforts to revitalize its downtown have attracted acclaim in economic development and urban planning circles throughout the country. Publications such as the American Planning Association's monthly Planning Magazine, have hailed the tremendous rebound in the downtown residential population, and Money Magazine proclaimed Norfolk as the number one city in which to live in the South in 1999. The rising fortunes of the downtown area have helped expand the city's coffers which has in turn been able to direct its attention to revitalizing other neighborhoods of the city. Located just northwest of downtown, the Ghent district of Norfolk is one of the Hampton Roads region's premier urban residential communities.

Government and Law
Norfolk is an independent city with services that both counties and cities in Virginia provide such as sheriff, social services, and a court system.

Norfolk city government consists of a city council with representatives from seven districts serving in a legislative and oversight capacity, as well as a popularly elected, at-large mayor. The city manager serves as head of the executive branch. Citizens in each of the six wards elect one council representative each to serve a four-year term. An additional council member is elected from a city wide "Superward 7." The city council meets at City Hall weekly, 7:00 PM on the first and third Tuesdays, and 2:30 PM on the second or fourth Tuesdays.

As of September, 2007, the Norfolk City Council consists of: Mayor Paul D. Fraim; Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, Ward 3; Daun S. Hester, Superward 7; Paul R. Riddick, Ward 4; Dr. Theresa W. Whibley, Ward 2; Donald L. Williams, Ward 1; Barclay C. Winn, Ward 6; W. Randy Wright, Ward 5.

Norfolk also has a federal courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse in Norfolk has four judges, Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, Raymond A. Jackson, Jerome B. Friedman, Walter D. Kelley, Jr., two Senior Judges, Robert G. Doumar, Henry Coke Morgan, Jr., four magistrate judges, and two bankruptcy judges.

Norfolk is located in the Virginia's 2nd congressional district, served by U.S. Representative Thelma Drake and in the Virginia's 3rd congressional district, served by U.S. Representative Robert C. Scott.

Economy

Since Norfolk serves as the commercial and cultural center for the somewhat unique geographical region of Hampton Roads (and in its political structure of independent cities), it can be difficult to separate the economic characteristics of Norfolk, from that of the region as a whole. In any case, it is no surprise that the waterways which almost completely surround the Hampton Roads region also play an important part in the local economy. As a strategic location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, its protected deep water channels serve as major arteries for the import and export of goods from across the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, and international destinations, as well as playing host to the world's largest naval base. Major Companies Headquartered in Norfolk include Norfolk Southern Ticker: NS, Landmark Communications, Dominion Enterprises,, FHC Health Systems, Portfolio Recovery Associates Ticker: PRAA, and BlackHawk Products Group.

Military

Hampton Roads is a major military center, particularly for the United States Navy, and Norfolk serves as the home for the most important of these regional installations, Naval Station Norfolk. Located on Sewell's Point Peninsula, in the northwest corner of the city, the installation is the current headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet, as well as being home port for the 2nd Fleet, which compromises approximately 62,000 active duty personnel, 75 ships, and 132 aircraft. The base also serves as the headquarters to the Allied Command Transformation (NATO) and the United States Joint Forces Command.

The region also plays an important role in defense contracting, with particular emphasis in the shipbuilding and ship repair businesses for the city of Norfolk. Major private shipyards located in Norfolk include: Northrop Grumman Newport News, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Metro Machine Corp., and Colonna's Shipyard Inc.. Most contracts fulfilled by these shipyards are issued by the Navy, though some private commercial repair also takes place.

When combined with other important regional military installations such as Naval Air Station Oceana, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (in Portsmouth), Langley Air Force Base, and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, and along with other important defense contractors, the military serves as the region's economic backbone and cultural focal point. In fact, it is estimated that over 35% of Gross Regional Product (which includes the entire Norfolk-Newport News-Virginia Beach MSA), is attributable to defense spending, and that 75% of all regional growth since 2001 is attributable to increases in defense spending.

