Coastal Virginia 2026-27 Edition by Darden Publishing

As we honor America’s 250th anniversary, we proudly reflect on our legacy of building aircraft carriers and submarines that strengthen freedom far beyond our shores.

Welcome to Coastal Virginia

33rd Anniversary edition

It seems like yesterday when I started Darden Publishing in 1993. It began with “Living on the Virginia Peninsula” A Hampton Roads Community magazine and then it became known as “Living in Hampton Roads” Southeastern Virginia Lifestyles magazine, and in 2012 I was the first to introduce “Coastal Virginia” magazine. Along the way came “BRAVO” the Hampton Roads Arts magazine and “Healthcare in Hampton Roads” magazine.

Born and raised in Newport News; a 1966 graduate of Warwick High School and a 1974 graduate from Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary after serving a military tour with the Fort Monroe Continental Army Command band, I have seen my hometown grow from farmlands to vibrant business communities and still growing as we speak. Thank You Hampton Roads for allowing me to give back to my community.

The Coastal Virginia region, home of one of the world’s largest natural harbors known as “Hampton Roads” is comprised of the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin/Southampton County, Gloucester County, Hampton, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, York County and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. All are accessible by a major interstate highway system, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and two major airports in Norfolk and Newport News both served by low fare airlines. Coastal Virginia makes a perfect vacation destination for those seeking clean beaches, outdoor recreation, fascinating history, fine arts culture, thrilling events and festivals, abundant shopping and coastal cuisine.

Many people do not know where the James River ends.

There is a magnificent, wide channel of water that connects the James River with the Chesapeake Bay called the Hampton Roads. The combination of the words as “Hampton Roads” was recorded as the channel linking the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers with the Chesapeake Bay in an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1755, and they are the main tributaries of the Hampton Roads. The peninsula’s Northside has the Newport News Shipyard, the birthplace of many of our Navel Aircraft Carriers and Submarines and on the Southside the Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. Also, the Virginia International Marine Terminals composed of Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth are very important to the area.

The Hampton Roads is one of the world’s largest natural harbors — a “roadstead” or “roads,” as applied to a water channel. It is, generally speaking, between the Monitor and Merrimac and the Hampton Roads bridge tunnels. It empties into the Chesapeake Bay leading to the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the sources of information, the Hampton Roads meets the Chesapeake Bay at points between Old Point Comfort on the north side and Sewell’s Point to the south. The beautiful, historic Chamberlin Hotel, with its magnificent view of the manmade Fort Wool, are mentioned as meeting points to the Chesapeake Bay, which is the largest estuary in the world.

Hopefully, you’ll enjoy learning more about Hampton Roads as you peruse the pages of this magazine. By the time you get to the end of it, you’ll realize what the locals know all too well — Coastal Virginia is the place to be for business and family.

PUBLISHER

Paul Quillin Darden

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jackie Nelson Darden

ADVERTISING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Mary Tod Gray

WEBSITE DESIGNER

Caffacus Creative Consulting

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

BOC Design, Inc.

COVER IMAGE

Courtesy of BOC Design, Inc.

©Copyright 2026 by Darden Publishing. The information herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, Darden Publishing makes no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this information. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY DARDEN PUBLISHING (757) 389-5473

Email: CoastalVirginia@verizon.net

Website: www.CoastalVirginia.net https://dardenpublishing.net

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COASTAL

LIVING IN HAMPTON ROADS

The Hampton Roads region is located in southeastern Virginia along the eastern coast of the United States. The region is the birthplace of Colonial America, merging centuries of history with rich culture, beautiful waterfront landscapes, livable communities, modern technology, economic prosperity, a thriving maritime industry and a strong military presence.

Hampton Roads is linked to domestic markets by one of the country’s most modern interstate and state highway systems. Interstate 64, a major east-west route, encircles the metropolitan area. Due west are the principal north-south interstate highways, I-85 and I-95. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel gives coastal highway traffic direct access and saves 145 kilometers of highway distance to the New York/New Jersey corridor. Hampton Roads has much to offer in terms of quality of life. Residents enjoy the best of city, suburban and country living, and can take advantage of expansive shorelines, museums, opera, festivals, sports, Colonial cities and towns, state and national parks, and many retail and residential options.

In addition to being a great place to live, Hampton Roads is a top place for doing business. The region’s excellent business environment is built upon its skilled labor force of almost 800,000 people. Add competitive infrastructure,

six federal research labs, the expansive Port of Virginia, twelve educational institutions, and a low cost of doing business to the mix and it is easy to see why so many businesses choose to operate in Hampton Roads. 

CHESAPEAKE

Mayor Richard W. West

“Chesapeake is proud to be a city of communities, from our bustling urban center, to historic areas rooted deep in our nation’s past, to the rural heart that formed our founding core. We are equally as proud to be a strong participant in the thriving regionalism of Hampton Roads. Working together, internally and externally, Chesapeake strives every day to be an exceptional place to live, learn, work, farm, and play, while never losing focus on our

FRANKLIN

MAYOR Paul Kaplan

“Franklin is a small city with real character— rooted in history, shaped by its rivers, and driven by a strong sense of purpose. Ours is a community built on hard work, authenticity, and connection, where place still matters and neighbors know one another. Today, Franklin is investing in its future. We have a vibrant downtown with restaurants, shopping, services and festivals. Franklin supports local businesses and is building an economy that honors our past while embracing new opportunity. Proud of where we come from and clear-eyed about where we’re going, Franklin offers a welcoming place to live, invest, and be part of a community where people know your name. A city that welcomes new residents with our lower cost of living and new homes are still manageable. Franklin, room for what’s next!”

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY

Chairman Rudolph Jefferson

“Isle of Wight County has long been known for its ‘Local Roots and Global Reach.’ Located in the heart of Hampton Roads, we are committed to accentuating our agricultural and rural assets while providing easy access to urban conveniences. We ensure a high quality of life for all who call the county home. That is the driving force in attracting and retaining businesses and residents to our community.”

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Chairman Ashley C, Chriscoe

In Gloucester County, progress meets community A strengthening economy, award winning schools, and low taxes makes it a place where opportunity flourishes and people are able to partake in “The land of the life worth living”.

HAMPTON

JAMES CITY COUNTY

Chairman John McGlennon

NORFOLK

Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander

Mayor James “Jimmy” A. Gray, Jr.

“Technology and innovation have always been a big part of our culture in Hampton — and not just because of the work that’s been done at the historic NASA Langley Research Center. We also have the state-of-the-art medical care provided at Hampton University’s Proton Therapy Institute, and the research being done every day at Hampton University’s Center for Atmospheric Science and at the Virginia Tech Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Our award-winning schools and Academies of Hampton program continue to produce bright young minds eager and ready to contribute to our local workforce. As we continue to move closer to the completion of the HRBT Expansion project, we are working to position Hampton as the central hub for technology and commerce in the region. Add in our natural and historic resources — such as Chesapeake Bay, Fort Monroe, and scenic beaches — and you can see that Hampton truly has something for everyone.”

“James City County, home of the first permanent English settlement in America, is a premier community with a rich historical legacy. We work hard to preserve the rural and historical character of our County, and we take pride in our exceptional public services, high-quality education systems, and fiscally efficient government. Our lush green parks and 152 miles of shoreline provide a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor recreation. Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement offer glimpses into the foundations of America. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg Premium Outlets, and other area attractions delight visitors of all ages and interests. From multi-million-dollar companies to small start-ups, we are open for business. Whether you are a thrill-seeker looking for adventure, a foodie craving a new culinary experience, or a curious learner who wants to explore history, you can find it all right here. Our vibrant community has something for everyone, and we invite you to see for yourself what makes James City County exceptional.”

NEWPORT NEWS

M ayor Phillip Jones

“Newport News is a city built on breakthroughs, and we’ve been this way for generations. Approaching life as a unified community allows us to make the most of opportunities, industries, and our collective energy. We smash atoms, build nuclear aircraft carriers, launch international businesses, fly the world’s most sophisticated helicopters, write songs that move millions, invent life-saving technologies, offer transformational support services, and so much more. As a result, we have become the best at what we do. We invite those who want to open or expand a business, attend a world-class university, live in welcoming neighborhoods, embark upon a new career, experience unique adventures, broaden their horizons, and find a place to belong, to become part of our great city.”

“For over 340 years, Norfolk has stood as Coastal Virginia’s cultural and economic hub, fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth. Naval Station Norfolk, a vital partner for over a century, supports operations for every branch of our armed services and NATO, solidifying our city’s strategic importance. Renowned for our excellence in healthcare and technical education, Norfolk boasts 7.5 miles of pristine beaches and iconic landmarks like Chrysler Hall, the Chrysler Museum of Art, and the scenic Elizabeth River Trail spanning 10.5 miles along the waterfront. Transformational projects such as The Main, Waterside District, Norfolk Premium Outlets, the Glass Light Hotel, and IKEA are drawing new visitors eager to explore our vibrant city. From cheering on the Norfolk Tides at Harbor Park to catching a Norfolk Admirals hockey game at the Scope, there’s never a dull moment in Norfolk. With robust transportation options—including passenger rail, Virginia’s only light rail system, a nearby airport with direct connections to the west coast, and a cruise terminal offering travel to Cuba—Norfolk is one of the most connected cities in the country. Home to prestigious colleges and universities, a rich arts and culture scene, world-class attractions like the Virginia Zoo and Norfolk Botanical Garden, and a burgeoning innovative economy, Norfolk embodies resilience and progress as we shape the coastal community of tomorrow.”

POQUOSON

M ayor David Hux

“Poquoson is an ancient Indian word meaning a great marsh and is situated on a peninsula on the edge of Chesapeake Bay between Poquoson River and Back River. Poquoson is the oldest continuously named city in Virginia. We are a close-knit community, steeped in tradition and celebrate our heritage as a waterfront fishing and farming community. Every October, our Seafood Festival is enjoyed by tens of thousands of people. We prioritize our exceptional public schools, our status as one of the safest cities in Virginia while maintaining our small-town quality of life. Through thoughtful actions, strategic investments, and meaningful initiatives, we are committed to building upon the city’s strengths, ensuring its long-term sustainability, and preserving its unique character. “Poquoson is the place to live, work and thrive.”

The leaders of Hampton Roads’ cities and counties are dedicated and diverse individuals who work tirelessly to improve the quality of life in their respective communities. Yet, they share a common vision and commitment for the future and recognize the value of collaboration on matters of mutual concern. And, while they may work independently to serve the needs of their constituents on some issues, they understand the interdependencies of their individual municipalities and work hard in transcending traditional boundaries to strengthen and enrich the larger economic unit, the region, to succeed together where each individually can not.

PORTSMOUTH

M ayor Shannon E. Glover

“From the first explorations of Captain John Smith in 1608, to the town’s establishment in 1752, Portsmouth has played a pivotal role in the history and development of our country. Portsmouth’s historical and nautical significance makes us a major contributor to the nation, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Hampton Roads. We are home to the nation’s oldest and largest Naval Shipyard, and home to America’s oldest continuously operating naval hospital, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Portsmouth is also home to the largest privately-owned marine container terminal in the United States, Virginia International Gateway, on the Elizabeth River - one of the deepest working harbors in the world. As a regional partner in a fiber optic network project, that will provide high-speed internet connectivity for businesses, schools, libraries, hospitals and governmental agencies, our future is full of economic potential.”

SUFFOLK

Mayor Michael D. Duman

“There are a multitude of reasons so many people and businesses are calling Suffolk home. For many, it’s the small–town charm, rich history, eco-adventures, and abundant natural resources. Our city is also proud of our strong schools, AAA Bond Rating, and robust community support of independently owned businesses. The Downtown District is inspiring locals and visitors to continue to explore our unique shops and eateries. Businesses such as Amazon, Target, and Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, have invested in Suffolk in part due to our ample commercial land opportunities, capable labor force, and ideal central location. Of course, the food and beverage industry has long been an important foundation of Suffolk’s business core, with legacy companies such as Planters and Lipton employing a large portion of the workforce.

With an ever-increasing population and influx of new industries, we keep an eye on growth and thoughtful planning, while remaining committed to our values. It truly is a good time to be in Suffolk.”

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY

Chairman Dr. Alan Edwards

“Southampton County embodies the perfect balance between honoring our past and embracing our future. Our community continues to grow stronger by blending tradition with innovation. Nestled among scenic farmland and key transit routes that connect us across the East Coast, Southampton is a place of both beauty and opportunity. Here, you can kayak, fish, or hunt in the morning and invest in a thriving business by afternoon. We remain committed to dreaming boldly, planning strategically, investing wisely, and working faithfully toward a robust, diversified economy that secures our bright future.”

Past collaboration efforts have resulted in the consolidation of several government functions under the management of public authorities: trash disposal, sanitation, bus service, airport management and port services. Today, Hampton Roads’ leaders are addressing a myriad of regional issues by actively participating in or providing oversight to a variety of commissions, boards and committees focused on fostering economic growth, improving the region’s competitiveness in the global economy, workforce development, education, transportation/ congestion management, emergency response, water resource and storm water management, senior services, health services, cultural enhancement, and conservation coordination, to name a few. 

Mayor Douglas G. Pons

“Williamsburg is an internationally known travel destination and a central hub for culinary and visual arts, education and business. While Colonial Williamsburg continues to inspire new and returning visitors with interactive programming and adventures, visitors and locals alike are enjoying a multitude of emerging eclectic art galleries, shops and eateries that provide farm-to-table cuisine and local dishes as well as a craft brewery and beer hall, distillery, and even a meadery. As the home of the second oldest university in the nation, the City values the students and faculty of William & Mary, encouraging them, and many others, to start or grow their families and business ventures within our 9.2 square miles. Williamsburg is known for its legion of awards and designations for open government, outstanding regional planning, and innovative programs. We are a thriving community that is rich in historical precedence as we build toward an even more vibrant future.”

Mayor Robert M. “Bobby” Dyer

”Virginia Beach is a City of the future. Whether serving as a digital port for technology giants like Microsoft or Google or paving the way for new and emerging industries to thrive, we are constantly working to improve the quality of life for our residents, visitors and businesses. We are powered by the will of the people and are grateful to our citizens, who help us improve the services provided by the City. Named the safest metropolitan City in the United States and one of the best places to start a business, there’s never been a better time to be in Virginia’s most populous City — Virginia Beach.”

YORK COUNTY

Chairman Douglas R. Holroyd

“York County embodies the rich heritage of the Commonwealth, the strength of its present accomplishments, and the promise of its future. As a symbol of America’s fight for independence, it continues to uphold a commitment to delivering an exceptional quality of life for its residents. Our schools, parks, and waterways remain cherished cornerstones of the community. Moving forward, we are dedicated to fostering economic diversity and sustainable growth, focusing on education, public safety, fiscal stewardship, and responsible development. Whether York County is part of your history or your present, the Board of Supervisors welcomes you to make it part of your future.”

VIRGINIA BEACH

WILLIAMSBURG

Coastal Virginia TheBest of

Enjoy a few of our area’s abundant offerings.

BEACHES

Buckroe Beach – Hampton www.hampton.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/46

Huntington Park Beach –Newport News Parks & Recreation https://nnparksandrec.org/directory-facilities/listing/ huntington-park-beach/

Oceanfront – Virginia Beach www.virginiabeach.com/listing/attractions/virginia-beachoceanfront

Sandbridge Beach – Virginia Beach www.visitvirginiabeach.com/visitors/beaches/sandbridge

Yorktown Beach – Yorktown www.visityorktown.org/163/Outdoor-Fun

CRUISES

Relax on the waterways that both enhance the spirit and ease the mind, through educational and historical endeavors. Climb aboard and experience a stir in your heart and feed your sense of adventure while you take in the enrichment of “America’s First Region!”

American Rover – Norfolk www.americanrover.com

City Cruises – Norfolk www.cityexperiences.com/norfolk

Hampton Queen – Hampton www.hamptonharbortours.com

Schooner Alliance – Yorktown www.sailyorktown.com/schooner-alliance.html

Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises – Norfolk www.navalbasecruises.com

FAMILY ATTRACTIONS

Families know that the attractions Hampton Roads provides are too numerous to do all in a few days, let alone weeks! Whether you are young, or young at heart, enjoy the variety the region offers whatever strikes your fancy! Choose from history, amusement, pure educational fun, sports and more... no age limit binding!

Children’s Museum of Virginia http://childrensmuseumvirginia.com

Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown www.historyisfun.org

Inlet Cruises – Virginia Beach www.rudeetours.com

Virginia Living Museum – Newport News www.thevlm.org

Water Country USA/Busch Gardens www.watercountryusa.com www.buschgardens.com

Golf

tournaments.uskidsgolf.com www.uagolftour.com

Riverwalk Landing in Historic Yorktown

Carnival Cruises from Norfolk

HISTORICAL SITES

The essence of “America’s First Region” would not be where it is today if the past was not preserved. Relive the importance of historical sites, reflect upon yesteryears, take part in the remembrance of fallen heroes, and guide others to visit!

Emancipation Oak – Hampton https://home.hamptonu.edu/about/emancipation-oak

First Landing Cross – Virginia Beach www.virginia.org/Listings/HistoricSites/FirstLaningCross/

Fort Monroe – Hampton www.nps.gov/fomr/index.htm

MacArthur Memorial – Norfolk www.macarthurmemorial.org/

Victory Arch – Newport News www.virginia.org/Listings/HistoricSites/VictoryArch/

Yorktown Battlefield– Yorktown www.nps.gov/york/index.htm

MUSEUMS

Museums are the guardians of Hampton Roads’ collections, providing the journey between the then and now. Explore the great institutions of all kinds, and take away from the experience more enlightenment and wonderment plus a hunger and thirst to learn more!

American Revolution Museum – Jamestown Settlement www.jyfmuseums.org/

Mariners’ Museum – Newport News www.marinersmuseum.org/

Nauticus – Norfolk www.nauticus.org

Virginia Air and Space Science Center – Hampton www.vasc.org

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center – Virginia Beach www.virginiaaquarium.com/

Virginia Zoo – Norfolk www.virginiazoo.org

The Mariners Museum

Virginia Air & Space Center

PARKS

Green spaces are gems of the Hampton Roads communities and so many to choose from! Look no further for uniqueness and diversity. Fly a kite, hike or jog, take your dog for a stroll, have a picnic, or find recharging solitude.

City Park – Portsmouth https://portsmouthva.gov/

Mount Trashmore – Virginia Beach https://parks.virginiabeach.gov/outdoors/city-parks/ mount-trashmore-park

New Quarter Park – Williamsburg https://www.yorkcounty.gov

Newport News Park – Newport News https://nnparksandrec.org

Waller Mill Park – Williamsburg https://www.williamsburgva.gov/sitemap

Mount Trashmore Park

Lions Bridge

‘Sea’ and Do!

Experience the endless possibilities!

Hampton Carousel

WILDLIFE WATCHING

Wildlife conservation is one of the keys to healthy ecosystem maintenance between nature and cities. Take a break from the day and tune into the sounds of the outdoors! Many places, large or small are undiscovered jewels of visual delights and are never far away even from one’s own backyard!

Huntington Park Beach –Newport News Parks & Recreation https://nnparksandrec.org/directory-facilities/listing/ huntington-park-beach

Bells Mill Park – Chesapeake https://www.visitchesapeake.com/things-to-do

Back Bay National National Wildlife Refuge –Virginia Beach www.fws.gov/refuge/back_bay/

Grandview Nature Preserve – Hampton https://visithampton.com/attraction/grandviewnature-preserve

Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge – Suffolk www.fws.gov/refuge/great_dismal_swamp

Norfolk Botancial Garden – Norfolk https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org

York River State Park – James City County www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/york-river

HAMPTON H ARBOR CRUISE

This 3-hour Harbor Tour departs from the Historic Downtown Hampton waterfront and proceeds out the Hampton River, passing Hampton University and Blackbeard’s Point, where the notorious pirate’s head was displayed on a pike after his capture off the coast of the Outer Banks.

Entering the Hampton Roads Harbor, you will be sailing the waters of Capt. John Smith and the First Settlers.

Your tour continues past historic Fort Monroe and the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse. After an awe-inspiring view of the magnificent Chesapeake Bay the cruise will stop for a 45-minute guided walking tour of the Civil War island of Fort Wool (weather permitting).

