Hamming It Up Tops The Economy

RSize

319 sq. miles

Population (2001 est.)

30,659

Median Family Income (2001 est.)

$45,387

Government Five-member Board of Supervisors with County Administrator

Major Industries

Union Camp, Smithfield Foods, Norfolk Southern, Franklin Equipment, Monette Information Systems

County Information (757) 357-3191

School Information (757) 357-4393 esidents of Isle of Wight know how to ham it up. This rural county, just a few miles across the James River from Newport News, is home to two of our country’s leading meat packing firms, Gwaltney of Smithfield and Smithfield Packing Co., which provide quality ham and pork products throughout the United States.

The meat packing companies, along with Union Camp Paper Mill, are the county’s largest employers.

In addition, the 319-square-mile county boasts of more than 350 farms where crops such as peanuts, soybeans, corn and other grains are bountiful.

The James River Bridge connects the county to Newport News, making it a quick trip to Northrop

Grumman Newport News or to medical, retail or business centers in the larger cities across the River.

Isle of Wight is an ideal location for people wanting the hustle and bustle of city life for their work day and the peace and tranquillity of rural life for their home. Discover the historical charm of Smithfield’s main street. A drive around the county is an adventure with discoveries of brightly painted barns, quaint general stores and beautifully wooded areas. Nestled within are custom homes, single-family and multi-family communities and unique older residences.

Award-winning communities such as Gatling Pointe and Gatling Pointe South offer a full service yacht club and 68-slip marina. The county, like its historic neighbors, has a rich colonial heritage, including historic St. Luke’s Church which dates back to the 1600s.

The arrival of Cypress Creek, a premier golfing community in historic Smithfield, signals a new era of residential developments for the future.

Cypress Creek, Smithfield

As Virginia’s largest city, Suffolk is 430 square miles of rich land with woods, lakes, rivers and rolling terrain — not to mention wise development and the use of it — that makes this area bountiful for residents and businesses alike.

Coming to Suffolk will surprise you. And once you have been here, it will surprise you even more. The largest city in Virginia in geographical size, business and industry are discovering more and more the wealth of resources in Suffolk.

Established here in 1912, Suffolk is headquarters of the world-famous Planters Life-Savers company, manufacturer of Planters Peanuts and other fine snacks.

Considering peanuts are Suffolk’s most abundant crop, it should come as no surprise that the city celebrates its rich agricultural heritage with a four-day annual Peanut Fest in October where lovers of “goober peas” (Southern for peanut) can revel in all the peanut delicacies imaginable.

Despite its fame as the peanut capital of the world, this agricultural city also has a large industrial base. Products made here include Lipton tea and Hills Bros. coffee.

Although two-thirds of Suffolk’s land area is still rural and used for agricultural purposes, only three percent of the workforce is actually employed in farming, forestry or fishing occupations. Most are factor y workers, technical workers, managers and professionals.

With the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, the

Peninsula is additionally connected to South Hampton Roads, through Suffolk, on the Hampton Roads Belt way (Rt. 664), preparing it to become the region’s hot-spot for future growth. Even before then, Suffolk was seen as Hampton Roads’ connector to both the west and northeastern North Carolina.

More and more major new industries are considering Suffolk’s land-rich environment. Over 75 industries call Suffolk home.

Harbour View, and River View are planned communities offering wooded, lake front and waterfront homes; jogging/ biking trail, tennis, volley ball, pool and recreation facilities. Harbour Views’ Burbage Grant will be the home of the first elementary school to be built in 18 years.

Today, Suffolk is a peaceful and enjoyable place to live, full of areas rich with history. More than 80 of its buildings have been labeled “historically significant” to Virginia. The city has retained many strong elements of refined Southern gentility not seen so often any more in other Southern cities. With 430 square miles of mostly rural land, the city offers a “big country” feel. The slower pace here is perfect for those who want the country life.

So whether you have come to be surprised by Suffolk or just to enjoy some “goober peas,” welcome to one of Hampton Roads’ shining stars and a proud neighbor of the Peninsula.