Commercial Ports
After the military, the 2nd largest and most important industry for Hampton Roads and Norfolk based on economic impact are the region's cargo ports. Headquartered in Norfolk, the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is a Commonwealth of Virginia owned-entity that, in turn, owns and operates three major port facilities in Hampton Roads for break-bulk and container type cargo. In Norfolk, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) represents one of those three facilities and is home to the world's largest and fastest container cranes. Together, the 3 terminals of the VPA handled a total of over 2 million TEUs and 475,000 tons of breakbulk cargo in 2006, making it the 2nd* busiest port on the east coast of North America by total cargo volume after the Port of New York and New Jersey. In addition, just across the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Maersk is spending $450 million to open the largest container terminal on the East Coast sometime in late 2007.

In addition to NIT, Norfolk is home to Lambert's Point Docks, the largest coal trans-shipment point in the Northern Hemisphere, with annual throughput of approximately 48 million tons. Bituminous coal is primarily sourced from the Appalachian mountains in western Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The coal is loaded onto trains and sent to the port where it is unloaded onto large breakbulk cargo ships and destined for New England, Europe, and Asia primarily.

Most major shipping lines have a permanent presence in the region with some combination of sales, distribution, and/or logistical offices, many of which are located in Norfolk. In addition, many of the largest international shipping companies have chosen Norfolk as their North American headquarters. These companies are either located at the Norfolk World Trade Center building or have constructed buildings in the Lake Wright Executive Center office park. Among them include:

- CMA CGM - The French firm and world's 3rd largest shipping line has its North American headquarters in Norfolk.
- Zim Integrated Shipping Services - An Israeli owned shipping line and the 13th largest in the world, also has its North American headquarters in Norfolk.
- Maersk Line Limited - A subsidiary of the world's largest shipping line, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, specializing in US government shipping contracts.

Tourism
Though Virginia Beach and Williamsburg have traditionally been the centers of tourism for the region, the rebirth of downtown Norfolk and the construction of a cruise ship pier at the foot of Nauticus in downtown has driven tourism to become an increasingly important part of the city's economy. The number of cruise ship passengers who visited Norfolk increased from 50,000 in 2003, to 107,000 in 2004 and 2005. Also in April of 2007, the city completed construction on a $36 million state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal alongside the pier. 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.

Media
Norfolk's daily newspaper is the Virginian-Pilot. Other papers include the Port Folio Weekly, the New Journal and Guide, the Hampton Roads Business Journal, Old Dominion University's Mace and Crown, Norfolk State University's The Spartan Echo, and Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlin Chronicles. Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area. Norfolk is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials with towers located all over the Hampton Roads area.

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

Culture and Contemporary Life

As with most of Virginia (the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C metro area being the notable exception), Norfolk is most often associated with the larger American South. However, due to the large presence of the military in the region, which has brought people to Hampton Roads from across all regions of the country, some traditions and cultural aspects have changed more so than in other southern regions. One of the most notable differences is the relative lack of presence of the Southern accent. While it is not uncommon to hear someone speak with a Southern accent, especially older persons or persons from other southern regions, it is heard less frequently in Hampton Roads than some other parts of the south due, in large part, to the transient military and maritime population. Still, some elements of the southern dialect and culture have remained firmly in place, and newcomers often quickly adapt to these cultural differences. For instance, the expressions y'all as a plural second-person pronoun, 'honey' or 'hon' as a term of endearment, sweetened ice tea, Southern fried chicken, grits, and other traditional southern food dishes remain a part of the daily culture.

Norfolk was historically part of the slave-holding South, and was later segregated along racial lines until the 1960s. This has led to racial tensions within the highly diversified city that have been slow to heal, and those tensions still occasionally flare up. As recently as January of 2007, controversial city councilman Paul Riddick (who is black) accused white city police of, “...shooting blacks and white cops need to stop shooting black police officers” - a reference to the death of a black undercover police officer that was ruled accidental. Nevertheless, racial tensions have been slowly subsiding overtime as younger generations who have no firsthand recollection of segregation have reached adulthood and started families of their own.

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

Museums

NauticusThe Chrysler Museum of Art, located in the Ghent District, is the region's foremost art museum and is considered by The New York Times to be the finest in the entire state. Of particular note is the extensive glass collection and American neoclassical marble sculptures. Nauticus, located on the downtown waterfront, is a maritime-themed museum featuring hands-on exhibits, high definition films, and educational programs designed to increase awareness of the importance of the world's waterways. It is also noted for being the home to the battleship USS Wisconsin, the last battleship to be completed in the United States, and which briefly served in World War II, and later in the Korean and Gulf wars. The Hermitage Foundation Museum, located in an early 20th century Tudor style home, on a twelve acre estate fronting the Lafayette River, features an eclectic collection of Asian and Western art including Chinese bronze and ceramics, Persian rugs, and ivory carvings. The General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, located in the former Norfolk city hall rotunda in downtown, contains the tombs of the late General and his wife, along with personal belongings (including his famous corncob pipe), and a short film that chronicles the life of the famous American army general.