The highlight of the tour is an in-depth view of the massive warships at the Norfolk Naval Base, home to aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, and various types of support ships.

The return trip to Hampton features a captivating review of the famous Battle of the Ironclads, as we sail across the waters of the battle site. 

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Hampton Queen Tours

Downtown Hampton

Fun for Every Visitor

Tourism continues to be one of Hampton Roads’ most important industries, bringing significant outside dollars into the economy, which enables broad based regional economic growth. The tourism industry allows the region to export its climate, beaches, and history to the rest of the nation. As with the port and defense industries in the region, the tourism industry developed in Hampton Roads because of its unique competitive advantages, particularly its water and historical resources. The tourism industry is well developed within the region, having achieved a high level of maturity indicating that the opportunity for extensive employment growth is unlikely.

Norfolk’s Waterside District is the “premier dining and entertainment district” in conjunction with the U.S.S. Wisconsin and the Norfolk Tides.

The city’s cruise terminal is easily accessible to guests transferring from the airport or arriving by car.

You can now sail from Norfolk to the Bahamas on cruises that typically

Carnival Cruise in Norfolk

range from five to seven nights in length. Visit www.norfolkcruise.com.

Norfolk’s Wards Corner area continues development with its current makeover.

Furthermore, Virginia Beach and the developer Venture Realty Group announced Atlantic Park, a $335-million mixed-used development, is a done deal, and construction has begun in the

former Virginia Beach Dome site in the heart of the resort area to feature an entertainment complex for both tourists and residents.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened to the public Jan. 15, 2023. The $340 million venue, part of a planned entertainment district along Victory Boulevard off Interstate 264, features 1,446 slot machines, 57 table games and 24 poker tables as well as 10 bars and restaurants and an event space. It also includes a Topgolf Swing Suites that overlooks a BetRivers Sportsbook.

Rivers Casino, which is owned and will be operated by Rush Street Gaming, is the first permanent casino facility to open in Virginia. Proposed casinos are in the pipeline in Danville and Norfolk.

757 Makerspace has expanded its presence at Fort Monroe to better serve the region and more particularly, the Virginia Peninsula. The new Fort Monroe location provides 12,733 square feet of creative space in an ideal setting just outside the moat of the historic Fort at 16 Murray Street. This has been a great opportunity to partner with the Hampton Economic Development Authority (EDA), Hampton City Schools, the Fort Monroe Authority and the City of Hampton to expand opportunities for artists and makers in the region.

Events in Hampton’s venues fill the Virginia Peninsula hotels and are entertainment hubs for regional residents. Hampton experienced dramatic changes recently in Phoebus, and downtown Hampton will experience a new wave of redevelopment this year. The new Hampton Virginia Aquaplex opened summer 2022. For more details visit: https://hamptonaquaplex.com/.

Newport New’s City Center at Oyster Point continues to grow with more entertainment venues as restaurants, a movie theater. Newport New’s first craft brewery, the Ironclad Distillery, located in the downtown waterfront, produces bourbon using Virginia-grown grains.

Listed on the National register of Historic Places, Hilton Village in Newport News is a collection of over 27 unique shoppes, clothiers, eateries, vintage & consignment clothing, home furnishings & decor, antique & vintage accents, galleries and salons. Located along Warwick Boulevard, the Village is the place to shop, eat, relax and enjoy! Visit https://explorehiltonvillage.com.

LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY

The local tourism industry follows the national and regional economy and thus national consumer confidence is closely followed by tourism professionals on both the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads as a strong predictor of regional tourism activity.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth

Norfolk Cruise Terminal

Virginia Beach, Chesapeake/ Suffolk and the other Hampton Roads sub-segments were able to increase occupancy numbers, according to recently published Smith Travel Research data. But the Beach held a commanding lead in the category that industry experts say is the prime indicator of hotel performance: Revenue per available room, or RevPAR.

RevPAR is a measure of how much cash the rooms are pulling in on average, factoring in the rooms that are unoccupied. High occupancy rates mean little if room rates are cheap, and high room rates mean little if only a handful are occupied.

FIVE DIFFERENT MARKETS

Smith Travel Research, a major source of tourism data, has divided the Hampton Roads’ region into five distinct lodging markets: Williamsburg and Newport News/Hampton on the Peninsula, and Norfolk/Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake/Suffolk in South Hampton Roads.

The hotel data (which does not include timeshares) and the tourism employment data fail to capture the full impact on tourism. This data proves extremely difficult to access, and often estimates are made with surveys or other imprecise tools. While the previous paragraph

WILD CARE CENTER

The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News has begun a $4.3 million expansion to its 23-acre campus called the Wild Care Center. The 5,000-squarefoot facility will be located along the museum’s outdoor boardwalk trail that will create a literal window into the world of veterinary and preventative animal care, nutrition, and the connection between humans and the environment. In addition to becoming a vital resource for the local community, the Wild Care Center will allow the museum to expand its internship and externship programs for those pursuing careers in natural and medical sciences.

Photography courtesy of the Virginia Living Museum, Olivia Triska-2010

noted the decline in hotel activity in Williamsburg, it is difficult to estimate how many former Williamsburg visitors now stay in Chesapeake or Virginia Beach and drive into Williamsburg for day trips, or how many of the Williamsburg visitors stay in the area’s 6,000 (approximate) time share rooms. The state has made estimates for expenditures by locality which have some value, but they are based off various tax receipts and thus are necessarily at least a year out of date.

Regional efforts to market Hampton Roads as a destination are coordinated through the Coastal Virginia Tourism Alliance. Visit on the web at www.visitcova.com.

HAMPTON CAROUSEL

The carousel, one of only 170 functioning antique wooden carousels in the United States, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It contains 42 oil paintings, 30 mirrors, a 1914 Bruder band organ, 48 hand-carved wooden horses, and two upholstered, hand-carved wooden chariots. It was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and installed at Buckroe Beach Amusement Park in 1920. It was disassembled in 1985 when the amusement park closed and was restored and installed in its present location downtown in 1991.

Waterfront Festivals

Buckroe Beach

SHOP · Dine · Explore

As Virginia commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence through VA250, Gloucester Main Street stands as a reminder of the community’s enduring connection to the nation’s founding and its commitment to preserving and sharing that history for future generations.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AMERICA’S

Honoring Indigenous Peoples: A Tribal Nations Celebration at Jamestown Settlement

April 25, 2026

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

From Pen to Paper: Thomas Jefferson and the Drafting of the Declaration of Independence

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

The Flame of Revolution: 250th Anniversary of the 5th Virginia Convention

Friday, May 15, 2026 - Saturday, May 16, 2026

Colonial Williamsburg

Virginia Resolved: A Commemoration of Independence: 250th Anniversary of the Lee Resolution for Independence

Sunday, June , 2026

Stratford Hall

In the Eyes of the World: Celebrating 250 Years of American Independence

Thursday, June 11, 2026

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Freedom Flows on the Potomac: Celebrating 250 Years of the Virginia Declaration of Rights

Friday, June 12, 2026 - Sunday, June 1 , 2026

George Mason’s Gunston Hall & Old Town Alexandria

Sail250® Virginia: Goodwill Tour with International Fleet of Tall Ships

Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 1 , 2026

Yorktown, Hampton, Richmond, Onancock, Smithfield, & Alexandria

Friday, June 1 - Tuesday, June 2 , 2026

Cape Charles, Chesapeake, ortsmouth, orfolk

Juneteenth

June 2026

Events occurring statewide

America. Made in Virginia. 250 Years of Forming a More Perfect Union Saturday, July 4, 2026

Naturalization Ceremony

VA250 Grand Ceremony: & Governor’s Address July 4 Telecast

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

Colonial Williamsburg

African Landing Day Commemoration

August 2026

Fort Monroe

The Turn of the Tide of Success:

Kings MountainSaturday, October Sunday, October 4, 2026

Barter Theatre

250 Anniversary of the Historic th First Baptist Church

October 9, 2026

Nassau Street, Colonial Williamsburg

Events listed areVA250 SignatureEvents. A full calendar of events can be found at

Upcoming

Events

SAIL YORKTOWN FESTIVAL, AN OFFICIAL SAILVIRGINIA ℠ 2026 AFFILIATE HARBOR JUNE 12-14, 2026

Tall Ships Picton Castle, Luna & Others

Parade of Sail, Free Deck Tours, Live Entertainment, Living History Demonstrations, Reenactments & More

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION | JULY 4, 2026

AMERICA250 CELEBRATION

Patriotic Parade, Family Games & Kids’ Activities, Musical Entertainment, The Fifes & Drums of York Town, Reading of the Declaration of Independence, Liberty Bell Ringing, Fireworks

VICTORY WEEKEND | OCT 17-19, 2026 COUNTDOWN TO 2031

Victory Market | Oct. 17 | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Riverwalk Landing

Victory Celebration | Oct. 17 & 18 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, $

Yorktown Day | Oct. 19 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Victory Monument & Historic Main Street

Virginia’s 1776 Historical Events

Courtesy of Dr. Patrick H (Pat) Hannum, Lt Col USMC (Ret)

★ 2 MAY: From Pen to Paper: Thomas Jefferson and the Drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

★ 11 MAY: The Fifth Virginia Convention, meeting in Williamsburg, orders the evacuation of most of Norfolk & all of Princess Anne Counties (order later rescinded on 28 May)

Visit

★ 15 MAY: The Virginia Convention instruct Delegates to the Continental Congress to propose independence; they also establish a committee that grows to 36 members to prepare a Declaration of Rights and a plan of government for Virginia; six weeks later the work is completed

Visit West Point & KingWilliam,Virginia

★ 27 MAY: George Mason’s draft declaration of rights is introduced to the full Convention

★ 27 MAY: Lord Dunmore lands his forces on Gwynn’s Island in modern Matthews County

★ JUNE 11: In the Eyes of the World: Celebrating 250 Years of American Independence. George Washington’s Mount Vernon Freedom.

The Fifth Virginia Convention, approves a new constitution and establishes the First Virginia Commonwealth effective July 6th, 1776

Led by Virginia’s delegates, the Continental the Continental Congress approves independence

After two days and several drafts, Congress agreed on the final version of the Declaration of The Convention approves the Great Seal

★ JULY 8-10: Lord Dunmore is driven from Virginia during the Battle of Cricket Hill- Gwynn’s Island ’s, Virginia is free from royal colonial occupation

★ 19 JULY: The Virginia Gazette published the first public announcement of the Declaration in Virginia. The complete Document was then published on 26 July

★ 20 JULY: The Council of the State of Virginia ordered the Declaration be read on the steps of each county courthouse across Virginia

★ 25 JULY: Virginia celebrates the first Independence Day in Williamsburg

★ LATE JULY- AUGUST: The Declaration of independence is read on the steps of each county courthouse in Virginia

★ OCTOBER: The new Virginia Legislature convenes in Williamsburg

★ 25 DECEMBER: 20% of the forces that cross the Delaware River with General Washington were Virginian’s

Virginia’s 1781 Historical Event

SEPTEMBER: The French Navy is celebrating its 400th Birthday in 2026 and this year marks the 245th Anniversary of the Battle of the Virginia Capes.

In this engagement, on September 5th, 1781, off the coast of Virginia Beach, the French Fleet of Admiral de Grasse defeated the British Fleet of Admiral Thomas Graves allowing Generals Washington and Rochambeau to lay siege to Yorktown and resulting in the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. The French Navy along with the Norfolk Chapter SAR and the Princess Anne County Chapter DAR will commemorate these events at 11 am on Saturday, September 5th, 2026, at the de Grass Memorial, Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story.

Communities Sharing a Rich Past and

Commitment to the Future

Hampton Roads takes its name from the area’s first royal governor, the Earl of Southampton, and the nautical term “road” which means safe harbor. For over 400 years, Hampton Roads has referred to the place where the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth Rivers pour into the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay forming the world’s largest natural harbor. Today, it is a name that also depicts a close-knit group of Virginia communities that share a rich heritage going back to Colonial times and an equally rich vision for the 21st century.

Since 1983, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget has considered Hampton Roads as one Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Today, it has grown to become the country’s 37th largest metro area just ahead of Nashville with 1.7 million people and the 9th largest in the Southeastern United States. Unlike many metropolitan areas, Hampton Roads’ population nucleus is not confined to one central city, but is spread among several growing cities and counties of significant size. Therefore, Hampton Roads has come

to refer not only to the harbor but the entire surrounding area.

The greater Hampton Roads of today is comprised of seventeen communities—ten cities, one town and six counties. Of the locales to the north of the James River, the cities of Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and Williamsburg and the counties of York and James City are referred to as the “Peninsula,” while Gloucester is known as the “Middle Peninsula.” The communities on the other side of the river—the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, the town of Smithfield, and the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton and Surry—comprise an area called the “Southside.” 

Downtown Hampton

Cape Henry Lighthouse

Community Stats

Colonial Williamsburg Shops

The three localities within the Greater Williamburg Partnership provide economic development programs to area businesses including incentives, site selection assistance, workshops, seminars and roundtables to educate industry and foster growth. Join the thriving businesses that have already discovered our strong, supportive business environment and excellent lifestyle for employees and their families.

SIZE2 258 sq. miles

POPULATION1

156,214

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3

$69,031

GOVERNMENT

Five-Member Board of Supervisors with County Administrator; Williamsburg: City Council and City Manager

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Ab InBev, Ball Metal Container, Walmart Import Distribution Center, Aramark Campus, LLC., Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, College of William & Mary, Dominion Virginia Power, Wyndham Resort Properties, Yorktown Naval Weapons Station

GWP INFORMATION (844)-GWP-2020 | http://gwpva.com

SCHOOL INFORMATION

James City Cty: (757) 602-6400 Williamsburg: (757) 253-6777 York County: (757) 898-0300

Sunset at Smithfield Station

Friendly people and inviting neighborhoods are just a few of the reasons people find Isle of Wight so welcoming. This growing county personifies the “best of both worlds.”

Its residents enjoy a rural vista dotted with charming small towns and awardwinning neighborhoods. At the same time, it’s home to several Fortune 500 companies including Smithfield Foods, Inc.

SIZE2 319 sq. miles

POPULATION1 (2021 est.)

39,278

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3

$84,673

GOVERNMENT

Five-Member Board of Supervisors with Chairman and Vice Chairman

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Smithfield Foods, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., International Paper, World Market, CR England, Inc., ST Tissue

COUNTY INFORMATION (757) 357-3191 www.coisle-of-wight.va.us

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 357-4393

Norfolk skyline

Norfolk is the center and hub of the region’s business, cultural and arts, education, finance, multimodel transportation and healthcare. From its diverse array of entrepreneurs, thinkers and artists to its bustling business district and world-class recreational amenities, the city offers a rich tapestry of experiences that cater to a variety of interests and vocations to businesses.

SIZE2 54 sq. miles

POPULATION1 (2021 est.)

242,742

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3 (2021 est.)

$53,093

GOVERNMENT

City Council and City Manager

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

US Department of Defense, Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Tidewater Community College – Norfolk Campus, Eastern Virginia Medical School, PRA Group, Bauer Compressors, CMA CGM, Port of Virginia, Sentara Healthcare, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Dominion Enterprises, ADP, Amerigroup, Bon Secours and BAE Systems

CITY INFORMATION (757) 664-6510 www.norfolk.gov www.visitnorfolk.com

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 628-3843

Paddle for the Border

While we are known for our unmatched vacation offerings, our incredible lifestyle makes Virginia Beach an ideal remote working and relocation destination, too. With its skilled, educated workforce, strategic location, low tax rates, and dynamic, diverse economy, it’s increasingly becoming one of the best places to do business as well.

SIZE2 341 sq. miles

POPULATION1 (2012 est.)

243,259

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3

$78,899

GOVERNMENT

City Council and City Manager

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, Cox Communications, Inc., Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. Sentara Healthcare, Wal-Mart

CITY INFORMATION (757) 382-2489 www.chesapeakeva.biz

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 547-0153

LIVABILITY

FAST FACTS FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON: PARTNERING TRADITION WITH PROGRESS

SIZE2

Franklin: 8.3 sq. miles

Southampton: 602 sq. miles

POPULATION1

Franklin: 8,373

Southampton: 17,941

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3

Franklin: $63,245

Southampton: $70,795

GOVERNMENT

Franklin: City Manager/City Council

Southampton: County Administrator/ Board of Supervisors

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Belmont Peanuts of Southampton, Enviva, Hampton Farms, Hubbard Peanut Company, Meherrin

Agriculture, Solenis, Paul D. Camp Community College

CITY INFORMATION

Franklin: (757) 562-8500

Southampton: (757) 653-3015

SCHOOL INFORMATION

Franklin: (757) 569-8111

Southampton: (757) 653-2692

The Franklin Southampton community is home to many unique features and attractions. Catch community events like Third Thursday Concert Series, Community Cruise-In, Lumberjack Festevent, Franklin Fall Festival, and Franklin’s Market on Main at Downtown Franklin, home to chic boutiques and homestyle restaurants.

If you’re looking to spend a little more time outdoors, you can enjoy a day out on our scenic rivers. Franklin’s Blackwater Boat Landing gives you access to the Blackwater River and Southampton County has multiple access points to the Nottoway River. Both waterways are ideal for a great day of fishing or floating along in your kayak or canoe.

Other unique events to experience in Southampton County include the annual Heritage Day event at the Southampton Heritage Village, the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Green Corn Powwow, the Nottoway Community House and Interpretive Center, the Franklin Southampton County Fair every August, and the Homegrown Harvest Fest in October. Don’t forget one of the most unique elements of the Franklin Southampton community, our love for peanuts! Six local businesses cook and flavor our peanuts to perfection residents and consumers around the world enjoy. Spend some time in our neck of the woods and you will rural home.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION

The Franklin Business Center, an incubator program, serves as the ideal place for businesses to start and thrive. The program provides the environment, resources, and support staff to get your business growing. Cost-effective space, administrative services, fingerprinting services, professional equipment, conference rooms, and mentors are all provided within the Franklin Business Center program.

SITES & FACILITIES

Southampton County has two industrial sites located in an enterprise zone. The Beale Farm is within close proximity to US-58, which provides access to both I-664 and I-95. The Port of Virginia’s Norfolk International Terminals, Newport News Marine Terminals and Virginia’s International Gateway are within 50 miles.

The Southampton Commerce and Logistics Center has 40 developable acres available for purchase and is zoned M-2 Heavy Industrial with CSX rail access. It has direct access to Highway 58 and is within 40 miles of I-95. There are also development opportunities in the City of Franklin.

For more information on these publicly owned properties or for details on privately owned options, please call Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc. at 757-562-1958 or visit their website at fsediva.com. 

Opportunity, Synergy & Sustainability

Drive over the beautiful York River on the Coleman Bridge and experience the vibrant economy and quality of life in Gloucester. It has become a destination of choice for visitors of all ages looking for that exceptional vacation, residential location or to start a new business. We are a growing community with numerous historic attractions, exceptional dining, shopping, and a relaxed environment. Gloucester is home to the world-renowned Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).

Shopping Districts

York River Crossing – is a 161,351-square foot shopping center located on U. S. Route 17 (George Washington Memorial Highway) in Gloucester.

Gloucester Village on Main – is quaint, historic, and the center for government and retail activity.

Fox Mill Centre – is a 450,000 square foot shopping center with a mix of national and local retailers.

Health Care

Gloucester is home to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, Riverside Cancer Care Center, Sentara Medical Arts, and Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters Pediatric Center.

Recreation Gloucester is bound by over 500 miles of shoreline for exceptional watersports and recreational activities. The community boasts ﬁve

Gloucester is home to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, Riverside Cancer Care Center, Sentara Medical Arts, and Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters Pediatric Center.

marinas with over ﬁve-hundred boat slips and amenities to meet all your docking needs - and no boat tax!

Gloucester Point Beach, located on the York River, features two boat ramps, a fishing pier, a pavilion, and an interpretative walking tour detailing the history of the area. Throughout the County are five rivers that offer exceptional saltwater fishing, boating and paddling. Beaverdam Park, located in the center of our community, features a 635-acre freshwater lake offering a host of activities including fishing, boat rentals, picnic areas, trails, a meeting/event facility, and much more!

