The city of Chesapeake is named after the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay the largest estuary in the U.S. is an incredibly complex ecosystem that includes important habitats and food webs. The Bay itself, its rivers, wetlands, trees and land all provide homes, protection or food for complex groups of species. Fish of all types and sizes either live in the Bay and its tributaries or they use the waters as they migrate along the East Coast. Young crabs hide from predators in underwater grasses, while oysters filter water as they feed on plankton. The intertwined combinations of relationships are countless.
From farms to the best in planned communities, Chesapeake 's residential design is made for family-centered living. Its neighborhoods provide a variety of comfortable housing alternatives I from apartments to townhouses and single-family residences. The city also has numerous organizations dedicated to keeping the quality of life high.
Additionally, Chesapeake has a considerable amount of open space for recreation. There are play areas with play equipment, courts and picnic tables; parks with open spaces for a game of football, volleyball or a friendly game of horseshoes. There are fitness trails for the health conscious and blue & green trails for a leisurely get-back-to-nature outing by water or land. There are fishing, camping and canoeing opportunities at Northwest River Park and an Equestrian area for horse owners.
The largest communities in Chesapeake , Great Bridge and Deep Creek are attractive for their various home styles and numerous wooded regions. Beyond the attraction to families, Chesapeake has made its mark in the business arena, too. Chesapeake has the most Japanese manufacturers of any city in Hampton Roads. It is ranked as Virginia's second fastest growing city.
Population (year 2004): 203,796
Land area: 353 square miles
Zip codes: 23320, 23321, 23322, 23323, 23324, 23325.
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Norfolk, VA (8.4 miles, pop. 234,403).
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (236.8 miles, pop. 1,517,550).
Nearest cities: Portsmouth, VA (6.0 miles), Norfolk, VA (8.4 miles), Virginia Beach, VA (14.5 miles), Hampton, VA (19.2 miles), Suffolk, VA (22.2 miles), Newport News, VA (25.0 miles), Poquoson, VA (26.0 miles), Smithfield, VA (27.0 miles).
Major Industries:
Chesapeake General Hospital, Household Credit Services, QVC, Southland Technologies, Map Mobile Communications, Canon Computer Systems
Hospital/medical center in Chesapeake:
• CHESAPEAKE GENERAL HOSPITAL (736 BATTLEFIELD BLVD N)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Chesapeake:
• MARYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER/PORTSMOUTH GEN (about 7 miles; PORTSMOUTH, VA)
• CHILDREN'S HOSP KING'S DAUGHTERS (about 7 miles; NORFOLK, VA)
• HOSPITAL FOR EXTENDED RECOVERY (about 7 miles; NORFOLK, VA)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Chesapeake:
• NORFOLK INTL (about 10 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: ORF)
• NORFOLK NS (about 12 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: NGU)
• OCEANA NAS /APOLLO SOUCEK FIELD/ (about 18 miles; VIRGINIA BEACH, VA; ID: NTU)
Other public-use airports nearest to Chesapeake:
• CHESAPEAKE REGIONAL (about 9 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: CPK)
• HAMPTON ROADS EXECUTIVE (about 11 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: PVG)
• SUFFOLK MUNI (about 23 miles; SUFFOLK, VA; ID: SFQ)
Library in Chesapeake:
• CHESAPEAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $6,174,596; Location: 298 CEDAR ROAD; 609,699 books; 22,883 audio materials; 16,306 video materials; 1,032 serial subscriptions)