Performing Arts

Norfolk has a variety of performing groups with regular performances. The Virginia Opera, the Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was founded in 1974. Its current artistic director is Peter Mark. Though performances are statewide, the company's principal venue is the Harrison Opera House in the Ghent District. The Virginia Stage Company, founded in 1968, is one of the country's leading regional theaters and produces a full season of plays in the beautiful Wells Theatre downtown. The Company shares facilities with the Governor's School for the Arts. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1920, and directed by JoAnn Falleta, has been a regular staple on the regional fine arts scene. Most performances take place at Chrysler Hall in downtown. The orchestra also provides musicians for many other performing arts organizations in the area. Large scale concerts are held at either Norfolk Scope or the Ted Constant Convocation Center while The Norva provides a more intimate atmosphere for smaller groups. Norfolk has a number of historic facilities including the Attucks Theatre, Naro Expanded Cinema, Jeanne and George Roper PAC(formerly Loew's State Theater), and the Riverview Theatre. The Free Reign Theatre provides independent theatre.

Festivals and Parades
Town Pointe Park in downtown plays host to a wide variety of annual events from early spring through late fall. Harborfest, the region's largest annual festival celebrated its 30th year in 2006, is held during the first weekend of June and celebrates the region's proximity and attachment to the water. The Parade of Sail (numerous tall sailing ships from around the world form in line and sail past downtown before docking at the marina), music concerts, regional food, and a large fireworks display highlight this 3-day festival. Bayoo Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival, a celebration of the Cajun people and culture, had small beginnings. This 3-day festival during the 3rd week of June has become one of the largest in the region and, in addition to serving up Cajun cuisine, also features Cajun music. Norfolk's Fourth of July celebration of American independence, contains a spectacular fireworks display and a special Navy reenlistment ceremony. The Norfolk Jazz Festival, though smaller by comparison to some of the big city jazz festivals, still manages to attract the country's top jazz performers. It is held in August. The Town Pointe Virginia Wine Festival has become a showcase for Virginia-produced wines that has enjoyed increasing success over the years. Virginia's burgeoning wine industry has become increasingly noted both within the United States and on an international level and 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 3rd weekend of October. The St. Patrick's Day annual parade in the city's Ocean View neighborhood, celebrates Ocean View's rich Irish heritage.

Parks and Public Spaces

Norfolk has a variety of parks and open spaces through its city parks systems. The city maintains three beaches on its north shore in the Ocean View area. Five additional parks contain picnic facilities and playgrounds for children. The city also has some community pools open to city citizens. The Norfolk Botanical Garden, opened in 1939, is a 155-acre (0.6 km²) botanical garden and arboretum located near the Norfolk International Airport and is open year round. The Virginia Zoological Park, opened in 1900, is a 65-acre zoo with hundreds of animals on display including the critically endangered Siberian Tiger and threatened White Rhino among others. The City is also known for its "Mermaids on Parade," which is 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.

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

Geography and Climate

Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia from space, July 1996. Norfolk is located in the upper right quadrant, and east is at the top.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 249.4 km² (96.3 mi²). 139.2 km² (53.7 mi²) of it is land and 110.3 km² (42.6 mi²) of it (44.22%) is water. Norfolk is located at 37°54'36N, 76°12'25W (36.885747° N, 76.2599° W)

Norfolk has a humid subtropical climate with moderate changes of seasons. Spring arrives in March with mild days and cool nights, and by late May, the temperature has warmed up considerably to herald warm summer days. Summer temperatures can be unpleasantly hot, often topping 90° Fahrenheit with high humidity. On average, July is the warmest month of the year, with the maximum average precipitation. Days stay warm to mild until October, and fall is marked by nights once again becoming cooler. Winter is usually mild in Norfolk, with the coldest days featuring lows in the mid-upper 30s and highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. On average, the coolest month of the year is January. Norfolk's record high was 105° Fahrenheit on August 7, 1918, and record low was -3° Fahrenheit recorded in January 21, 1985. Snow falls every winter, averaging 12 inches per season.