Recreation Gloucester is bound by over 500 miles of shoreline for exceptional watersports and recreational activities. The community boasts ﬁve marinas with over ﬁve-hundred boat slips and amenities to meet all your docking needs - and no boat tax!

We are excited to have a 644-acre national park land that will serve to further the understanding of the Virginia Indian cultures in the Werowocomoco region and provide outdoor recreation and meeting opportunities. Located in the southern part of Gloucester County along the York River, Virginia’s 40th state park, Machicomoco State Park, is approximately 10 miles

Werowocomoco. The landscape of Timberneck was most certainly associated with Tsenacommacah and Powhatan’s extensive Chiefdom.

downriver from Werowocomoco. The landscape of Timberneck was most certainly associated with Tsenacommacah and Powhatan’s extensive Chiefdom.

Our annual Daffodil Festival is a two-day celebration of spring, featuring over 250 vendors, entertainment, a parade and more. The family-oriented event is a long-standing tradition and has been held for the past 39 years.

History and Heritage

Notable historic places in Gloucester include Tyndall’s Point and the Gloucester Point Archaeological District. The Gloucester Courthouse Historic District is one of the most charming and sophisticated colonial courthouses ever built in Virginia and is one of the oldest continually operating courthouses in the United States, dating back to 1766. The community is also proud to be home of Walter Reed’s Birthplace, and the remnants of Rosewell, arguably one of the ﬁnest mansions built in the American colonies sitting alongside the beautiful York River. We invite you to visit our historical, vibrant community and see what Gloucester can offer you.

HAMPTON: CENTER OF COASTAL VIRGINIA

Hampton, located at Coastal Virginia’s geographic center, is home to Hampton University, NASA Langley and Langley Air Force Base, and has a rich, 416-year history that extends from the Sea to the Stars.

FAST FACTS

SIZE2

52 sq. miles

POPULATION1

137,746

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3

$55,919

GOVERNMENT

City Council and City Manager

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Aerospace, Homeland Security and Defense, Medical, Communications, Manufacturing and Retail, Tourism

CITY INFORMATION (757) 727-8311 hampton.gov

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 727-2000

VISITOR INFORMATION

757-727-1102 or 800-800-2202 VisitHampton.com

MEET IN HAMPTON

At the crossroads of interstates 64 and 664, boasting 344,000 square feet of flexible event space, the Hampton Roads Convention Center adjoins the 295-room Embassy Suites. They share a campus with the iconic Hampton Coliseum arena. The city is also home to the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex, Boo Williams Sportsplex and the Hampton University Convocation Center.

An array of lodging accommodations serve the needs of event venue guests, as well as those of federal, military, corporate and leisure visitors.

LIVE, VISIT AND PLAY

There are abundant dining and nightlife options in Hampton and within a shortdistance of the convention center. Hip, new establishments in Downtown Hampton, Phoebus, and at Fort Monroe appeal to guests of all ages. Whether you are venturing out with family or a foodie in search of the latest trending dish, your palate will find pleasure in Hampton. For craft beverage explorers, Hampton presents Sly Clyde Ciderworks, St. George Brewing Company, Capstan Bar Brewing, Bull Island Brewing, and Oozlefinch. The Vanguard offers tours of both distillery and brewing operations, as well as a unique concert venue unlike any other in Coastal Virginia.

The beach scene here is also uniquely Hampton, with Buckroe offering a family friendly setting with a playground, water sports rentals, food trucks, fishing pier, and free parking. Additional free Chesapeake Bay beachfront at Fort Monroe presents vistas of the awesome Hampton Roads harbor. Grandview Nature Preserve offers

the most private setting, as it is a short hike from the main road, but ideal for water lovers who yearn for tranquility. For those who want to explore the region’s historic waterways, harbor tours provide narrative about Hampton’s rich maritime history, Fort Monroe, Fort Wool and Norfolk Naval Base.

HISTORY AND ADVENTURE

Hampton is home to many exciting attractions. Begin your discoveries at the Hampton History Museum, which is also the site of the Hampton Visitor Center. Once armed with information, head to the Virginia Air & Space Science Center, the official visitor center for NASA Langley, where aircraft seem to soar overhead and hands on exhibits reveal the mysteries of outer space.

Fort Monroe National Monument is the site of the first landing of Africans in English North America in 1619. The Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center interprets this history and orients visitors to Fort Monroe. The Casemate Museum, a free attraction that houses the cell where Jefferson Davis was detained at the conclusion of the Civil War, reveals the critical role Fort Monroe has played throughout its history.

Hampton University, a dynamic institution of higher education, is home to an incredible collection of 9000 works of art at the Hampton University Museum. Hampton highlights also include the antique Hampton Carousel, Langley Speedway, Ocean Eagle chartered Bayfishing trips, the Peninsula Pilots for Coastal Plain baseball, and many other experiences that enrich the quality of life for regional residents and ensure a visit to Coastal Virginia will be soon repeated. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAMPTON CVB

FAST FACTS

SIZE2

16 sq. miles

POPULATION

12,854

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME3

$120,972

GOVERNMENT

City Council and City Manager

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Service-Commercial, Marina, Eco-tourism, Restaurants

CITY INFORMATION (757) 868-3000

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 868-3055

An enviable combination of low crime rates, outstanding schools, civic-minded citizenry, a variety of recreational opportunities, and conveniently located shopping areas, firmly position Poquoson, as a quality-of-life jewel in Hampton Roads. In recognition of these attributes Poquoson was recognized by CNBC on its U.S. list of “10 Perfect Suburbs” In 2026 Reolink listed Poquoson as of the Top 10 Safest Cities in Virgina.

Poquoson’s business corridor is home to a variety of shopping and dining opportunities framed in a relaxed, unhurried setting, making it a perfect day trip for visitors. In fact, Poquoson’s natural market area includes nearly 40,000 people, and many of these patrons utilize the City’s library, DMV, and service/commercial area for its time-saving convenience and quality of offerings. Poquoson is home to a friendly and eclectic collection of merchants who look forward to meeting and assisting patrons, along with a variety of restaurants sure to please hungry visitors.

Poquoson boasts 87 miles of shoreline and its coastal areas are home to abundant wildlife and beautiful marshes. These inviting and navigable blueways serve as popular trails for both kayakers and paddle boarders. The City’s free public boat ramps

provide quick, convenient access to the Chesapeake Bay. Poquoson’s popularity as a coastal home is heightened further by the fact it is also a tax-free boating community. The City’s public school system routinely ranks as one of the finest in the state of Virginia. A number of Poquoson students, clubs, and athletic teams compete with much success in State and National competitions annually.

Poquoson’s attractiveness for residents, visitors and businesses alike is heightened further with its convenient proximity to the Hampton Roads transportation corridor. Both I-64 and the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport are typically within 15 minutes travel time. Looking to discover first-hand why Poquoson is the Place? Visit us on the web at VisitPoquoson.com or contact the Community Recreation Department at 757-868-3580 for more information. We look forward to speaking with you soon. 

Scan the QR code to view our video: Poquoson is the Place.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELA COSTELLO

SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA: A HIDDEN GEM WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE

Suffolk, Virginia, is a city shaped by resilience, growth, and transformation.

As it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its merger with Nansemond County in 2024, Suffolk stands as a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and community. Once a quiet agricultural town, it has evolved into one of the fastest-growing localities in the Hampton Roads Metro Area, offering a perfect balance of small-town charm and big-city opportunity. With its rich history, stunning natural landscapes, and dynamic economy, Suffolk is capturing the attention of homebuyers, entrepreneurs, and adventurers alike.

A LEGACY OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Suffolk’s rich history dates back to the early 17th century, with ties to both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Its historic downtown, featuring restored buildings and local businesses, reflects the city’s commitment to preserving its past. Visitors can explore Riddick’s Folly House Museum, a former Union Army headquarters, or visit the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, once a sanctuary for Indigenous peoples, enslaved individuals, and early explorers.

A NATURE LOVER’S

PARADISE

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy in Suffolk’s diverse landscape of rivers, forests, and open countryside. The Great Dismal Swamp offers wildlife sightings, kayaking on Lake Drummond, and birdwatching. The Nansemond River provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and waterfront fun, while scenic trails and award-winning golf courses cater to hikers, bikers, and golfers alike.

CULTURE, FESTIVALS, AND ENTERTAINMENT

Suffolk may have a small-town feel, but its cultural scene is anything but quiet. The city boasts an exciting lineup of events and festivals that celebrate its rich heritage,

creative arts, and culinary excellence. Each year, locals and visitors alike flock to:

 The Taste of Suffolk Festival, avdaylong event showcasing the city’s best cuisine, live music, and artisan vendors.

 The Suffolk Peanut Festival, a four-day celebration of the city’s agricultural roots, featuring carnival rides, concerts, and, of course, plenty of peanuts.

 The Earth & Arts Festival, an ecofriendly celebration of sustainability and creativity, highlighting local artists and environmentally conscious businesses.

Art lovers will find inspiration at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, which hosts performances ranging from Broadway-style plays to concerts by nationally renowned musicians. The city is also home to several galleries, museums, and craft breweries, ensuring there’s always something to explore.

A BOOMING ECONOMY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Suffolk is experiencing significant growth, boasting a thriving job market and a business-friendly environment. Major employers such as Amazon, Freezpak Logistics, and MS International have established a strong presence in the city, further fueling economic expansion. With an increasing number of businesses choosing Suffolk as their base, the city has become a prime destination for professionals and entrepreneurs alike.

UNPARALLELED QUALITY OF LIFE

Perhaps the most compelling reason to consider Suffolk is the exceptional quality of life it offers. Compared to other East Coast cities, Suffolk boasts a lower cost of living, making it an attractive option for families, retirees, and young professionals alike.

The city is home to top-rated schools, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and a strong sense of community. Its neighborhoods are known for their safety, walkability, and friendly atmosphere,

making it an ideal place to raise a family, start a new chapter, or retire in comfort.

From its thriving economy to its stunning natural beauty, Suffolk is a city that blends the best of the past, present, and future. Whether you’re looking to plant roots, launch a business, or simply experience a weekend escape, Suffolk, Virginia, welcomes you with open arms.

Come see why so many are saying “Yes, Suffolk!”—and why you should, too.. 

FAST FACTS

SIZE

430 sq. miles

POPULATION

100,659 (2023 Est.)

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME*

$87,758

GOVERNMENT

City Council and City Manager

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Sentara Healthcare, Bon Secours Health System, Naval Information Forces, J-7 Joint Staff, Target, QVC, Planters Peanuts, Lipton Tea, TowneBank, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA

CITY INFORMATION (757) 514-4040 www.YesSuffolk.com

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 925-6750

Visit www.YesSuffolk.com for the latest business updates and news releases, and follow us on social media using @YesSuffolk.

*Data from University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Services and US Census Bureau

Downtown Suffolk

COURTESY OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK

WHERE SHORE MEETS SCALE

Size

sq. miles

Median Household Income

$92,968*

Government

Concil/Manager

Select Largest Employers

Sentara Healthcare

GEICO

STIHL Inc.

Gold Key | PHR Hotels & Resorts

LifeNet Health

Commence

City Information (757) 385-3111

https://virginiabeach.gov

School Information (757) 263-1000

https://www.vbschools.com

Visitor Information (757) 385-4700

www.visitvirginiabeach.com

WE PUT BUSINESS IN MOTION

CONNECTED TO OPPORTUNITY

Virginia Beach is a growing center for innovation, logistics, and digital infrastructure that keeps your business connected to what matters. A global subsea cable landing point and a strong network of data and technology assets provide fast and secure connectivity for modern operations. With direct access to the Port of Virginia, major interstates, and Norfolk International Airport, you can reach markets, partners, and customers with ease.

BUILT FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

Virginia Beach delivers the essentials companies need to expand, including ready-to-build sites, and a dependable, high‑redundancy fiber network. Competitive operating costs, performance-driven incentives, and a strong workforce pipeline supported by military talent and regional higher-education partners help businesses move from concept to scale. Across industries such as defense, agriculture, tourism, advanced manufacturing, and technology, companies are gaining momentum here. With business park assets and strong business resources, Virginia Beach offers both stability and room to innovate. Business growth is not a future promise. It is already here.

FROM BOARDROOM TO BOARDWALK

ELEVATE YOUR EVENT

With 250,000 sq ft of meeting space and a prime location just minutes away from 38 miles of oceanfront—The Virginia Beach Convention Center is the perfect place to elevate your meetings and events.

WHAT SETS US APART?

There’s a reason Virginia Beach is VA’s top vacation destination. Ample hotel options, endless outdoor recreations, vibrant neighborhoods, impeccable dining, and bustling nightlife makes hosting at the Virginia Beach Convention Center something the entire team looks forward to.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Whether you’re chasing scenic trails, craving fresh, mouthwatering

seafood, or diving into a vibrant nightlife— Virginia Beach delivers it all. It’s a place where every interest finds its moment and every visit offers something new. Events here aren’t just something to attend, they’re immersive destinations you experience, remember, and want to come back to.

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT EVENT

HISTORY TAKES THE HELM

For more than 375 years, York County has been a place where history isn’t just remembered, it’s celebrated. As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, there’s no better place to experience the story of our nation than right here in Yorktown, where the Revolutionary War culminated with the Victory at Yorktown in 1781.

FAST FACTS

SIZE1

106 sq. miles

POPULATION1

70,238

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME1

$105,154

GOVERNMENT

Five-member Board of Supervisors with County Administrator

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Defense Contractors, Healthcare, Hospitality & Tourism, Military Personal Services, Retail

COUNTY INFORMATION (757) 890-3300

SCHOOL INFORMATION (757) 898-0300

Part of “America’s Historic Triangle” alongside Williamsburg and Jamestown, York County blends deep historical roots with modern coastal charm. Visitors can explore 4,000 acres of preserved battlefields, the state-of-the-art American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and historic Main Street, lined with 18thcentury homes, locally owned boutiques, art galleries, and waterfront dining.

But York County isn’t just about the past… it’s about living well today. With one of Hampton Roads’ highest-performing public school divisions, lowest tax rates, exceptional amenities, and more than 200 miles of shoreline, the County offers an unmatched quality of life. From the Yorktown waterfront to the revitalized Route 17 corridor, residents and visitors enjoy an evolving mix of local restaurants, shops, and services shaped by intentional reinvestment and growth. In upper

York County, The Edge District borders Williamsburg and James City County and has quickly emerged as one of Greater Williamsburg’s most chic and energetic culinary “eatertainment” destinations, home to craft breweries, chef-driven concepts, and experiential gathering spaces. Throughout the County, you’ll find farmers markets, concerts, sports venues and events, sunset sails, and trolley rides that make every weekend feel like a getaway. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or building a future here, York County is where heritage inspires progress and new memories unfold along the shores of history. 

Sail Yorktown Festival June 12–14, 2026

For more information, visit www.yesyorkcounty.com or www.visityorktown.org.

The Kitchen, from The Virginia Beer Co. blends award-winning craft brews with elevated pub fare, earning regional and national recognition while becoming a go-to gathering place in York County’s thriving culinary scene.

Historic Yorktown comes alive as towering tall ships sail into port for the Sail Yorktown Festival. Visitors can step aboard iconic vessels for free deck tours, living history experiences, and hands-on maritime demonstrations all weekend long. The celebration continues with a patriotic performance by the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra at the Yorktown Victory Monument, an unforgettable concert under the stars. Part of Virginia’s official America250 commemoration, York County will also host a spectacular July 4th waterfront celebration and Victory Weekend in October honoring the decisive events of 1781.

Learn more at VisitYorktown.org

The majestic Hermione docked at Yorktown’s Riverwalk Landing piers during the 2015 Parade of Sail event.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXANDER’S PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VIRGINIA BEER COMPANY

Ready, Willing and Educated

Hampton Roads is a diverse region of over 1.7 million citizens that includes urban, suburban and rural communities. Compared to Virginia and the nation as a whole, the population of the Hampton Roads region has grown at a relatively slow pace and tends to be younger, more diverse than the population of the U.S.1 One exception is Suffolk, which has experienced a huge 32.8% increase in population over the past decade.

One factor contributing to Hampton Roads’ prosperity is its workforce. The region offers a fairly large civilian labor force consisting of approximately 825,000 people.29 The area is also home to approximately 160,000 active duty military and civilian personnel, increasing the estimated total labor force to nearly one million strong. The large military presence also gives the area a unique advantage: with an annual average of 13,000 exiting military personnel and over 30,000 military spouses,5 Hampton Roads has a continuously replenishing labor force.

EDUCATION IS SERIOUS BUSINESS

Employers demand workers who can think critically and solve problems. Workforce development facilities for career and technical training, professional development and reemployment services include those operated by the region’s community colleges, Virginia Employment Commission, public schools, the military and the private sector. An average of 79% of area high school graduates elect to continue their education at two-year or four-year

institutions of higher learning or through one of the region’s many vocational programs. The public workforce development system’s close working relationship with the region’s educational institutions ensure the local workforce has the skills needed to help keep area businesses and industries competitive. Existing programs, particularly those in fields related to high-growth industries and occupations, have been shown to lead to improved employment and earnings outcomes.

More than 106,000 students are enrolled in Hampton Roads’ thirteen colleges and universities and three

community colleges. Most of these students are permanent residents, available for part- or full-time employment. Their 14,000 annual graduates provide a work-ready talent pool from which to recruit.

ENTREPRENEURIAL, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY

Support for innovation-based, highgrowth business within economic sectors is a key component of Hampton Roads “Vision.” Studies have shown that about 75% of new job growth in the U.S. comes from high-growth entrepreneurial ventures

that start as ‘small businesses’ but are designed to grow, a category where Hampton Roads leads the nation.33

Diversification of the Hampton Roads economy is focused on: technology-based innovation and education from advanced manufacturing and robotics to nanotechnology; coastal energy solutions; healthcare and life sciences; and environmental distinction. Industry clusters are already here in modeling and simulation (M&S), information technology, biomedical sensors, and marine science.

M&S, designated a national critical technology by U.S. Congressional leadership, is supported strongly by military sponsors and has expanded to transportation, maritime operations, education and medical. Hampton Roads is one of the country’s three leading regions in M&S along with Orlando, Florida, and Huntsville, Alabama. In Hampton Roads, it has become a $640 million industry employing over 5,000 people with an average annual salary of $83,000. 36

Bioscience includes research developed at local colleges, universities and federal labs as well as commercial entities and extends to organ replacement, marine science and medical devices. Over 1,200 jobs paying an average of $65,000 annually exist in Hampton Roads.28

Hampton Roads is home to innovative research and development with internationally-recognized facilities including: NASA Langley Research Center, the nation’s first civil aeronautics laboratory leading and advancing the American aerospace industry since 1917; the Department of Energy’s unique Jefferson Lab; Old Dominion University’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center; Hampton University’s Proton Therapy Institute, the latest, most precise cancer-fighting technologies; the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton; and Liebherr USA, Co. in Newport News. There are active technology transfer offices and several technology business incubators available in the region where entrepreneurs can obtain office space and advice on building their businesses.

Homes that Satisfy

Everyone’s Taste and Lifestyle

One of the most anxiety-ridden parts of relocating is buying a home. What home options are available? What type of home do you want? What price range can you afford? Where do you want to live? What amenities are important? These are just a few of the real estate questions that fill the minds of newcomers.

For 2020, the HRPDC Economists expect to see the region’s economy continue to grow. Expected gains in the Retail and Construction industries will assist civilian employment in Hampton Roads. The unemployment rate is likely to continue its slow decline, while increased budget certainty will

help propel retail sales. Building permit activity and motor vehicle sales are expected to continue to experience strong growth in the coming year.

Old Dominion University’s E.V. Williams Center For Real Estate and Economic Development reported that new construction in Hampton

VIRGINIA WAS RANKED AMONG THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

 No. 1 for Unmanned Aerial Systems

 No. 2 for Best Business Climate

 No. 2 for Cybersecurity Growth Potential

 No. 3 for Economic Growth Potential

 No. 5 for Workforce Training Leaders

 No. 6 for Tech Job Employment Leaders

 Norfolk/Hampton Roads, VA is ranked No. 4

 in the U.S. among Top 10 Cities for Industrial Real Estate Sales Growth

Roads had risen in the double digits. The upward trend has continued in local economy investments into early 2020.

