Norfolk was founded in 1680 on 50 acres at the mouth of the Elizabeth River’s Eastern Branch. Norfolk in its early days suffered much war, pestilence and depression. It was burned a few different times during the revolution and civil war and suffered deeply during the depression. However, today Norfolk is an exiting and diverse city full of opportunity. Today, Norfolk is one of the hottest vacation hotspots on the East Coast. It has been voted the South's #1 big city to live in by Money Magazine, and voted a #1 place to visit by practically everyone who's ever been there.
With over 100 ships of the Atlantic Fleet stationed here, Norfolk Naval Base is the largest naval base in the world. Hampton Roads' premier museums, opera and symphony companies also take up residence here, helping Norfolk to retain its ranking as one of the most livable American cities in which to live.
Norfolk manufacturing sector has played a big role in the economic growth of the city. In 1993 22 new and expanding companies made a $94 Million investment in the city. The largest investment came with the Ford Motor Company’s $77 million plant expansion. Equally important, over the past 10 years over $400 Million of private investment has been spent on renovating downtown Norfolk, making it one of the most exciting stories of city renewal on the East Coast.
Norfolk contains many museums among which are The National Maritime Center Nauticus which is an breath taking 120,000 square-foot science and technology center exploring the power of the sea and ships such as the Battleship Wisconsin and many others. MacArthur General Douglas Memorial, another museum of Norfolk is in Norfolk's stately nineteenth century City Hall. A monumental rotunda is placed in the Memorial where it was General's MacArthur’s final resting place and is now surrounded by inscriptions, banners, and flags heralding the general’s long and glorious career. Nine separate galleries are arranged in two levels circle the rotunda and tell the story of General MacArthur and the millions of American men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces from the Civil War through the Korean War.
Population (year 2000): 234,403, Est. population in July 2002: 239,036 (+2.0% change)
Elevation: 10 feet
County: Norfolk (city)
Land area: 64 square miles
Zip codes: 23502, 23503, 23504, 23505, 23507, 23508, 23509, 23510, 23513, 23517, 23518, 23521, 23523.
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (228.5 miles, pop. 1,517,550).
Nearest cities: Portsmouth, VA (7.0 miles), Chesapeake, VA (8.4 miles), Virginia Beach, VA (12.4 miles), Hampton, VA (12.4 miles), Poquoson, VA (18.8 miles), Newport News, VA (20.1 miles), Smithfield, VA (25.5 miles), Suffolk, VA (26.0 miles).
Area code: 757
Major Industries:
Ford Motor, Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine at EMS, Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock, Norfolk Southern, Sentara Health System, Bank of America, USAA, U.S. Navy Cruise Ship Port
Hospitals/medical centers in Norfolk:
• BON SECOURS - DEPAUL MEDICAL CENTER (150 KINGSLEY LANE)
• CHILDREN'S HOSP KING'S DAUGHTERS (601 CHILDREN'S LANE)
• HOSPITAL FOR EXTENDED RECOVERY (600 GRESHAM DRIVE SUITE 700)
• LAKE TAYLOR HOSP (1309 KEMPSVILLE RD)
• NORFOLK PSYCHIATRIC CENTER (860 KEMPSVILLE RD)
• SENTARA LEIGH HOSPITAL (830 KEMPSVILLE RD)
• SENTARA NORFOLK GENL HOSP (600 GRESHAM DR)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Norfolk:
• NORFOLK NS (about 4 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: NGU)
• NORFOLK INTL (about 5 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: ORF)
• LANGLEY AFB (about 14 miles; HAMPTON, VA; ID: LFI)
Other public-use airports nearest to Norfolk:
• HAMPTON ROADS EXECUTIVE (about 15 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: PVG)
• CHESAPEAKE REGIONAL (about 17 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: CPK)
• NEWPORT NEWS/WILLIAMSBURG INTERNATIONAL (about 23 miles; NEWPORT NEWS, VA; ID: PHF)
Library in Norfolk:
• NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $6,172,773; Location: 301 EAST CITY HALL AVENUE; 1,053,143 books; 10,951 audio materials; 11,578 video materials; 1,783 serial subscriptions)