The city is located at the southeastern corner of the tidewater region of Virginia (also known as Hampton Roads), at the junction of the Elizabeth and James Rivers, bordering the Chesapeake Bay. The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area (officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA) is the 34th largest in the United States, with a total population of 1,576,370. The area includes the Virginia cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg, and the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Surry, and York, as well as the North Carolina county of Currituck. The city of Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach oceanside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily centers of tourism. Virginia Beach is the most populated city within the MSA though it currently functions more as a suburb.

The City of Norfolk owns nine reservoirs: Lake Whitehurst, Little Creek Reservoir, Lake Lawson, Lake Smith, Lake Wright, Lake Burnt Mills, Western Branch Reservoir, Lake Prince and Lake Taylor. The Virginia tidewater area has grown faster than the local freshwater supply. The river water has always been salty, and the fresh groundwater is no longer available in most areas. Currently, water for the tidewater area is pumped from Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia-North Carolina borderm along with the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers. The pipeline is 76 miles long and 60 inches in diameter. Much of its follows the former right-of-way of an abandoned portion of the Virginian Railway. It is capable of pumping 60 million gallons of water per day(60MGD), Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are partners in the project.

In addition to extensive riverfront property, Norfolk has miles of bayfront resort property and beaches in the Willoughby Spit and Ocean View communities.

Population age distribution for NorfolkAs of the census of 2000, there were 234,403 people, 86,210 households, and 51,898 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,684.4/km² (4,362.8/mi²). There were 94,416 housing units at an average density of 678.5/km² (1,757.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.36% White, 44.11% African American, 0.46% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.80% of the population.

There were 86,210 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution is 24.0% under the age of 18, 18.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,815, and the median income for a family was $36,891. Males had a median income of $25,848 versus $21,907 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,372. About 15.5% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. Norfolk has the second largest population of Naval retirees in the U.S. after San Diego.Historically, Norfolk reached its peak United States Census Bureau population count at 307,951 in April 1970.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Norfolk is linked with its neighbors through an extensive network of arterial and Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes. The major east-west routes are Interstate 64, U.S. Route 58 (Virginia Beach Boulevard) and U.S. Route 60 (Ocean View Avenue). The major north-south routes are U.S. Route 13 and U.S. Route 460, also known as Granby Street. Other main roadways in Norfolk include Newtown Road, Waterside Drive, Tidewater Drive, and Military Highway. The Hampton Roads Beltway (I-64 and its spurs I-264, I-464, and I-664) makes a loop around Norfolk.

Norfolk is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF), now the region's major commercial airport. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits straddling neighboring Virginia Beach.[72] 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. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also provides commercial air service for the Hampton Roads area. The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles outside the city limits.

Norfolk is served by Amtrak through the Newport News station, via connecting buses. The line runs west along the Virginia Peninsula to Richmond and points beyond. A high speed rail connection at Richmond to both the Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor are also under study.

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

The city recently completed construction (April 2007) of the new $36M 'Half Moone Cruise Terminal' in downtown adjacent to the Nauticus Museum, providing a state-of-the-art permanent structure for various cruise lines and passengers wishing to embark from Norfolk. Previously, makeshift structures were used to embark/disembark passengers, supplies, and crew.

Local Transit

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

Utilities
Water and sewer services are provided by the City's Department of Utilities. Norfolk's water quality has been recognized as the fourth best in the United States by Men's Health Magazine. Privately owned utility companies serving Norfolk are Dominion Virginia Power (electricity), Virginia Natural Gas (natural gas), Verizon (landline telephone service), and Cox Communications (cable television).

Cityscape

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

Norfolk was burnt down during the Revolutionary War. After the American revolution, Norfolk was rebuilt using homes with federal style architecture which was based on Roman ideals. Federal style homes kept the Georgian style symmetry, though had more refined decorations to look more like new world homes. Federal homes had features such as narrow sidelights with an embracing fanlight around the doorway, giant porticoes, gable or flat roofs, and projecting bays on exterior walls. Rooms are oval, elliptical or octagonal. Few of these federal row houses remain standing today. Still, a majority of buildings were made of wood and had simple construction.

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