Homebuyers have a lot of options throughout the region. While singlefamily, detached homes are the most popular, there are also townhouses and a variety of condominiums to choose from. Because of Hampton Roads’ long history, new residents can choose old farmhouses with Colonial charm, as well as unique 19th-century homes built in every decade for the last 100 years.

One neighborhood in Hampton,for example, features vintage Victorian homes with high ceilings, parlors, fireplaces in bedrooms and walkaround front porches. A short distance across the James River in Smithfield are numerous older historic homes built in the Colonial, Victorian, Federal or Georgian fashion. Hilton Village, in Newport News, is on the Federal Register of Historic Sites. Its single family and duplex stucco homes were part of the federal government’s first attempt to provide housing, built after World War I for the influx of military and workers at the nearby shipyard.

On the other hand, there are more contemporary homes in newer subdivisions as well as a number of planned communities with various amenities to suit everyone’s tastes and

pocketbook. Many of these communities are in suburban and even more rural settings. However, the return to a more urban lifestyle is opening opportunities for downtown living where you can walk to restaurants, shopping, entertainment, etc. Those seeking starter and fixer-up homes will also find a number of options to consider.

It is still a buyer’s market, and inventory seems to be increasing although fairly stable. The recovery in Hampton Roads is due in large part to the fact the region has a large number of defense contractors as well as a “defense-driven economy.” Add to that a mild climate, an ocean front and numerous waterways, plus historical sites reflecting the birth of our nation, and you have a formula for solid growth which keeps new residents coming into the area.

Each individual or family should do some homework before beginning a house search. That homework should include:

 Determining housing needs and wants. For example, a family may need four bedrooms and want to live near the water.

 Determining what type of housing is wanted.

 Determining how important it is to live near work sites and/or near schools.

 Getting financial affairs in order. Develop a list that includes all bank accounts (with numbers and

BASE RESIDENTIAL TAX RATES

amounts), all debts (including to whom owed and the amount), and all income.

 Determining how much can be spent on a home. Individuals may want to consider pre-qualifying for a mortgage.

The Greater Hampton Roads Realtors Association (GHRRA) and the Virginia Peninsula Association of Realtors (VPAR) are good resources in beginning any house search. Feel free to call either association for advice on the housing market or to obtain a listing of member realtors who subscribe to a strict code of ethics.

Hampton Roads Realtors Association http://www.hrra.com/ 473-9700

Virginia Peninsula Association of Realtors http://vpar.realtor/ 599-5222

Williamsburg Area Association of Realtors www.waarealtor.com 253-0028

Our Heritage

Still Very Much Alive

Historic museums and sites of interest are everywhere in Hampton Roads. That’s largely due to the historical richness of our past. Hampton Roads is home to our nation’s Historic Trangle: Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Here you can experience the story of America’s beginnings at the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Through film, artifact-filled galleries and outdoor living history, these museums engage visitors in nearly two centuries of our nation’s history—from the founding of America’s first permanent English settlement in 1607 to the decisive Revolutionary War victory in 1781 and implementation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Costumed historical interpreters depict the daily lives of the people who lived through these events two and three centuries ago. This is all done in faithfully re-created settings— three replica ships, a Powhatan Indian village, and a Colonial fort at Jamestown Settlement; and a Revolutionary War encampment and 1780s farm at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. At these living museums, you can grind corn, steer with a whipstaff, try on English armor, enlist in the Continental Army or assist with farm chores. Call (757) 253-4838 or visit www.historyisfun.org.

Colonial Williamsburg is the restored Capital of Colonial Virginia, where history

lives so “that the future may learn from the past.” You can explore the nation’s history and learn what it means to be an American while visiting more than eighty original buildings, restored to their 18th-century grandeur. See how the people lived, from the richest to the poorest. Play the games the children played, watch craftsmen at work, and sample some Colonial fare. While Colonial Williamsburg’s sites are open year round, many people choose to visit in December to enjoy the Grand Illumination, an annual spectacle of light and music for residents and visitors alike. Call 1-855-756-9516 or visit on the web at www.history.org.

The Colonial National Historical Park stretches from the York River to the James

River and is home to Yorktown and the Yorktown Battlefield, site of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. Yorktown Battlefield is administered by the National Park Service, and is part of the Colonial National Historical Park which includes Jamestown and the Colonial Parkway, which connects the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. For more information, call the Park’s headquarters at 898-3400, or visit www.nps.gov/colo/index.htm.

The Mariners’ Museum, one of the largest international maritime museums in the world, features more than 35,000 maritime items, including ship models, the August Crabtree collection of miniature ships, scrimshaw, maritime

Gloucester Museum of History

Step into Gloucester’s past at the Gloucester Museum of History’s new exhibit, now open in an authentic 1770 tavern in the heart of Gloucester Main Street.

This immersive experience brings to life the people, places, and events that shaped Gloucester County—from colonial days and revolution to the 20th century and today. Wander through the tavern ballroom layered with stories, artifacts, and images, and discover how our community grew from a riverside settlement into the Gloucester we know and love.

paintings, decorative arts, intricately carved figureheads and working steam engines. The Mariners’ Museum is also the custodian of the artifacts and archives of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor The USS Monitor Center is a home to the priceless artifacts recovered from the historic ship and a worldwide resource. Call (757) 596-2222 or visit www.mariner.org.

The Casemate Museum, located in Hampton, opened in 1951 to display the cell in which Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, was imprisoned after the Civil War. Since then, the museum has expanded to depict the history of Fort Monroe and the Coast Artillery Corps. Call 690-8073 or visit www.fmauthority.com/ visit/casemate-museum.

The Virginia War Museum in Newport News traces U.S. military history from 1775 to the present. Several times each year, reenactors stage encampments on the museum’s grounds. Visit www. warmuseum.org or call 247-8523.

Called the best-preserved War of 1812 site in America, Fort Norfolk is the last of 18 forts built along the Maritime Frontier at President Washington’s request in 1794. This fort, which changed hands twice during the Civil War, is located on Front Street in Norfolk. For information about guided tours, visit on the web at www.norfolkhistorical.org.

In western Newport News, just inside the front gate of Fort Eustis, is the U.S.

Army Transportation Museum that will be closed as part of Army consolidation plans. The museum will combine with two others and reopen as the Logistics Museum at Fort Lee in Richmond.

The Hampton History Museum features 7,000 square feet of exhibit space—helping shape Hampton’s future while also preserving its past. This beautiful building on Old Hampton Lane is the newest jewel in Hampton’s historical crown. Call 727-1610 or visit www.hampton.gov/119/HamptonHistory-Museum.

Riddick’s Folly House Museum, in Suffolk, is just one place in the region on the National Register of Historic Places. This Greek Revival home was built in 1837 by Mills Riddick. It has four floors, 20 rooms, 16 fireplaces and a rich Civil War history that includes being occupied by

Union General Peck and his soldiers. Today, it is home to a number of permanent and changing exhibits. Call 934-0822.

SCIENCE: LAND, SEA & SKY

Some of Hampton Roads’ most popular museums are dedicated to science. Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, is a fun and exciting 120,000-square-foot science and technology center exploring the power of the sea. It features more than 150 exhibits including interactive computer and video displays, films on a giant screen, live sea creatures in an exotic aquarium, touch pools and shark petting. The permanent exhibits are complemented by various national-caliber traveling exhibits that appear throughout the year. The Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built, is berthed next door. Call 664-1000 or visit www.nauticus.org.

The Virginia Air and Space Science Center is a dynamic part of the Downtown Hampton skyline. It is the official visitors’ center for the NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base and chronicles the history of aviation and aerospace research and development, much of which was done here in Hampton Roads. There are over 100 interactive exhibits, as well as historical aircraft—including the Apollo 12 command module and a full-sized model of the original airplane the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, NC. The 300-seat IMAX theatre presents stateof-the-art films on a screen three stories high. Next door is Hampton’s Carousel Park where you can ride a restored

Continental Army encampment

Mariner’s Museum

1920 carousel from the former Buckroe Amusement Park. For information and IMAX movie times, call 727-0900 or visit www.vasc.org.

The Virginia Living Museum exhibits feature animals and fish found in Virginia’s rivers, bay, mountains, swamps and caves. This indoor/outdoor attrac-

tion also has hands-on discovery centers, boardwalk trail with animals in naturalized habitats, state-of-the-art digital planetarium, observatory, native plant gardens, green living building, plus children’s hands-on “Be a Keeper/Be A Vet” role-playing area and nature playground. Call 595-1900 or visit www.thevlm.org.

ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL SITES & MUSEUMS

From the plains of Africa to your own backyard, the Virginia Zoo has a world of wild discovery waiting for you. Open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. except for major winter holidays. Children under two get in FREE! Call 757-441-2374 or visit www.virginiazoo.org. 

Below is contact information on many other historical sites and markers throughout the area. For additional information visit Visit Virginia Tourism at www.virginia.org.

Aberdeen Gardens Historic Museum

722-2345

Adam Thoroughgood House 385-5100

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum 437-8432

Boykin’s Tavern 357-5182

Cape Henry Lighthouse 422-9421

Carter’s Grove Plantation 1-800-HISTORY

Caroline County Tourism 804-633-3490

Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum 294-3439

Chrysler Museum of Art 664-6200

Endview Plantation

887-1862

Fighter Factory 539-8440

Fort Boykin 357-2291

Fort Wool 727-6348

Francis Land House 385-5100

Gloucester Museum of History (804) 693-1234

Hampton Roads Naval Museum 322-2987

Hampton University Museum 727-5308

Hermitage Museum and Gardens 423-2052

Hill House 393-0241

Historic St. Lukes Church 357-3367

Hunter House Victorian Museum 623-9814

Isle of Wight County Museum 356-1223

Jamestown Settlement Museum 253-4838

Lee Hall Mansion 888-3371

ADDITIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUMS

Air Power Park and Museum https://visithampton.com/ attraction/air-power-park 727-8311

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum www.awhm.org 437-8432

Chesapeake Planetarium www.visitchesapeake.com/ listing/chesapeake-planetarium/157 547-0153

Children’s Museum of Virginia www.childrensmuseumva.com 393-5258

Center

Nelson House 898-2410

Newsome House 247-2360

Norfolk Police and Fire Rescue Museum 441-1526

Old Coast Guard Station 422-1587

Old Isle of Wight Courthouse 356-9016

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum 393-8591

Prince George County (804) 722-8609

Railroad Museum of Virginia 335-2284

Rosewell House (804) 693-2585

Seaboard Station Railroad Museum 514-4135

St. John’s Episcopal Church 722-2567

U.S. Army Transportation Museum 878-1180

The Prentis House 514-4130

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame 800-1555

Watermen’s Museum 887-2641

Walter Reed Birthplace (804) 815-4467

Visit West Point & King William County (804) 843-3330

Willoughby-Baylor House 664-6200

Regional Vision, Global Impact

The Hampton Roads region is a great place to live, work and play. And, it’s only going to get better. “With proper foresight, continuous planning and dynamic economic development, Hampton Roads will be recognized internationally as a region fueled by Innovation, Intellectual and Human Capital, Infrastructure and a Sense of Place.”

Agroup of regional organizations and community leaders collaborated together to develop “Vision Hampton Roads,” a regional plan with a five year horizon. This “Vision” employs strategies and actions which leverage regional strengths to diversify and grow the economy, positioning Hampton Roads as a leader in the global economy of today and tomorrow.

In economic development today, it’s important to address who and what is Hampton Roads as a region; who lives here and why; what is the region’s business identity; and how entrepreneurs, creativity and innovation are attracted. Regions that thrive in the “new economy” will be those truly educating their workforce, cultivating innovation, investing in infrastructure and creating quality places, like Hampton Roads.

“Vision” planning has placed Hampton Roads on a path to regional transformation by embedding a working process as we think, live and act regionally.

After “Vision Hampton Roads” was developed, the Hampton Roads Partnership created “Innovate! Hampton Roads” as a component of “Vision” that looks to promote local business and tech-based development in the area. (http://innovatehamptonroads.com)

Virginia Gazette reported that York County is moving forward with a planned mixed-use development with a $6.45 million property sale near Victory Boulevard at the York-Newport News line. Commonwealth Green plans include up to 384 apartments, 96 townhomes and four commercial buildings, according to the developer. Condominiums are planned above three of the commercial buildings. About 50 of the apartments would be in Newport News.

In addition, the Hampton Roads Alliance announced that Cushman & Wakefield/Thalhimer has sold the Palace Plaza strip shopping center just off Bypass Road in upper York. Polyzos Family Investments, LLC purchased the approximately 22,600

square-foot retail center for $610,000. The previous owner was C-111 Asset Management. According to York County’s property information website, the center is assessed at just over $1 million. It was sold to C-111 Asset Management for $680,000.

Located in the dynamic Greenbrier business community of Chesapeake, VA, Summit Pointe is the newest large-scale, mixed-use community centrally located within Coastal Virginia. Summit Pointe has already become a premier office location with the recent completion of the 510,000-square-foot, high-rise office tower for Dollar Tree, Inc (NASDAQ: DLTR) in Phase One.

Representing a projected investment of over $300 million in multiple phases, Phase Two emphasizes a new form of urban living, workplace solutions, dining, entertainment venues and shopping options. Construction began in June 2019, with the first living spaces delivered in August 2020 and the first retail and office spaces delivered in October 2020.

Portsmouth Waterfront

STRATEGIC LOCATION, GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE

The first rule of thumb for any economic development is location, location, location. Hampton Roads, the region, is located in the southeastern coastal Tidewater of Virginia in the heart of the Mid Atlantic. It is a region that depends on a maritime-rich geography including all the benefits that come with it, such as commerce derived at its ports, tourism and real estate drawn to its beaches, and the waters that allow it to be one of the most concentrated naval strongholds on the planet.

Hampton Roads, the harbor, is formed by the confluence of the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth Rivers and flows into the Chesapeake Bay whose watershed covers 64,000 square miles and all or part of six states and Washington, DC. As one of the world’s biggest and deepest natural harbors, the largest in North America, Hampton Roads is home to the world’s largest naval base at Norfolk and the Port of Virginia, third largest behind Port of New York and the Port of Savannah. It is one of the busiest and fastest growing commercial ports on the U.S. East Coast with products popular the world over from Smithfield Hams to Suffolk Peanuts to Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs.

Since the English settlers arrived in the early 1600s, Hampton Roads has been an enviable strategic stronghold. The region’s land area covers approximately 2,907 square miles and includes an extensive system of waterways including the Intra-coastal Waterway and enjoys a temperate climate guaranteeing an ice-free harbor. The central location of Hampton Roads is within 750 miles of three-fourths of the nation’s population and six of the ten largest U.S. population centers. The Virginia BeachNorfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (Hampton Roads MSA) is made up of fifteen cities and counties, making it the seventh largest MSA in the Southeast U.S., the second largest between Washington, DC and Atlanta and the largest coastal MSA between New York and Miami in the Eastern U.S.21

The Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA MSA ranks 37th out of the nation’s 366 MSA’s.22

Hampton Roads is one of America’s most popular vacation spots, and boasts something for everyone. It has an expansive 2,600 miles of shorelines, world-renowned museums and cultural opportunities such as the Virginia Opera, Virginia International Arts Festival, and Virginia Symphony, sports organizations and venues, shopping malls, historic cities and towns, amusement parks and state and national parks. Hampton Roads’ climate is enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts; recreational activities include boating, fishing, camping, biking, and tennis throughout the hundreds of local parks and campgrounds.

The region’s safe harbors, proximity to the ocean and rich history have worked together to form today’s Hampton Roads.

INDUSTRY DIVERSITY, LEVERAGING ASSETS

The region’s largest employers represent industry sectors like shipbuilding, health care, education, tourism, banking, insurance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and transportation and include: public school systems, colleges and universities, Sentara Healthcare, Riverside Health System, Bon Secours Hampton Roads

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has been picked to lead its new High Performance Data Facility Hub. The facility hub will be a $300 to $500 million computing and data infrastructure resource that will provide transformational capabilities for data analysis, networking and storage for the nation’s research enterprise, according to the Department of Energy. It will provide researchers with tools, methods and technologies to maximize the scientific value of data.

Health System, Colonial Williamsburg, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, SAIC, Measurement Specialties and GEICO.38

Hampton Roads is an international gateway with a large presence of foreign firms dominated by Germany, Japan and UK, including Canon, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Stihl, HSBC-North America, Maersk Line Limited, CMA CGM North America, Zim-American, Ferguson Enterprises/Wolseley NA and Anheuser-Busch/InBev.38

Fortune 1000 firms with headquarters or a significant presence in the region include Amerigroup, Dollar Tree, Smithfield Foods, and the largest private employer in Virginia, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.38

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Learn MoreAbout the Virginia Peninsula Chamber!

Jefferson Lab Chosen to Lead Hub

Amazon.com Inc. will build two operations facilities in Hampton Roads, creating an expected 1,500 jobs. Both facilities are anticipated to open in 2021.The first facility is a multi-story robotics fulfillment center in Suffolk, which will create 1,000 jobs. The second is a 650,000-square-foot processing center in Chesapeake, which will create 500 jobs.

The region’s largest financial institutions include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SunTrust and BB&T. Several regional banks are also strong financial assets in Hampton Roads, the largest of which is TowneBank.38

The economic structure of the region is characterized by the strong presence of the military, followed by real estate and rental leasing, manufacturing and shipbuilding, construction, tourism and recreation, and retail. Over the past decade, Hampton Roads’ population has grown at an annualized rate of 0.64%, slow compared to the nation. Since 2001, economic growth in the region has averaged 6.7% annually (3.3% in per capita dollars). Much of this growth is the result of increased Department of Defense (DoD) spending within the region.5

FEDERAL/MILITARY SECTOR

Hampton Roads has one of the largest concentrations of military personnel, second only to Washington DC, hence the regional moniker, “Pentagon South.” Hampton Roads hosts all five military services with both operating forces and major command headquarters. This includes the only NATO command in North America, and the U.S. Joint Forces Command (one of DoD’s ten combatant commands charged with transforming U.S. military capabilities). Increases in military pay and federal contracts have significantly contributed to the region’s economic growth. And defense spending continues to cushion the region in times of economic downturn.22 Thirty of the 100 largest defense firms in the world have a presence in Hampton Roads. Hampton Roads is also the home to the world’s largest concentration of U.S. Coast Guard assets. Additionally, thirteen Federal departments, administrations, and agencies are represented in the Hampton Roads region: Departments of

HELPFUL WEBSITES

Caroline County Tourism www.visitcaroline.com

City of Hampton https://visithampton.com

Fort Monroe Authority www.fmauthority.com

Franklin & Southampton County Chamber of Commerce www.FSAChamber.com

Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce www.GloucesterVAChamber.org

Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance www.WilliamsburgCC.com

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce www.HamptonRoadsChamber.com

Hampton Roads Alliance www.HamptonRoadsAlliance.com

Hampton Roads International Montessori School www.hrimontessori.org

Hampton Roads Military & Federal Facilities Alliance www.HRMFFA.org

Hampton Roads Performs www.HamptonRoadsPerforms.org

Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, Interior, Justice, Labor, and Transportation.

PORT/MARITIME SECTOR

In 2016, Virginia ports generated 530,800 jobs, $27.4 billion in wages, $88.4 billion in spending and $2.7 billion in state and local taxes. (10.1 percent of Virginia’s gross state product) (www.suffolknewsherald. com/2017/01/28/virginia-ports-adriving-economic-force/) Naturally safe harbors in Hampton Roads have brought commerce and trade to the Hampton Roads region for centuries. Deepwater access that can accommodate today’s–and tomorrow’s–supertankers, a strategic Mid-Atlantic location and a streamlined infrastructure network have helped to make Hampton Roads a premier international port. Over

Hampton Roads Planning District Commission www.hrpdcva.gov

Hampton Roads Regional Blog SmartRegion.org is no longer available

Isle of Wight-SmithfieldWindsor Chamber of Commerce www.theisle.biz

ODU Center for Real Estate & Economic Development www.odu.edu/evwilliams-center Opportunity, Inc. www.hrpdcva.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/6478/Opp-Inc--What-isOpportunity-Inc-Workforce-Center-0213-17--Handouts-PDF

Peninsula Council for Workforce Development www.vpcc.edu/contactus/centers/pwdc. html

Prince George County www.princegeorgecountyva.gov /visitors/

Virginia Peninsula Chamber www.virginiapeninsulachamber.com

Visit West Point & King William County www.visitwestpointkingwilliam.com

York County Chamber of Commerce www.YorkCountyChamberVA.org

3,000 foreign and domestic vessels calling annually.

In addition to the Port of Virginia, Hampton Roads’ economy is built on many port-related activities including commercial, military land-based support facilities and inland transportation, ship repair, shipbuilding, cargo terminals, cargo and cruise ships, maritime insurance and legal services, shipping line offices, mega yacht repair and maritime construction.

Hampton Roads is well poised to be the dominant port on the East Coast. The 2040 Virginia Port Authority Master Plan is driven by the creation of 600 acres of land and opening of Craney Island Marine Terminal, improvements at Norfolk International Terminals and Portsmouth Marine Terminals, development at the APM Terminal in Portsmouth and enhanced intermodal rail service.

Manufacturing plant on 100 acres of Chesapeake brownfield

CHESAPEAKE — In a win for the Hampton Roads offshore wind industry, a South Korean company plans to build a $681 million manufacturing facility — with a massive 660-foot-tall tower — for undersea cables in Chesapeake.

LS Greenlink USA, a subsidiary of South Korean-based LS Cable & System, plans to construct a 750,000-square-

foot manufacturing plant on 100 acres of Chesapeake brownfield, a move that is expected to create more than 330 full-time jobs.

When constructed, the facility will be the tallest building in Virginia, said LS Greenlink USA Managing Director Patrick Shim. The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center, at 508 feet, is currently the tallest building in the commonwealth. He said the company plans to begin construction in the first quarter of 2025 and begin operating the facility in the first quarter of 2028.

In addition to ongoing construction of the 176-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, Dominion announced Monday had acquired the lease for the Kitty Hawk North offshore wind project from Avangrid for $160 million. Federal regulators have scheduled the next round of offshore wind lease sales in the mid-Atlantic for August, including the lease for another area off Virginia, about 35 nautical miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

During the event, government officials were presented with a cross section of the cables, which measured several inches in diameter and included a copper conductor core and several other layers. Even at just a couple inches in thickness, the cross section had considerable weight.

REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR THE VIRGINIA PORT AUTHORITY

New York-based construction company Skanska announced Thursday that it has completed a $223 million redevelopment project for the Virginia Port Authority, upgrading 72 acres of Portsmouth Marine Terminal and 1,500 feet of wharf that now serves as an offshore wind staging port.

Richmond-based Dominion Energy will use the terminal staging port for its $10.7 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. According to Skanska, the terminal serves as a collection and storage site for wind turbine components, which are then transferred to installation vessels.

“We are proud to support the vital role of the Virginia Port Authority and Dominion’s work to build clean energy infrastructure, in this case enough wind energy to power 660,000 homes a year,” said Brook Brookshire, senior vice president of Skanska USA civil operations said in a statement. “This project strengthens vital port infrastructure while advancing sustainable energy production and benefiting local communities through job creation.”

Skanska began work on the project in 2022 and substantially completed it in March. The work involved constructing three heavy lift berths: the wind turbine generator delivery berth, the wind turbine generator load-out berth and the berth for the steel tube monopiles.

Other tasks completed included strengthening the soils and surface in the upland areas to accommodate heavy surface loadings and driving 1,335 150-foot-long piles and pouring 26,500 cubic yards of concrete.

Skanska also installed high mast lighting, stormwater collection systems and other ancillary structures and systems.

The CVOW calls for the construction of 176 wind turbines 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach by 2026. Once the project is fully constructed, it will generate up to 9.5 million megawatt-hours per year of energy, enough to power up to 660,000 homes, according to Dominion.

Once Dominion Energy completes the CVOW project, which includes assembling and installing offshore turbines, they will generate 2.6 gigawatts of energy.

TOURISM/ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR

Hampton Roads is a popular vacation destination for millions of visitors annually. Each city has its own unique attractions, events and activities. From the surf and sand of the longest pleasure beach in the world at Virginia Beach, to the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg, to the convention centers spread throughout the region, Hampton Roads is an established multi-faceted tourist destination. The Leisure and Hospitality industry employs over 80,000 people in Hampton Roads. In addition to the hoteliers who depend on tourists to fill their rooms, tourism brings new money to restaurants, retail establishments and government coffers.25

Tourism contributes to quality of life through the influx of tax revenue, creation of jobs and improved services and attractions that add to the vibrancy of life in Hampton Roads. For businesses in Hampton Roads this means improved recruiting and retention and greater quality of life for those employees.26

Arts & Culture in Hampton Roads serve as a significant component of the Tourism industry. The arts strengthen and educate communities, lift spirits and build a better quality of life for everyone. As a billion dollar industry in Virginia, arts and cultural organizations create millions

of dollars in revenues for area businesses, attract out-of-state tourism spending, generate millions of dollars in personal income for Hampton Roads’ workforce and entrepreneurs and create thousands of jobs for residents in the region.27

EMPLOYMENT

The Virginian-Pilot reported that jobs continue to increase at a slow, but steady pace. Port of Virginia is responsible for nearly 375,000 jobs and its economic impact is 60.3 billion a year. Navy Cyber Command in Suffolk brought 700 military, civilian and contracting jobs to the area. Chesapeake will add new jobs with Xerox and the Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America. Norfolk’s Waterside Live, AECOM, Bauer Compressors, Inc., and American Airlines will top the list of companies adding jobs. Green Mountain did build a facility in the Shirley T. Holland Intermodal Park. Cost Plus World Market and Safeco Products are also there. Portsmouth will make gains with Kroger and Suffolk with the Shenzhen Superwatt Power Technology Co. Virginia Beach rounds out the list with LoanCare, Medical Facilities of America, Amerigroup Corp. (expanding to Norfolk,) IMS Gear (opening a new 112,000 square foot facility from state funds and grants), Labels Unlimited, and Green Flash Brewing Company. IMS Gear opened in Virginia Beach and employs 220 workers (as of 2016).

In Feb. 2017, Sanjo Corte Fino selected Virginia Beach as the site of its 24,000-square-foot North American manufacturing headquarters.

Newport News shipyard voted in favor of a 52-month contract through July 9, 2017, with Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., the parent company of Newport News Shipbuilding. The Apprentice School,” a six-acre, $70 million venture for Newport News Shipbuilding was reaccredited until 2022.

In addition, largest recent growth in the Hampton Roads region was in the healthcare and social assistance sectors, followed by leisure and hospitality, scientific and technical sciences, retail trade, and finally federal and manufacturing, as reported by Hampton Roads Planning and District Commission.

MEASURING SUCCESS, FOLLOW THE NUMBERS

Business, civic and government leaders in the region use the web-based Hampton Roads Performs as their resource for data that shows how the region is performing on key quality of life indicators.

Open to full public access, these quality of life indicators answer the question, “How is the Hampton Roads Region Doing?” and the results are used to compare Hampton Roads to other regions.

Workforce Quality: Over 27% of residents hold at least a Bachelor’s degree and the number of community college, high school career and technical education awards is increasing.1

Business Startups: The rate of startups, a measure of entrepreneurship, remains high compared to previous years.

Personal Income: Among peer metro areas, per capita income is growing fastest in the Hampton Roads area and faster than the rate for the U.S. as a whole.30 A strong economy is characterized by prosperity reflected in improving standards of living.

Unemployment: Unemployment was 4.3% as of December 2016, but thanks to a strong military presence, still well under the national average which was 4.9% as of October 2016. 

Getting Here, Going There

“Transportation and connectivity is the key to being competitive. It relates to quality of life improvements, tourism, port, etc. We must have strong transportation for all of this to work,” said one citizen.

Hampton Roads has its transportation issues as does any metropolitan region. When working together as a region to improve mobility within tough budgets on all levels, congestion mitigation is the answer, including development of public-private partnerships to add new and/or improve existing bridges and tunnels, growing the use of telecommuting, enlisting technology, considering transit-oriented development and identifying funding models, especially for development of high-speed rail and enhanced intercity rail.

PLANNING AHEAD

The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, the intergovernmental body responsible for planning transportation in Hampton Roads, is developing its 2034 Long Range Plan. Also, a Transit Vision Plan for Hampton Roads is in process and proposes that an integrated, highcapacity transit system will help address some of the region’s social, environmental, and economic challenges interrelated to land use and sustainability

and will address bicycle and pedestrian projects as well. Here is a link of upcoming transportation projects in Hampton Roads.

ROADS, TUNNELS, BRIDGES AND FERRIES

Because of the abundance of waterways, the Hampton Roads’ transportation network is heavily dependent on and utilizes a number of methods to get around the water surrounding its communities. It is an effective but aging transportation system. In fact, Hampton Roads has more tunnels connecting its communities than any other region in the U.S. Tunnels, bridges and ferries enhance Hampton Roads residents’ ability to go from one area to the other and beyond.

Hampton Roads’ interstates form a big loop or beltway around the region. The inner loop follows I-64 east and I-664 north. The outer loop follows I-64 west and I-664 south. Due west of the region are the principal north-south interstate highways, I-85 and I-95. Through Southampton County, I-95 is located just four miles west of the region. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-

Tunnel gives northeast coastal highway traffic direct access to Hampton Roads and saves 90 miles (145 kilometers) to the New York/New Jersey corridor.

Several roadway expansion or enhancement projects are underway including one to improve intermodal access to Norfolk International Terminals. Major regional projects completed in recent years include the Pinners Point Connector in Portsmouth, Route 17 in Chesapeake, the Chesapeake Expressway, widening of I-64 in Hampton/Newport News and the Southwest Suffolk Bypass. The region’s newest South Norfolk Jordan Bridge spans the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and includes a pedestrian friendly sidewalk with quick connections to I-464 and I-264. The fixed, high-rise bridge is the tallest in Virginia and not subject to openings for maritime traffic. It also has been designated an official Virginia truck route without height or weight restrictions.

A 15-minute ferry that connects the Scotland area in Surry County with the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown is maintained by the state, providing highway commuters a very affordable highway alternative.

Per capita vehicle miles traveled has remained relatively stable over the last 10 years, suggesting that commuting distances are relatively short.39

PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE

Hampton Roads Transit, with over 55 fixed routes and 300 buses, provides public transportation throughout Hampton Roads. In addition to local and express bus services, HRT’s other services include a ferry connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth, paratransit service, and TRAFFIX, a program providing alternatives to the one-person-per-car commute. In 2011, HRT launched “The Tide,” Virginia’s first light rail system that runs in Norfolk and serves as a starter line for a future region-wide intercity rail transit system.

Williamsburg Area Transit provides bus transportation throughout Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and area shopping locations to the west while the Bay Transit Company, which is a service of Bay Aging, provides bus service on weekdays to all residents in the ten counties of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck, including Gloucester and Mathews Counties.

Norfolk’s Greyhound Bus service provides intercity connections nationwide.

RAIL/INTERMODAL SERVICE

Hampton Roads is served primarily by one Class I freight rail giant, CSX. The ports create a perfect entry location for the railway for cargo distribution throughout the East Coast and Midwest.

Efficient connections with other rail systems and motor carriers provide easy and affordable access to the rest of the U.S. Additionally, more than 50 common freight carriers serve Hampton Roads, and UPS maintains a local terminal. CSX operates on 23,000 miles of track in 23 states, Washington, DC, Montreal and Ontario, Canada. It offers a Rail-toTruck Transshipment Facility in Newport News and an intermodal terminal in nearby Portsmouth. In addition, CSX is championing the National Gateway Initiative, a public-private partnership to create a more efficient freight route linking the Port of Virginia with Midwestern markets, improving the flow of rail traffic between these regions by increasing the use of double-stack trains. When the project is complete, Hampton Roads will have few limitations for its market reach via rail.

Amtrak connects the region to other areas of the country with passenger trains departing daily from Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula. Additional passenger rail service in development for Hampton Roads will serve five Southside cities, three of which have employment densities of over 1,000 jobs per square mile (Norfolk, the proposed terminus, has 4,000) and 65% of the region’s population.34

AIR SERVICE

The region’s two major airports, Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and Newport News Williamsburg Airport (PHF), are located within a 30-minute commute of most business and residential areas in the region and provide over 200 daily flights to 22 airports, 17 of which are International Gateways. These airports are currently handling over 72 million pounds of air cargo per year and almost 4.7million passengers. Currently, an average of more than 400 landings and takeoffs take place each day at the region’s airports. This includes passenger and cargo airlines, general aviation, air taxi and charter flights. In addition, the airports often handle military flights when local base runways are under repair.35

Newport News Williamsburg Airport has quietly dropped the “International” from its title in its marketing.

Breeze Airways, a new low-cost airline, will invest $5.2 million to build an operations center in Norfolk, producing 116 jobs. The Salt Lake City, Utah-based startup company, which offers service to mid-size U.S. markets, will include Norfolk as one of its first four operations bases in the United States.

(Top and top of opposite page) Photography Courtesy of The Drone Angle

Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy, Newport News Shipbuilding.

PORTS

Hampton Roads’ businesses enjoy direct access to three major marine terminals run by the Virginia Port Authority: Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal and Newport News Marine Terminal. Hampton Roads is also home to the nation’s first privately developed container terminal, APM/Maersk. Currently, over 95% of the world’s shipping lines call on the Port of Virginia, linking Hampton Roads and the rest of the U.S. to more than 250 ports in 100 countries. Hampton Roads has a welldeserved reputation for providing efficient, modern cargo handling and yearround transportation.

The Port Authority has forecasted healthy growth during the next 10 years based on the opening of a widened Panama Canal in 2014 and enhanced rail connections with CSX’s National Gateway.

The Port of Virginia, the third busiest general cargo port on the East Coast with 50-foot deep channels and an ice-free harbor, is home to some of the largest and fastest container cranes in the world. A long-range master plan that has the development of Craney Island Marine Terminal as its centerpiece maps out the steps to more than double the Port’s over-all capacity over the next few years. 

Port of Virginia, Norfolk International Terminal

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Amtrak Passenger Rail Amtrak.com; 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245)

Bay Transit Company www.BayTransit.org Cruises www.visitnorfolk.com/cruisenorfolk

E-ZPass Electronic Toll Systems www.ezpassva.com

Greyhound Bus Service www.Greyhound.com

Hampton Roads Traffic Cameras https://511.vdot.virginia.gov

Hampton Roads Transit http://gohrt.com/

Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization www.HRTPO.org

Light Rail-The Tide https://gohrt.com/routes/light-rail/

Newport News Williamsburg Airport (PHF) www.Flyphf.com

Norfolk International Airport www.TakeORF.com

Reinvent Hampton Roads https://reinventhr.org/

Toll-Free Virginia Highway

Traffic Information Dial 511

Updates on I-64 Construction www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/majorprojects/i64widening/

VDOT Traffic and Travel Info www.511virginia.org/

Virginia Department of Transportation www.virginiadot.org/

Virginia Port Authority www.PortOfVirginia.com

Williamsburg Area Transport http://gowata.org/

▲The Tide, Virginia’s first light rail system, extends 7.4 miles from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center downtown Norfolk to I-264 at Newtown Road.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Thank You for Your Service

The military has played a pivotal role in Hampton Roads since the English settlers set foot on this land in 1607. The soldiers who accompanied the first settlers are the predecessors of the thousands of men and women who have donned uniforms to protect the United States of America. The region is proud to house a number of bases associated with all branches of the U.S. military. Many of the ships, planes and soldiers actively engaged in America’s war on terrorism call Hampton Roads home. We are excited to share Virginia Beach has been named the #1 U.S. Market for veteran and military spouse employment in 2025 by Hire Heroes USA.

Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit that helps U.S. servicemen and women, and their spouses, succeed in the civilian workforce. This honor highlights the alignment between veteran skills

and our region’s core economic drivers, citing Defense Contracting, Government, and Information Technology as the top industries. The military is an undeniable asset to the region’s economy. Over 95,000 uniformed men and women are currently stationed in Hampton Roads. Of these, approximately 15,000 join the private sector each year, creating a rich pool of skilled and experienced workers. Over 10,000 civilians also work at the various bases on the Peninsula. Altogether, an estimated 400,000 people in Hampton Roads, or 30 percent of the region’s population, have ties to military installations.

MILITARY BASES & ACTIVITY

Langley Air Force Base, nestled between Hampton and Poquoson, opened in 1916 as an experimental air station for testing

airplanes and dirigibles as part of the military power. Since then, Langley pilots have taken part in all conflicts in which the U.S. has had a role.

From the 1940s, it has been home to the Tactical Air Command (TAC). The 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was established at Langley in 1946. Pilots with this Wing were the first to have a confirmed aerial kill in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.

Langley is also home to the Air Force’s new Air Combat Command, a consolidation of TAC with the Strategic Air Command, formerly headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Renovations were recently completed to provide hangars for the F-22 Raptors, the most stealthy and expensive jets in Air Force history, which are now flying operations out of Langley.

Its 8,800 military and 2,000 civilian personnel draw a combined annual payroll of approximately $624 million.

Fort Eustis, the Peninsula’s largest military installation located in northwestern Newport News, opened in 1918. Since 1942, its 8,228 acres have been home to the Army’s Transportation Center, a key part of the Army’s mission to ensure that troops, trucks, tanks, ships and other supplies reach combat sites in a efficient and timely manner. It has also been a key processing point for reservists going to and from Iraq.

The installation’s 9,516 military and 2,407 civilian personnel draw a combined annual payroll of $765.7 million.

Across the port of Hampton Roads from the Peninsula in Norfolk, is the Norfolk Naval Station, the world’s largest naval base. More than 60,000 military and

USS Nimitz arrives in Norfolk

PHOTO COURTESY OF NAUTICUS, NORFOLK, VA

10,000 civilian personnel work on the base that is the homeport for more than 80 ships of the Atlantic Fleet. The base’s 4,300 acres include Chambers Field, which is home to 16 airport squadrons.

The world’s largest amphibious base is also located in Norfolk. The Little Creek Amphibious Base has approximately 30 amphibious ships, patrol craft and salvage ships and is home to 80 tenant commands including the Naval Special Warfare Group II, East Coast home of the SEALS and the Armed Forces School of Music. Further south, in Virginia Beach, is the Oceana Naval Air Station, one of the country’s Master Jet Bases, which houses F-14 Tomcats and other planes assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.

Camp Peary

(York County) Camp Peary in York County is operated by the U.S. Army and the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA uses this 10,000 acre camp as a training ground for its agents. Little is publicly known about this facility, which is referred to as “The Farm.”

Cheatham Annex

(York County) This base is the bulk storage facility for the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center in Norfolk. Its facilities are used for storing supplies for the ships of the Atlantic Fleet. In addition to providing storage, the base also houses a Naval Cargo Handling and Port Group and a branch of the Army Veterinarian Food Inspection Office.

Coast Guard Atlantic Area (Portsmouth) This is the operations hub and headquarters for Coast Guard activities from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. More than 3000 Coast Guard and civilians work here providing support and other selected services for units throughout the country.

Fort

Eustis

Army Base

(Newport News) Ft. Eustis is home for the Army Transportation Center, the 7th Transportation Group, 8th Brigade and the Army Transportation Museum. Fort Eustis is also the home to the James River Reserve Fleet, which is a “mothballed”

▲ USS Harry Truman cruises up Elizabeth River fleet of ships under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Maritime Administration. The fleet is anchored in the James River opposite the Fort. TRADOC, the Army’s consulting arm for developing battle plans, commands and services for the 21st century and the TRADOC Army band is now located at Fort Eustis after the closing of Fort Monroe.

Langley Air Force Base

(Hampton) The Air Force’s largest major command, the Air Combat Command and the Ninth Air Force’s 1st Fighter Wing, is located at this base. Fighter jets from Langley fly homeland security patrols over the nation’s capital daily. In 2010, Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis merged to become a joint base.

Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story

On October 1, 2009, the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story was established, the first Joint Base in Hampton Roads. Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story is the country’s premier installation for housing and training the nation’s Expeditionary Forces. It is one command with two properties: Joint Expeditionary Base East (Fort Story) and West (Little Creek). The Joint Expeditionary Base is comprised of the former Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and the Army Post, Fort Story. Fort Story witnessed the humble beginnings of our country at the 1607 first landing site. Little Creek began as a dynamic training ground for World War II amphibious forces. Together they comprise the crown jewel of American’s military bases

Naval Weapons Station (Yorktown) This is the Navy’s premiere weapons facility. Over 3,000 military and

civilian personnel work on the 11,500 acres of this base, maintaining missiles and other ordinances for the Atlantic Fleet.

Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding (Newport News) The Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding command at Northrop Grumman Newport News is where Navy personnel work with shipyard personnel in building and refurbishing ships and submarines. Northrop Grumman has a backlog of carriers and submarines that will ensure work for the Navy for several years.

Naval Station Norfolk (Norfolk) Home to Headquarters Atlantic Fleet, COMNAVBASE Norfolk is the world’s largest U.S. naval base. Components of the base are scattered throughout Hampton Roads. Approximately 80 naval ships are homeported in the Norfolk area.

Oceana Naval Air Station/ Dam Neck Annex

(Virginia Beach) This base is the most sophisticated and critically important air station in the U.S. Navy. It is home to over 290 state-of-the-art aircraft including F/A18E/F Super Hornets. The base employs about 10,000 military and 5,300 civilian personnel. The Dam Neck Annex, also part of the Oceana facility, is home to the Fleet Combat Training Center, which trains over 1000 students each month. Dam Neck employs another 3,700 military and 1,100 civilian personnel. The combined annual payroll is $1 billion.

US Coast Guard Training Center (Yorktown) This is the Coast Guard’s key training facility. More than 7,000 Coast Guard and foreign troops are trained here each year. Its 626 military and 227 civilian personnel draw a combined annual payroll of $40 million. 

Education

For the 21st Century

COMMUNICATIONS AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, REGENT UNIVERSITY

Education has been the cornerstone of life in the region for more than 300 years. Over 86,000 students are enrolled in the region’s colleges and universities which include two of the most prestigious and oldest educational institutions in the nation: the College of William and Mary and Hampton University. This is in addition to the students enrolled in campuses sponsored by institutions outside of the area or those enrolled in the many technical and speciality schools located within the region such as ECPI College of Technology, Florida Institute of Technology and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

College of William and Mary was ranked 6th on Kiplinger’s 2017 “Best College Values: Public” and U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 “Best Colleges: Top Public Schools”.

Since its founding in 1693, the college has compiled a remarkable list of “firsts” among American universities, including the first honor system, first full faculty, first to become a university, and the founding of Phi Beta Kappa. William and Mary has helped to educate four U.S. presidents, four signers of the Declaration of Independence, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, governors and many others in public service.

William and Mary offers more than 40 undergraduate programs and more than 20 graduate and professional degree programs. A number of special programs are also available including specialized

seminars for freshman, under-graduate research, and study abroad in more than 10 countries.

Founded in 1878, Hampton University was one of the nation’s first schools of higher education for freed slaves. The school was established to train selected young men and women to “go out and teach and lead their people,” and to build a viable industrial system on the strength of self-sufficiency, intelligent labor and solid moral character. Today they welcome students of all races and creeds, offering 49 bachelor’s programs, 21 master’s and seven doctoral (Ph.D.).

Old Dominion University in Norfolk is the largest institution of higher learning in Hampton Roads, offering 70 bachelor’s degree programs, 54 master’s degree programs and 42 doctoral degrees. It also sponsors the Peninsula Graduate Engineering Center at the Hampton Roads Center in Hampton. This advanced engineering education facility opened in 1986 for employees of many of the area’s high-tech firms.

In Newport News, Christopher Newport University offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs in business, science and technology. CNU was ranked fifth among public regional universities in the south. Although CNU was originally commissioned as a twoyear branch of the College of William and Mary, it eventually became a four-year, baccalaureate degree-granting college. It gained its full independence from William and Mary in 1977 and was given university status in 1992. Out of 1,100 schools, Christopher Newport in 2014 was the only public university in the nation to be awarded a perfect A by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).

Batten University, a four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the United

Methodist Church, is located on the border of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. With a 13 to 1 student-faculty ratio, Virginia Wesleyan is small by design, believing that a liberal arts education is best achieved in a setting where students and faculty know each other well. Virginia Wesleyan offers 33 majors, 22 varsity sports and 50+ on campus clubs and organizations. Visit www.vwu.edu for more information.

Norfolk State University (NSU), founded during the Great Depression, is one of the largest predominately Black institutions in the nation. Today, it offers 50 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It also includes the Dozerty National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Science whose primary goal is to address the severe shortage of minority scientists.

According to Jack Faucett Associates, Inc., a firm that specializes in economic research and public policy analysis reported for in FY2012, NSU’s budgetary expenditures totaled $129 million, including capital and operating expenditures. In addition, NSU students spent $32 million on housing, transportation, books, and various personal items. The total spending associated with NSU resulted in an increase in economic output of $248 million in the Hampton Roads region.

For more than 20 years, Virginia has funded a state-wide community college system with specialized studies leading to associate degrees and certificates. Hampton Roads is home to several of these schools, including Rappahannock Community College in Glenns (Gloucester County), Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, and Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, Suffolk and Smithfield.

Tidewater Community College (TCC) is the second largest of the 23 community colleges in Virginia. (Forty-three percent of

the region’s residents who attend a college or university are enrolled at TCC.) The college has campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, and offers a comprehensive range of programs from courses of study that lead to associate degrees, diplomas or certificates for over 60 occupational/technical programs.

A joint partnership with Lumen Learning begain in 2013 offering a textbook-free associate of science degree in business administration. The program offers textbooks and other educational resources to save students up to 1/3 of the total costs of college.

Virginia Peninsula Community College offers high-quality comprehensive educational programs and services including 35 associate degrees, one diploma and 38 certificate programs. Its 11,400 students can transfer their credits to most four-year universities with no loss of credits. Thomas Nelson is in educational partnership with a variety of local businesses including Jefferson Lab, NASA Langley and Siemens.

Regent University, in Virginia Beach, is an interdenominational evangelical Christian university offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in business, communication and arts, divinity, education, government, law, leadership studies and psychology and counseling. U.S. News and World Report recently recognized Regent University as a “best” university and ranked nationally as “top 10 best online bachelor’s program, #1 Online MBA for faculty credentials and training, and top-ranked online business and graduate education programs overall.”

Northrop Grumman Newport News sponsors the Newport News Apprentice School, which provides college-level technical training for qualified students who are or will be employees.

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Advanced Technology Institute

Virginia Beach

Atlantic University

Virginia Beach

Batten University

490-1241

631-8101

Norfolk 455-3200

A four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, offering a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, 39 majors, 70 student organizations and 19 intercollegiate sports. www.vwu.edu

Bryant & Stratton College

Virginia Beach

1-800-895-1738

Two-year private college offering A.A.S. degree programs in paralegal, medical, business and technology fields.

Centura College

Chesapeake

Newport News

549-2121

874-2121

Norfolk 853-2121

Virginia Beach 490-3151

Christopher Newport University

Newport News

FOR THE NEXT 250

As our nation marks 250 years, Norfolk Collegiate is preparing students to lead the next 250.

Through our upper school Oak Experience, anchored in Virginia 250 and Project Citizen, students engage directly in civic education and public policy. They research real issues, analyze legislation, practice civil discourse and develop solutions that connect classroom learning to community impact.

Students don’t just study history — they practice democracy.

• Critical thinkers

• Courageous problem-solvers

• Ethical leaders

• Engaged global citizens

In a time when civic understanding matters more than ever, our students are prepared to participate thoughtfully — and lead confidently.

594-7000

Offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate programs to 5,000 students in the liberal arts, business, science and technology.

College of Virginia Beach atHampton University

Virginia Beach 637-2200

College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

221-4000

Gloucester-VA Institute of Marine Science 804-684-7000

A public university, established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

SHAPE THE FUTURE NOW!

1 | Apply today for 2026-27

2 | Schedule your tour using the QR code

3 | Explore online at NorfolkCollegiate.org

Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.

DeVry University

Chesapeake 382-5680

ECPI

General 1-844-334-4466

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk 446-5800

This regional institute reaches into all corners of the Hampton Roads community through its partnerships with regional hospitals, clinics, institutions and physicians.

Fortis College

Norfolk 499-5447

Hampton University

Hampton 727-5000

An historically Black university, that is privatelyendowed, co-educational and nonsectarian.

The Apprentice School

Newport News 380-3809

College-level technical training for qualified students who are or will be employees.

Norfolk State University

Norfolk 823-8600

Founded in 1935, this public university is one of the largest predominately Black institutions in the United States.

Old Dominion University

Norfolk 683-3000

The largest institution of higher learning in Hampton Roads, offering 65 undergraduate degrees, 64 master’s degrees and 21 doctorates.

Paul D. Camp Community College

Serving Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Suffolk, & Southampton County 569-6700

A comprehensive community college offering more than 50 degree and certificate programs and an array of workforce/ customized training that can be delivered at any college or workplace based upon the needs of the employers in the region.

Peninsula Higher Education Center

Hampton 766-5200

Advanced engineering facility sponsored by Old Dominion University.

Rappahannock Community College

Gloucester (804) 758-6700

Public, two-year institution offering transferable associate degrees and occupational, technical and workforce development.

Regent University

Virginia Beach 352-4000

www.regent.edu

Interdenominational evangelical Christian university offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in business, communication and arts, divinity, education, government, law, leadership studies and psychology and counseling.

Strayer University

Newport News 881-5100

Virginia Beach 493-6000

Private university specializing in information technology and business-oriented courses for working adult students. Under-graduate and graduate programs in addition to online courses.

Tidewater Community College

Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach 822-1122

Offers comprehensive programs to meet the educational needs of area citizens, business and industry.

Troy University

Ft. Monroe (H)

766-3611

Chesapeake 512-2000

Offers graduate degrees in a variety of areas including business management and administration, human resource management, education, and criminal justice.

University of Phoenix

Virginia Beach

Learning Center (844) 937-8679

Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)/School of Marine Science

Gloucester Point (804) 684-7000

Conducts interdisciplinary research in coastal and estuarine science, educates students and citizens, and provides advisory service to policy makers, industry and the public. VIMS was chartered in 1940, and is now a graduate school of the College of William and Mary.

Virginia Peninsula Community College

Hampton 825-2700

Williamsburg 253-4300

Public, two-year institution offering transferable associate degrees and occupational, technical and workforce development.

Virginia Tech Hampton Roads

Graduate Center

Hampton 964-8855

Offers a doctorate in educational administration, a career-integrated master of business administration program and five masters of science degrees in engineering.

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

If you’re contemplating a career change, check the list below of several of the many specialized programs available in Hampton Roads.

Alpha College of Real Estate

Chesapeake 427-1740

Newport News 873-8884

Offers courses in the principles of real estate. American Spirit Institute

Williamsburg 220-8000

Offers professional training in massage therapy and holistic studies.

Apprentice School of

Newport News Shipbuilding

Newport News 380-3809

Aviation Institute of Maintenance

Chesapeake 363-2121

Chesapeake Marine Training Institute

Hayes 800-642-CMTI (2684)

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Norfolk 440-5078

Virginia Beach 437-8061

Offers a comprehensive program in aircraft maintenance and repair.

Empire Beauty School

Virginia Beach 355-5530

Riverside College of Health Careers

Newport News 240-2200

Cooperative program between Riverside Regional Medical Center and Christopher Newport University offering advanced training in nursing and associated health occupations.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Virginia’s public schools implement Standards of Learning, or SOLs. In an effort to provide clear, measurable goals for all, students and schools are judged by their students’ performance on exams, which are given in grades three, five and eight and at the end of high school.

Hampton Roads’ public schools have been honored by the U.S. Department of Education numerous times for excellence. Almost all public school systems have formed partnerships with area businesses to give students first-hand experience and knowledge about the business world. All school systems teach grades kindergarten through high school.

SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS

All of Hampton Roads’ public school systems have programs for mentally and physically-challenged students. The following schools focus on these students. Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation Hampton 827-8757

Mental and physical handicaps, residential and day programs.

New Horizons Regional Education Center Gloucester, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, York 874-4444

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

The Hampton Roads area has numerous private schools for pre-kindergarten through high school. Many of these schools are religiously affiliated.

CHESAPEAKE

Atlantic Shores Christian School

Elementary campus 479-1125

Secondary campus 479-9598

Greenbrier Christian Academy

PK – 12 547-9595

Mount Pleasant Christian School

PK – 8 482-9557

Stonebridge School

PK – 12 488-2214

Tidewater Adventist Academy

K – 8 479-0002

FRANKLIN-SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY

Rock Church School

K – 12 562-3878

Southampton Academy

Lower School (PK – 6) 653-2512

Middle School (7 – 8)

Upper School (9 – 12)

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Gloucester Montessori School

PK – 3 (804) 693-6455

Lighthouse Worship Center

PK – 5 (804) 642-3703

Ware Academy

PK – 8 (804) 693-3825

HAMPTON

Bethel Christian School Daycare, K – 12 826-7711

Calvary Classical School

K3 – 5 and 1 – 6 262-0062

Gloria Dei Lutheran School

PK – 7 851-6292

Hampton Christian School (Mary Atkins Christian School)

PK – 12 838-7427

Hampton City Schools

K – 12 727-2000

Hampton Roads

International Montessori School

PK – 12 873-8950

Hampton Roads Seventh Day Adventist K-8 and 3-5 722-1221

St. Mary Star of the Sea School

PK – 8 723-6358

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY

Isle of Wight Academy

PK – 12 357-3866

NEWPORT NEWS

Denbigh Baptist Christian School

PK – 12 249-2654

Denbigh Christian Academy

PK – 6 874-8661

Hampton Roads Academy

PK – 12 884-9100

Hampton Roads

International Montessori School

PK – 15 873-8950

Orcutt Baptist School

PK – 6 249-1280

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School

PK – 8 596-2754

Peninsula Catholic High School 8 – 12 596-7247

St. Andrew’s Episcopal PK – 5 596-6261

Summit Christian Academy (Lower School) K4 – 6 599-9424

Trinity Lutheran School

PK – 8 245-2576

Warwick River Christian School PK – 5 877-2941

NORFOLK

Christ The King School PK – 8 625-4951

Norfolk Academy 1 – 12 461-6236

Norfolk Christian Schools K3 – 12 423-5770

Norfolk Collegiate School

Lower school 625-0471 Middle/Upper school 480-2885

Trinity Lutheran School PK & 2 1/2 – 5 489-2732

The Williams School K – 8 627-1383

PORTSMOUTH

Alliance Christian Academy PK – 12 488-5552

Jewish Museum & Cultural Center 391-9266

Montessori Preparatory School PK-K 484-7229

Portsmouth Catholic Elementary PK – 8 488-6744

Portsmouth Christian School K4 – 12 393-0725

SUFFOLK

First Baptist Christian School

Elementary school 925-4461

Upper school 809-6606

First Baptist Weekday School PK – 4 925-0274

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy PK – 12 539-8789

VIRGINIA BEACH

Atlantic Shores Christian PK – 12 479-1125

Cape Henry Collegiate PK – 12 481-2446

Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School 9 – 12 467-2881

Chesapeake Bay Academy K – 12 497-6200

Hebrew Academy of Tidewater PS – 8 424-4327

Kempsville Presbyterian PS – K 495-4611

Norfolk Christian School PK – 5 428-1284

St. John the Apostle PK – 8 821-1100

St. Matthew’s School PK – 8 420-2455

Star of the Sea School PK – 8 428-8400

Virginia Beach Friends School PS – 12 428-7534

WILLIAMSBURG

Walsingham Academy Lower School: 229-2642

Upper School: 229-6026 PS – 12

Williamsburg Christian Academy PK – 12 220-1978

YORK COUNTY

Summit Christian Academy (Upper School) 7 – 12 867-7005

Living Word Academy K3 – 8 867-8024

CHILD CARE

Hampton Roads has an abundance of good daycare centers and childcare options. Many of them are academically driven, offering special programs designed to keep children’s minds engaged in educational activities.

The Hampton Roads Planning Council offers childcare resources and referral services to help parents evaluate the best setting for their children and find appropriate, quality providers.

The Council’s Child Care Answer Line (CCAL) makes searching for a child care provider easy by sharing potential providers and guidelines for evaluating them for a nominal fee. To reach the Child Care Answer Line, call 627-3993.

HomeCare is another program of the Planning Council that offers parents support in recruiting, hiring and training in-home childcare providers. Parents are assigned a counselor to determine the type of care needed and provided a list of state-licensed caregivers.

Local community parks and recreation departments and many YMCAs sponsor programs designed to provide after-school care. A number of the area’s public schools also have after-school programs that involve academic opportunities so that children are learning while parents are still at work.

Check out other fun activity websites: tournaments.uskidsgolf.com; uagolftour.com 

INFORMATION & ASSISTANCE

For numbers of community Parks and Recreation departments, see New Arrivals in Hampton Roads: Quick Start Guide. The Planning Council 622-9268 www.theplanningcouncil.org Statewide Information Services 1-800-230-6977

Health Care Facilities

With many medical advancements and expansions, all Hampton Roads health care facilities are developing new and innovative ways of providing care, while keeping a vigilant eye on the need for a personalized approach to patient care.

VersAbility Resources envisions a world where people with disabilities live full and productive lives of their choosing. While 42.5 million people in the United States have a disability, we’re on a mission to ensure that doesn’t hold them back. Our programs support that mission. We help families with infants and toddlers experiencing developmental delays. Our services help students who want to learn new skills toward a career. We help find employment opportunities so people with disabilities find work they enjoy and contribute to their communities. Our expansive social and recreation activities and events foster community engagement. VersAbility operates eight residential homes staffed around the clock in Hampton, Newport News and York County that support those with significant disabilities.

Riverside Health is an integrated health network providing over 2 million services annually. Serving Eastern Virginia since 1915, Riverside is guided by a mission to “care for others as we would care for those we love.” Riverside offers a variety of services and programs in the areas of prevention, primary care, diagnostics, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, agingrelated services, rehabilitation, medical education, home care and hospice. They operate four acute-care hospitals, a mental health and recovery hospital with a dedicated psychiatric emergency department, in addition to a physical rehabilitation hospital and a critical illness recovery hospital in partnership with Select Medical. Riverside Health is also under construction on the new Riverside Smithfield Hospital, scheduled to open early 2026. Riverside Medical Group has more than 750 physicians and advanced practice providers across a broad spectrum of specialties

in over 110 locations throughout the region. Riverside Lifelong Health operates six long term care facilities and three vibrant continuing care retirement communities alongside Riverside At Home services including home health, hospice care, palliative care and in-home private care. In addition to these health care services, Riverside operates the Riverside College of Health Careers and six medical residency programs. The company employs more than 9,500 team members throughout Eastern Virginia.

Recognized nationally for quality and innovation, Sentara has a history of bringing medical advances first to the region such as robotic surgery, cancer improvements, and heart and other surgical procedures. Sentara was first in the nation to pioneer lifesaving electronic ICU (eICU®).

This comprehensive health system is comprised of 10 hospitals in Virginia, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and dedicated heart hospital at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Other community needs are met through its nursing and assisted living facilities, advanced imaging centers, outpatient care campuses in the region, array of awardwinning health plans, home health and hospice services, rehabilitation facilities, and nearly 400 world-class physicians of Sentara Medical Group.

Sentara is also known for its compassionate care and service to the community, especially for the area’s less fortunate. For years, Sentara has touched the lives of thousands of people who are uninsured or underinsured. Sentara provides more than $214.5 million in community benefits. Of that, more than $183.2 million was provided in uncompensated patient care. Community benefit provided by our hospitals Martha Jefferson Hospital and RMH Healthcare are tallied separately. Sentara also replaced Nightingale air ambulance with a new state-of-the-art helicopter. The $7.2M Eurocopter EC-145 was partly funded by donations from local governments, corporations, foundations and individuals of that exceeded

$3.5M. Nightingale operates at a yearly deficit of up to $600,000 due to a high percentage uninsured patients, and Sentara maintains the service as part of its not-for-profit commitment to the community.

Recently the Sentara Neurosciences Institute was formed in collaboration with Eastern Virginia Medical School and other neuroscience experts to advance treatment for diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles in Virginia.

Heart care in the region has been dramatically improved through Sentara Cardiovascular Research Institute which increased cardiac research and treatment options for area heart patients. Sentara also continues bringing care closer to home by enhancing its comprehensive outpatient campuses like Sentara Independence in Virginia Beach, Sentara Port Warwick in Newport News, Sentara Gloucester Medical Arts, and Sentara BelleHarbor offers north Suffolk residents quality health care.

Another major area hospital is the Mary Immaculate Hospital, an affiliate of the Bon Secours Health System, Inc., a not-for-profit, Catholic healthcare system that employs over 4,000 people.

The hospital features a 42,000-squarefoot Surgical Pavilion. The Pavilion is technologically-advanced, equipped with digital operating rooms. Digital operating rooms use a HERMES Control-Center that enables surgeons to use voice activation to control surgical equipment such as cameras, lights and tables. The OR also includes an image management system that provides high quality, digital images in real-time.

Bon Secours in Hampton Roads also includes the Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in Midtown Portsmouth which opened a new $16.5-million heart institute in November, 2005, and Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center in Norfolk. The system also includes several physical therapy centers, primary care centers, and the ambulatory surgery and diagnostic centers in Suffolk and in

Virginia Beach, in addition to nursing care and assisted living facilities throughout the Southside area.

Chesapeake Health is another local, independent health organization serving Hampton Roads. It’s comprised of Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, the W. Stanley Jennings Outpatient Center and several companion providers that offer a broad range of programs and services for Southeastern Virginia residents. It recently opened the free-standing Diagnostic Center of Chesapeake and the area’s only in-patient Women’s Unit.

For many specialized needs for children, Hampton Roads citizens can go to Eastern Virginia Medical School or the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, the only hospital in Southeastern Virginia devoted exclusively to children. For the most critically injured victims, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital features a Level I trauma center and the Nightingale helicopter service. In addition, the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond is just a 90-minute drive northwest.

ACUTE CARE-PENINSULA

Langley Air Force Base Hospital

Langley AFB

225-7630

This 50-bed facility offers comprehensive care exclusively to military personnel and their dependents.

Mary Immaculate Hospital

2 Bernardine Drive, Newport News www.bshr.com

Mary Immaculate Hospital is a 115-bed facility located in the Denbigh section of Newport News. For the past 50 years, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters at Mary Immaculate have successfully carried out their mission to treat the whole person, mind, body and spirit. The hospital is well known for its women’s services such as The Birthplace, which offers a unique birthing experience. Other specialties include a Heart Center, orthopedics, the Peninsula Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Bon Secours Hernia Center at Mary Immaculate and a full service emergency department with a fast track program. Throughout its history, Mary Immaculate Hospital has maintained a strong commitment to meeting the needs of patients on the Peninsula by continuously expanding its breadth of service and its numerous community outreach programs.

McDonald Army Community Hospital Fort Eustis

886-6000

314-7500

This 45-bed facility offers comprehensive care exclusively to military personnel and their dependents.

Riverside Regional Medical Center

500 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News www.riversideonline.com 594-2000

Riverside Regional Medical Center is the flagship hospital of Riverside Health System. The Health System started with the 1915 charter for the “Newport News General and Non Sectarian Hospital, Inc.”. The original hospital contained 50 beds and was opened on Huntington Ave., north of 50th Street in 1916. A nursing school

Become part of a community of generous supporters creating real opportunity for people with disabilities to live full, meaningful lives. Your investment does more than fund programs — it opens doors to independence, builds confidence and helps shape futures filled with possibility. Together, we create opportunity.

life

childhood

and

was started at about the same time. The hospital was severely strained by a typhoid epidemic during World War I, as well as the influenza epidemic of 1918-19. It was expanded considerably during World War II. The hospital moved to its current 56-acre location in 1963. It currently has 450 beds and is the primary center for medical care on the Virginia Peninsula. Its medical staff is comprised of over 400 physicians in 33 specialties. Riverside Regional Medical Center has always been an innovative force for medicine and medical education both locally and nationally, from the nation’s first CCU in 1965 to the country’s first web-based, competency-based evaluation system in 2001. It continues to evolve and improve and current capital projects include a $100 million renovation of the entire hospital.

Riverside’s special programs and specialties include: Medical education teaching programs, Emergency Department and Level II Trauma Center, advanced operating rooms, a heart center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Radiosurgery featuring Gamma Knife, Neurointerventional biplane for brain attack (stroke), cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, medical oncology, nephrology, neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, obstetrics, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, physiatry, pulmonology, radiation oncology, rheumatology, urology and vascular.

Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg 1500 Commonwealth Avenue Williamsburg 585-2200

Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg is a 40-bed hospital offering state-of-the-art care, comfort and convenience in Williamsburg.

Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg features fully integrated computer technology through patient “Smart Rooms” enabling nursing staff and providers to spend more time at the bedside, in patient care and teaching.

The full-service facility includes an emergency department with 12 private rooms, inpatient and outpatient surgical services featuring two operating rooms and eight private preparation/recovery rooms, lobby, café and community education area, meditation and reflection area, radiology services, cardio/pulmonary services, outpatient diagnostic services, intensive care unit, pharmacy, and lifelong health center to aid in the transition of patients to other settings outside of the hospital.

In addition, a three floor medical office building has been added to the campus

with services including diagnostic and imaging services, internal medicine, orthopedics, physical therapy, pulmonology, vascular and womens health.

Riverside Walter Reed Hospital 7519 Hospital Drive

Gloucester (804) 693-8800

Riverside Walter Reed Hospital is a 67-bed acute care facility providing comprehensive services and state-of-the-art technology to the communities of the Middle Peninsula. The professional and caring staff embraces the Riverside mission of caring for others as we would care for those we love. Riverside Walter Reed’s 30-plus acre campus includes the Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center, Middle Peninsula Cancer Center, a physical therapy suite including nutrition, speech, hand and occupational therapy. Hospital services include emergency, inpatient and outpatient surgery, imaging and laboratory. Specialty practices and services include cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology and sleep, orthopedics, ophthalmology, physiatry, urology, vascular and women’s health.

Sentara CarePlex Hospital

3000 Coliseum Drive

Hampton 736-1000

The 200-bed hospital has revolutionized health care on the Peninsula.

Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex is the region’s only dedicated orthopedic hospital and adjoins the main hospital where some of the area’s most advanced medical technology is available. A fiberoptic backbone spans the campus, enabling simultaneous computer transfer of life-saving information. This and other groundbreaking technology support the following: filmless, digital diagnostic imaging for faster, clearer test results; one of the nation’s first electronic ICUs for uninterrupted monitoring of critically ill patients; and surgical equipment so sophisticated it listens and responds to doctors’ orders. This hospital gained national stroke certification, sleep lab accredication and is a certified chest pain center--all advancing care for Peninsula residents. And, the future is even more exciting because every inch has been built to accommodate new advancements as they become available.

Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center

100 Sentara Circle Williamsburg 984-6000

The 340,000 square-foot acute care hospital has 145 all-private patient rooms, offering emergency, surgical, medical, maternal and pediatric care. Located on an entire campus devoted to wellness, the medical center is adjacent to many related services and is equipped with some of the latest technology including a 32-slice CT scanner, electronic intensive care monitoring (eICU®), “smart” operating rooms, and digital mammography. The hospital is a certified stroke center and adjoins the Vernon M. Geddy, Jr. Outpatient Center, which houses an outpatient surgery center, pain management clinic, heartburn treatment center and Sentara Williamsburg Comprehensive Breast Center within the Woman’s Imaging Pavilion and physician offices.

Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center

100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton 722-9961

This 405-bed facility was established in 1870 as the fourth national V.A. center, where soldiers could spend their last days in comfort and receive medical care. It has a strong affiliation with the staff, residents and students at the Eastern Virginia Medical School and provides comprehensive medical, mental health, hospice and nursing home care. In addition, it offers dialysis equipment and substance abuse services. It features several types of specialized care such as that for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

ACUTE CARE-SOUTHSIDE

Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center

150 Kingsley Lane, Norfolk www.bshr.com 889-5000

This 238-bed facility was established in 1855 and today is both an acute care and teaching hospital. Currently, over 600 physicians, representing a wide array of specialties, enable the hospital to provide a comprehensive range of inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic services. Its Midwifery Center was the region’s first and only hospital-based midwife birthing center. Other centers associated with Bon Secours DePaul include the Bon Secours Cancer Center, DePaul Vascular Center, the Joint and Spine Center, the Sleep Center, the Senior Health Center, the Center for Foot and Ankle Surgery, the Wound Care Center and the DePaul Center for Birth.

Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center

336 High Street, Portsmouth www.bshr.com 398-2200

With a staff of over 400 physicians, this 364-bed facility provides emergency, orthopedic, and comprehensive cardiac services, enhanced in 2005 with the opening of the Bon Secours Heart Institute in partnership with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Its technologically-advanced diagnostics include MRIs, CT scans, nuclear medicine, mammography and digital radiology. Bon Secours Maryview Center also features a daVinci robotics surgical program, the Bon Secours Surgical Weight Loss Center, the Family Birth Center, Spine Center, Maryview Center for Physical Rehabilitation, Martha Davis Cancer Center and the Maryview Joint Center.

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center

736 Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake www.chesapeakeregional.com 312-8121

This 310-bed facility is ranked among Virginia’s top busiest hospitals and among the top 25 hospitals in the nation for stroke care. The BirthPlace —the hospital’s obstetrics unit—was created especially for women starting their families and has helped to deliver more than 50,000 babies. This unit provides a warm, homey atmosphere that is comfortable and nurturing while providing personalized nursing care to each mother and baby. This care is extended via MomsMobile, a service that sends a speciallytrained nurse to the home to ensure mother and baby are doing well. This service is in addition to a variety of classes that are offered to help moms before and after delivery. Chesapeake General also features a progressive cancer treatment center, a diabetes unit, LifeStyle center and rehabilitation services on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Eastern Virginia Medical School 825 Fairfax Avenue, Norfolk www.evms.edu 446-5600

One of the medical centers of the Eastern Virginia Medical School is today’s foremost leading reproductive program and was the site of the nation’s first in-vitro fertilization clinic. Other centers within the school include: the Center for Pediatric Research, the Diabetes Institute, the Center for Ocular Pharmacology, the Sleep Disorders Center and the Voice Center for individuals experiencing speech and swallowing problems.

Naval Medical Center

620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcp/ SitePages/home.aspx 953-5008

This facility is one of the Navy’s three teaching hospitals and the oldest and largest naval hospital in the country. It occupies a 112-acre site on the Elizabeth River and includes the Charette Health Care Center and a new 360-bed acute care facility that is the most modern in the Navy. The Naval Medical Center offers a comprehensive range of health care for military health care beneficiaries.

Sentara Independence

800 Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach www.sentara.com 363-6100

Formerly an acute care hospital, Sentara Independence provides a 24/7 Emergency Department and outpatient services, including physical therapy. Sentara Leigh Hospital

830 Kempsville Road, Norfolk 261-6700

This 250-bed acute care hospital features all private rooms and specializes in orthopedics, gynecology, ophthalmology, outpatient hand surgery and urology. It also offers specialized care through its certified primary stroke center, joint replacement services, family maternity care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, expert breast care through the Comprehensive Breast Center, and the lifesaving eICU®.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

600 Gresham Drive, Norfolk 388-3000

This 555-bed tertiary care facility is located on a large medical campus including a leading medical school, children’s hospital, and Sentara Heart Hospital, which consistently ranks among the nation’s top 50 heart programs by U.S. News & World Report. As the first hospital in Hampton Roads to achieve Magnet status, Norfolk General is distinguished for nursing excellence and offers superior care through regionally- and nationally- known services such as the Sentara Cancer Institute, advanced imaging capabilities, a specialized level II nursery, eICU®, and minimally-invasive and robotic surgeries. Norfolk General is among a handful of Primary Stroke Centers in Virginia and home to the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, burn trauma unit, and solid organ transplant center. Also located on the Norfolk campus is Nightingale— the region’s first air ambulance.

Sentara Obici Hospital

2800 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk 934-4000

This 138-bed acute care hospital opened in 2002, carrying on a 50-year tradition of providing Suffolk and Western Tidewater residents patient-centered care. The hospital is a certified primary stroke center and provides a wide array of inpatient and outpatient health care services from medical and surgery services to intensive care, pediatrics, and physical rehabilitation. The hospital offers sophisticated diagnostic services such as cardiac testing, a sleep disorders center, and MRI capabilities. It is among a select group of facilities to offer digital mammography and is the only hospital in the region to offer women ImageChecker technology to read their mammograms.

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital 2025 Glenn Mitchell Drive Norfolk 507-1000

Sentara Princess Anne is a 160-bed acute care hospital that opened in 2011 to serve residents of southern Virginia Beach and neighboring Chesapeake communities. It includes full-service emergency care, surgical and a family maternity center with onsite neonatal intensive care unit. It also features the OrthoJoint Center and recently received National Stroke Certification. Expert breast services are offered through Sentara Virginia Beach Comprehensive Breast Centers.

Sentara Virginia Beach

General Hospital

1060 First Colonial Road Virginia Beach 395-8000

This 282-bed acute care facility is among a handful of Primary Stroke Centers in Virginia and offers an array of specialized capabilities through Sentara Heart Center; expert breast services are offered through Sentara Virginia Beach Comprehensive Breast Centers; and intensive care unit featuring 24-hour coverage by intensivists. In addition, the hospital offers access to Sentara Cancer Network through the Coastal Cancer Center; an accredited sleep disorders center; a new inpatient rehab unit, and an expanded emergency department with 40 private patient rooms.

Southampton Memorial Hospital 100 Fairview Drive, Franklin www.smhfranklin.com 569-6100

Established in 1963, Southampton Memorial Hospital is a 221-bed, non-profit facility committed to finding innovative ways of improving health care services. The hospital offers specialties in over 27 different fields, including women’s services, senior care, psychiatry, urology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, obstetrics, long term care and more. In addition, SMH provides 24-hour home health care, hospice and community counseling services, and operates it’s East Pavilion long-term care facility that services 116 residents. There, patients have access to Lakeview Medical Center’s satellite facility that provides cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology and rheumatology treatments.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Bon Secours Maryview Behavioral Medicine Center

3636 High Street, Portsmouth www.bshr.com 398-2367

This 54-bed facility offers a comprehensive range of medical services for those with an acute emotional crisis or drug/alcohol dependency. Medical services include treatment for chemical dependency for adults and psychiatric care for adults and adolescents.

Eastern State Hospital 4601 Ironbound Road Williamsburg 253-5161

Now part of the Virginia Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services system, the 760bed facility provides community-focused mental health care.

Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center 2244 Executive Drive Hampton 826-1007

Our admissions team offers 24/7 support for individuals experiencing behavioral and mental health issues. If you or a family member needs guidance, call us at 757-827-3119. We provide confidential, comprehensive assessments and referral assistance. We also offer walk-in services. Please know that we support all active and retired military through a wide range of behavioral health services and programs. The Psychiatric Emergency department (ED) is specifically designed to care for patients 5 and older who are struggling with mental

health and substance use. Separate treatment areas for adults and pediatrics the facility will be open 24 hours, seven days a week to provide care for those in need.

Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center 1100 First Colonial Road Virginia Beach 496-6000 https://vbpcweb.com

This freestanding hospital offers acute psychiatric and substance abuse services for children, adolescents and adults. Specialized programs: dual diagnosis treatment, substance abuse rehabilitation, detoxification and the women’s program. A unique component is a Mobile Assessment Team that can be triaged to local hospitals, emergency rooms, medical offices, schools and businesses for on-site crisis evaluation.

SPECIALIZED/ NON-ACUTE CARE

Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View 5818 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk www.bonsecours.com 673-5800

This facility includes an outpatient surgery and a diagnostic center which includes western Hampton Roads’ only open MRI unit as well as CT and diagnostic radiology and non-invasive vascular imaging. Other services include In-Motion Physical Therapy and Sports Performance Center, a gastroenterology center, the Bon Secours Center for Colon and Rectal Diseases, the Bon Secours Surgical Weight Loss Center, Mid-Atlantic Hearing and Balance Center, primary care and specialist offices, a full-service emergency department and The Millie Lancaster Women’s Center.

Bon Secours Health Center at Virginia Beach 828 Healthy Way, Virginia Beach www.bonsecours.com/locations/primarycare-family-medicine/hampton-roads/ bon-secours-medical-associates 463-2540

Bon Secours Health Center at Virginia Beach offers outpatient surgery and advanced imaging services to include CT and MRI. In addition to the In-Motion Physical Therapy and Sports Performance Center, there are primary as well as specialty practices on the campus. Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters 601 Children’s Lane, Norfolk 668-7000

Exclusively dedicated to the health needs of children, CHKD serves as the region’s referral center for the most sophisticated care needed in the management of chronic illnesses and diseases and the routine primary care available through its partner community pediatricians.

CountyMed DPC

4600 George Washington Memorial Highway, Yorktown 500-8750 www.countymeddpc.com

Just opened in June, CountyMed is today’s version of a family-friendly, neighborhood doctor. Primary care services and urgent care needs but without the wait. Same day and next day appointments, 24-hour telemedicine availability. CountyMed is concierge medicine without the hassle of insurance. Focused on prevention and early detection and will develop individual wellness plans using the newest innovation in medical care.

Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute

https://hamptonproton.org

As a patient treatment facility as well as a research and education center, HUPTI builds upon Hampton’s legacy of knowledge and innovation. Our doctors and researchers are further developing the science of proton therapy to remain at the vanguard of the fight against cancer into the future. HUPTI continues to be a catalyst for new scientific discoveries and increasingly accurate, advanced care for cancer patients. Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) was the eighth center to rise to prominence, and has evolved to become the largest facility of its kind in the world.

Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine

www.shadygrovefertility.com/locations/ virginia/norfolk-fertility-center

The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine is the largest, most comprehensive women’s health practice in the region. It offers fertility treatments ranging from diagnosis and basic treatments, such as intrauterine insemination, to pioneering assistedreproduction technologies, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It also provides care for normal and complicated obstetrics patients as well as for women experiencing menopause and its complications, like osteoporosis.

Lake Taylor Transitional Care

1309 Kempsville Road, Norfolk www.laketaylor.org 461-5001

Considered to be one of the best subacute care facilities on the East Coast, this 296-bed facility is also one of the few in the state licensed to provide both nursing and sub-acute care. It typically provides care for patients who are too well to warrant hospital care but who are unprepared to return home because of respiratory, stroke, orthopedic, cancer or neurological illness.

Orthopedic & Spine Center

250 Nat Turner Boulevard Newport News 596-1900

This practice specializes in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, arthritis surgery, total knee and hip replacements, arthro-scopic surgery, fracture treatment, hand and foot surgeries, MRI and Dexascan (bone density and body fat analysis).

Riverside Rehabilitation Institute in Partnership with Select Medical 245 Chesapeake Avenue Newport News 928-8000

Riverside Rehabilitation Hospital provides highly specialized care, advanced treatment and leading-edge technologies that help individuals like you rebuild your life following injury or illness. Services include stroke, orthopedic, neurologic, brain injury, amputee, spinal cord and medically complex rehabilitation.

Sentara BelleHarbour

3920 A Bridge Road, Suffolk 983-0000

Advanced health care has come to north Suffolk at Sentara BelleHarbour, less than one mile from the 664/Route 17 interchange. This state-of-the-art outpatient medical center brings quality health services including a 24-hour, freestanding emergency department, advanced imaging center, central testing and laboratory, sleep center, occupational medicine, physical therapy services, and physician offices to nearby residents.

Sentara Gloucester Medical Arts 5659 Parkway Drive Gloucester (804) 210-1000

Sentara Gloucester Medical Arts, located off Route 17 at the entrance of the Gloucester Business Park, has a wide array

of medical services including urgent care, primary and specialists care, and pediatrics coupled with diagnostic imaging services.

Sentara Greenbrier Healthplex

713 Volvo Parkway

Chesapeake 1-800-736-8272

Advanced Imaging Center 282-4025

Battlefield Therapy Center 282-4015

Advanced healthcare in a neighbohood setting is available at Greenbrier HealthPlex. Included are physician offices, diagnostic services, physical therapy and complete women’s care as well as laboratory testing.

Sentara Heart Hospital®

600 Gresham Drive, Norfolk 388-8000

This $94.5 million, state-of-the-art facility, opened in February, 2006 on the Norfolk General Hospital campus. It is the region’s only dedicated heart hospital enabling heart patients to receive comprehensive services-from diagnostics and interventional cardiology to open-heart surgery and transplantation—all under one roof. The new hospital showcases excellence in heart care building on Norfolk General’s successes in developing one of the best heart programs in the nation. The facility has 112 licensed

No hospital stays

Noninvasive

Precisely targets tumor

Healthy tissue spared

Reduced side effects

FDA approved

Covered by

inpatient beds and 45 pre/post procedural rooms—all private. It also features 5 “smart” voice-activated cardiac operating rooms, the region’s only cardiac eICU® offering round-the- clock electronic monitoring of heart patients, 6 cardiac catheterization labs, and 3 electrophysiology (EP) labs. In addition, the hospital has the region’s first 64-slice CT scanner, which enables doctors to diagnose heart disease within seconds and avoid invasive heart catheterization procedures.

Sentara Medical Group

Virginia Beach 395-1300

Nearly 400 premier physicians practicing from about 100 sites of care comprise Sentara Medical Group. Spanning from Williamsburg to northeastern North Carolina, the medical group includes a full complement of primary and secondary physicians growing to meet the changing needs of the community.

Sentara Medical Arts & Urgent Care at New Town 4374 New Town Avenue

Williamsburg 259-1900

Sentara Medical Arts & Urgent Care at New Town, a nearly 50,000 square foot building located off Ironbound Road, houses several internal medicine and family practice physician offices in addition to New Town Urgent Care now open seven days a week. Occupational Medicine, coumadin clinic, and a pediatric practice and specialized teen health clinic are also located on campus.

Sentara Port Warwick 11803 Jefferson Avenue at Loftus Newport News 736-9898

Sentara Port Warwick is the Peninsula’s only comprehensive outpatient campus. Located on 15 acres, this three-building complex includes a 24-hour freestanding emergency department staffed by board-certified emergency physicians, advanced imaging center, the region’s first comprehensive breast center including a high-risk breast program, an advanced vascular treatment center, and an outpatient surgery center staffed by boardcertified surgeons well-versed in minimallyinvasive surgeries that reduce recovery times. Primary and specialty physicians, a laboratory, hyperbaric medicine, Virginia Oncology’s cancer center and endovascular suite offer a full complement of outpatient services to Peninsula patients.

Sentara St. Lukes

20209 Sentara Way, Carrollton www.sentara.com/hospitalslocations/ sentara-st-lukes 542-1000

Now open near the intersection of Brewers Neck Boulevard (Route 258) and Route 10 is

Hampton University cancer institute launches program to connect patients to resources

Hampton University’s Proton Cancer Institute launched a new Patient Access to Help program that aims to help connect cancer patients with resources to ease their treatment process.

The idea came from staff pooling resources together to try and make the 44-day treatment process easier for patients, according to institute spokesperson Tiffany Rodgers. Staff saw many patients struggle to access resources during their treatment and received feedback from ambassadors on how to improve their experience.

“We just hope that this removes some of the weight,” Rodgers said. “We are just hoping to provide an initiative that can help connect those dots between the patient and all of the many people and resources in this community that want to help us in doing what we do here.”

Cancer treatment is just one part of the process for patients, Rodgers said. Other aspects of life like relaxation, diet and financial stress can all hinder the overall treatment process and impact results. Rodgers said that’s why PATH includes an option for patients to keep their profiles private, in order to make the prospect of starting treatment as unintimidating as possible.

“Everyone deals with their cancer treatment differently,” Rodgers said. “We want to be known as a center that is really looking at things holistically to help support our patients so they don’t feel like they are ever in this alone.”

The Hampton University cancer center opened in in 2010 and is one of 46 nationwide offering this type of cancer treatment. Proton therapy is a type of radiation that uses protons — positively charged particles — instead of the X-rays used in conventional radiation therapy. Proton therapy offers more precision in the targeting of cancerous tumors.

Inside the treatment room, the gantry rotates around the patient to ensure accurate, noninvasive treatment at Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute. (Photo courtesy of Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute)

When Rahul Mahadevan, founder of the WiTT Group, recalled his cancer treatment to Rodgers at a conference, he said he didn’t need rides or food. He needed a gym partner or someone to walk his dog, but he didn’t know how to ask for help.

Now, this PATH program is the third of its kind in the country, which Mahadevan said in a statement will create better outcomes for patients across the region.

“As the only proton therapy center within 100 miles of Hampton, this partnership will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many,” Mahadevan said in a statement. “The PATH program allows patients to share their stories and receive the help they need in real time, and that kind of support is powerful.”

Sentara St. Luke’s, a new, two-story, 52,000 square foot health care campus. Among the services available on campus are: Sentara Urgent Care, Sentara Family Medicine Physicians (formerly Smithfield Medical Center), Advanced Imaging Services, Smithfield Therapy Center (formerly Smithfield Physical Therapy), laboratory services, and physician specialists ranging from OB/GYN to cardiology, gastrointestinal care and ophthalmology. W. Jennings Outpatient Center 844 N. Battlefield Boulevard Chesapeake 312-6137

This Surgery Center, designed for patients who have their procedure and return home the same day, offers many advantages. Its award-winning design is one of the most patient-friendly in Hampton Roads providing a soothing atmosphere that is an alternative to traditional hospitals. All patient rooms have windows, many of which overlook an outdoor pond and fountain area. Even the four operating suites have windows for natural lighting. Family member needs have also been taken into account, with a spacious, comfortable waiting area that boasts two workstations with phones. Procedures that can be performed in the Surgery Center include orthopedic, gynecologic, ENT, plastic, podiatry and general surgery cases.

FITNESS / WELLNESS CENTERS

Bally Total Fitness

Peninsula & Southside locations 1-866-402-2559 (40BALLY)

Bon Secours ParCourse Fitness Trail

2 Bernadine Dr., Newport News 886-6000

Chesapeake Health Fitness Centers

Lifestyle Center-CGH 800 Battlefield Boulevard North Chesapeake 312-6132

Lifestyle Center-Western Branch 4626 Taylor Road, Chesapeake 483-8300

Curves for Women

Peninsula & Southside 1-800-419-9250

Dominion Physical Therapy

466 Denbigh Boulevard Newport News 875-0861

729 Thimble Shoals, Suite 4C

Newport News 873-2932

243 McLaws Circle, Suite 102 Williamsburg 564-9628

304 Marcella Road, Suite E Hampton 825-9446

500 Rodman Ave, Suite 4 Portsmouth 393-6119

301 Riverview Avenue, Suite 525A Norfolk 963-5588

Obici Physical Therapy and Wellness Route 10/Godwin Boulevard Suffolk 934-8572

Riverside Wellness & Fitness Centers 12650 Jefferson Ave. Newport News 875-7525

7516 Hospital Rd., Rte. 17 Gloucester (804) 693-8888

Our wellness programs are integrated with Riverside’s physicians and practitioners to offer complete care for your overall health. We also offer CPR and first aid classes, fitness assessments, metabolic testing, and an on-site health coach to help you meet your goals. No matter your goal, you’ll find challenge, encouragement and motivation at our fitness centers. Cardio machines. Free weights. Group fitness classes. Specialized classes. One-on-one training. Find your balance in life with programs and services that focus on nurturing your mind and body. You’ll find indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor basketball and racquetball. Tennis lessons, leagues, and tournaments are also offered. Our center offers diverse resources and programs to help you stay healthy and safe, in and around the water, regardless of age or swimming ability. The indoor pools are heated year-round. Two lanes are always open for lap swimming, and a Red Crosscertified Lifeguard is on duty at all times. The center also offers a spacious hot tub for relaxation and rejuvenation. Improve circulation and melt stress away with a relaxing massage. Or join one of our yoga, tai chi, or guided meditation classes to refresh your mind, improve sleep, and manage stress. There’s something for everyone. We also offer on-site child care during your workout. Children 6 weeks to 7 years old are welcome.

Sentara Center for Health & Fitness

4001 Coliseum Drive

Hampton 766-2658

The Sentara Center for Health & Fitness opened across from Sentara CarePlex Hospital and offers comprehensive health and wellness services including cardiovascular and weight training, sports performance, and medically-managed fitness and rehabilitation.

The Simon Family JCC

5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 100 Virginia Beach 321-2338

Offers more than just a great gym. Members:

• Comprehensive fitness center and indoor and outdoor pools

• 50+ free group fitness classes per week, including Tabata, Zumba, and more

• Free babysitting while you work out

• Summer day camps for toddlers - teens

• Cultural & educational programs for children, teens & adults

Total Fitness

6120 Jefferson Ave.

Newport News 827-0629

Free weights, individualized programs, Lifecycles, Nautilus and Universal equipment, nutritional guidance, rowers, sauna, stair climbers, tanning bed, weight-loss program and whirlpool. Features lifting supplies and supplements. Specializes in body building.

YMCA

Chesapeake 547-9622

Hampton 722-9044

South Hampton Roads 624-9622

James City County 200-6070

Portsmouth 399-5511

Newport News 223-7925

Norfolk 622-9622

Suffolk 934-9622

Virginia Beach 456-9622

Williamsburg 220-9622

York County 867-3300

Aerobics, free weights, indoor pool, indoor track, Lifecycles, Nautilus equipment, racquetball, rowers and stair climbers. Features Cybex and three gyms. Child care.

REFERRALS

American Board of Medical Specialties www.abms.org 1-866-275-2267 (866-ASK-ABMS)

Verifies doctors’ board certification.

Riverside Nurse 595-6363 Toll-free 1-800-675-6368

Assesses medical symptoms, answers health information questions and provides physician referrals. Free and confidential 24-hour, 7-days-a-week service provided by Riverside Health System.

Bon Secours Health Resource Center

Mary Immaculate Hospital 886-6000

Refers specific doctors—who have chosen to be in the service—on a rotational basis. Also refers programs offered by the hospital and community support groups. Available business hours only.

Sentara Healthcare 1-800-736-8272

Refers specific doctors—who have chosen to be in the service—on a rotational basis. Refers services of bilingual doctors. Also refers programs offered by the hospital and community support groups. 

RESOURCES FOR SENIORS

As the number of seniors within the Hampton Roads community grows, there are an abundance of organizations and agencies that can provide information and other forms of assistance.

Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia is one such group that provides pre-scheduled rides as well as emergency transportation for seniors in need. Its Nutrition Program distributes meals to seniors at day care centers as well as to individual homes. The Center for Aging disseminates information about adult services and benefits while its Ombudsman Office is a resource for individuals that have facility care concerns. Senior Services also coordinates volunteer and employment programs for seniors. For more information, call 461-9481 or visit www.ssseva.org.

Other resources include VersAbility Resources located in Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester, Norfolk and York County.

HELPFUL ORGANIZATIONS FOR SENIORS

Alzheimer’s Association Southeastern Virginia Chapter www.alz.org/seva 459-2405

American Association of Retired Persons www.aarp.com 1-888-687-2277

Bay Aging https://bayaging.org/ (804) 758-2386

Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia www.cceva.org 456-2366

Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office Elderly and Indigent Victim’s Assistance Program Chesapeake 382-6159

Christopher Center at Our Lady of Perpetual Help 495-4211 www.ourladyperpetualhelp.com/memory

Disabled American Veterans Chesapeake 545-5679 Gloucester 804-695-1558

Hampton 826-7530

Newport News 875-0721

Norfolk 426-7100 Portsmouth 465-7300 Suffolk 934-2695 Virginia Beach 519-9931

Elder Care Resource & Referral www.theplanningcouncil.org 627-3993

Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging www.esaaa-caa.net 442-9652

Endependence Center Inc. Norfolk http://endependence.org/ 461-8007

Family Management Services, Inc.

Fairfax 571-748-5429

File of Life 382-8824

Food Stamps & Fuel Assistance 926-6300

Foster Grandparent Program 727-1858

Franklin Downtown Development 562-6900

Friends of the Elderly Virginia Beach 431-0052 https://greatnonprofits.org/org/friendsof-the-elderly

GoldenClub 856-7010

Goodwill 1-800-Goodwill / 627-7733

Great Atlantic Travel & Tour 422-9002

Institute for Learning in Retirement Virginia Beach www.oduilr.com 368-4160

Jewish Family Services of Tidewater 321-2222 www.jfshamptonroads.org

Magnolia Manor Assisted Living at The Orchard (804) 313-2400 at Smithfield 357-0732

Meals on Wheels

Chesapeake 312-6458

Newport News 873-0541

Norfolk 892-5210

Portsmouth 673-5025

Suffolk 934-4911

Virginia Beach 306-2721

Williamsburg 229-9250

York County 525-3881

Medicare

General Information 1-800-633-4227

Eligibility 1-800-772-1213

Mobile Meals of Norfolk 892-5210

Mobile Meals of Portsmouth 687-6325

Patriots Colony at WilliamsburgActive Senior Living by Riverside Independent Living / Assisted Living / Memory Care / Rehabilitation / Long-term Care patriotscolony.com 757-220-9000

Peninsula Agency on Aging www.paainc.org 873-0541

Peninsula Aging and Disability Resource Network 873-0541 https://paainc.org

Peninsula Aging Network 345-6277

Riverside Adult Day Services Newport News 757-875-2033

The Martha W. Goodson Center riversideonline.com/memorycare 757-220-4751

Riverside Healthy Living Community Smithfield

Assisted Living / Memory Care / Rehabilitation / Long-term Care riversideonline.com/smithfield 757-357-3282

Riverside Lifelong Health & Rehabilitation Mathews 804-725-9443 riversideonline.com/mathewscare

Riverside Lifelong Health & Rehabilitation Saluda 804-758-2363 riversideonline.com/saludacare

Riverside Nurse 1-800-675-6368

Riverside Senior Care Navigation 757-856-7030

Retired Senior Volunteer Programs of the Peninsula Newport News, Portsmouth, Suffolk 595-9037

Sanders - Active Senior Living by Riverside

Independent Living / Assisted Living / Rehabilitation / Long-term Care sandersliving.com 804-693-2000

Senior Centers

Chesapeake 382-2330

Hampton 727-1601

Historic Triangle 259-4187

Newport News 591-4850

Norfolk 644-6484

Ocean View 441-1767

York County 898-3880

Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia www.ssseva.org 461-9481

Sentara Adult Day Health Care Center Virginia Beach 306-2850

Sentara Living Williamsburg 1-800-736-8272 www.sentara.com

Sentara Senior Community Care (PACE Program) Virginia Beach 502-7800

Sentara Village Chesapeake 261-4050

Norfolk 892-5200

Virginia Beach 306-2800

Social Security Administration

General Information 1-800-772-1213

Newport News 873-3914

Chesapeake/Norfolk 858-6198

Portsmouth 465-4896

Social Services Departments

Main Agency (804) 726-7000

Chesapeake 382-2000

Hampton 727-1800

Newport News 926-6300

Norfolk 664-6000

Portsmouth 405-1800

Suffolk 514-7450

Virginia Beach 385-3200

United Seniors Assoc. 1-800-951-0017

Virginia Center of Aging Hampton 896-6461 www.versability.org

Virginia Center of Aging 804-828-1525

VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads www.volunteerhr.org 624-2400

Warwick Forest - Active Senior Living by Riverside Independent Living / Assisted Living / Memory Care / Rehabilitation / Long-term Care warwickforest.com 757-886-2000 

ADVERTISING

Darden Publishing

www.dardenpublishing.net (757) 389-5473

(See our info - Inside Back Cover)

AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP

Casey BMW 12861 Jefferson Avenue

Newport News, VA 23608 (757) 330-8280

www.caseybmw.com

(See our ad - Back Cover)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Virginia Peninsula Chamber 11850 Merchants Walk, Suite 110 Newport News VA 23606 (757) 262-2000

www.vaPeninsulaChamber.com

(See our ad - page 49)

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR

Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII

4101 Washington Ave. Newport News, VA 23607

757-380-2000

https://hii.com

(see our ad – Inside Front Cover)

EDUCATION

Norfolk Collegiate School

7336 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505

757.480.2885

www.norfolkcollegiateorg

(see our ad – page 59)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc.

601 N. Mechanic Street, Suite 300 Franklin, VA 23851 (757) 516-7709

www.franklinsouthamptonva.com

(see our ad - page 28)

Gloucester County 6489 Main Street

Gloucester, VA 23061 (804) 693-1415

www.gloucesterva.info

(See our ad - page 29)

Hampton, City of One Franklin Street, Suite 600

Hampton, VA 23669 (757) 727-6237

www.hampton.gov

(See our ad - pages 30-31)

Newport News, City of 2400 Washington Avenue 3rd Floor

Newport News, VA 23607 (757) 926-8428

Toll-Free 1-800-274-8348

www.newportnewsva.com

(See our ad - pages 32-33)

Poquoson, City of 830 Poquoson Avenue

Poquoson, VA 23662 (757) 868-5314

https://www.ci.poquoson.va.us

(See our ad - page 34)

Suffolk, City of 440 Market Street Suffolk, VA 23434 (757) 514-4040

www.YesSuffolk.com

(See our ad - page 35)

Virginia Beach, City of 4525 Main Street, Suite 700 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (757) 385-6464

www.yesvirginiabeach.com

(See our ad – page 36)

York County Dept. of Economic & Tourism Development

P.O. Box 612 (for mailing) 121 Alexander Hamilton Blvd. Yorktown, VA 23690 (757) 890-3317

www.YesYorkCounty.com

(See our ad - pages 38-39)

HEALTHCARE

Hampton University

Proton Cancer Institute 40 Enterprise Parkway Hampton, VA 23666

www.Hamptonproton.org (757) 251-6800

(See our ad - page 67)

VersAbility Resources Headquarters 2520 58th Street Hampton, VA 23661 (757) 896-6461

https://versability.org

(see our ad - page 63)

VersAbility Resources Envisions Day Support and Community Living Offices 11830 Fishing Point Drive, Suite 213 Newport News, VA 23606 (757) 896-8454

(see our ad - page 63)

VersAbility Resources

Lewis B. Puller Center 6750 Main Street, Suite 100B Gloucester, Virginia 23061 (804) 693-31144

Norfolk Office 8401 Hampton Boulevard Norfolk, VA 23505 (757) 443-1177

(see our ad - page 63)

REAL ESTATE/ RESIDENTAL

Century 21 Nachman Realty 720 Thimble Shoals Boulevard Newport News, VA 23606 Toll-Free 1-800-539-8014

www.century21nachman.com

(See our ad - page 43)

Deborah Baisden Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

RW Towne Realty 477 Viking Drive

Virginia Beach , VA 23452

757-404-6020-88

www.deborahbaisden.com

(See our ad - page 1)

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Gloucester County 6382 Main Street Gloucester, VA 23061 (804) 693-2355

https://visitgloucesterva.org

(see our ads - pages 19, 45)

Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau

Hampton, City of 1919 Commerce Drive Suite 290 Hampton, VA 23666 (757) 722-1222

www.VisitHampton.com

(See our ad - pages 30-31)

York County Dept. of Economic & Tourism Development

P.O. Box 532 (for mailing) 121 Alexander Hamilton Blvd. Yorktown, VA 23690 (757) 890-5900

www.visityorktown.org

(See our ad - pages 38-39)

Suffolk Tourism

524 N. Main Street

Suffolk, Virginia 23434

757.514.4132 direct 757.514.4130 main

www.VisitSuffolkVa.com

(See our ad - page 25)

Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

600 22nd Street, 2nd Floor Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (757) 385-4700

www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com

(See our ad – page 37)

Visit West Point & King

William County

802 Main Street

West Point, Virginia 23181 804-843-3330

www.visitwestpointkingwilliam.com

(See our ad - page 24)

DARDEN PUBLISHING

It all started in 1993 with the birth of Living on the Virginia Peninsula

1998 The Military Guide to Hampton Roads was brought into service.

2005, 11 years later, Living in Hampton Roads was born.

2008 Bravo was created to support the “Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads”.

2009 Healthcare in Hampton Roads arrived. February 7, 2012

Our trademark was born. The 1st & original Coastal Virginia, magazine serving the Greater Hampton Roads area of Virginia.