In 1932, Poquoson, then a district of York County, floated a bond issue and built the high school which also accepted youths from the rest of the county. In 1950, reports spread that York planned to convert the high school into an elementary school and bus Poquoson’s teenagers elsewhere. To keep the high school, the community incorporated into a town in 1952. Farmers at the north end, fearing that taxes would become exorbitant, withdrew into what became the Bethel District of Yorktown.
Today, Poquoson is a quaint seafood village bound by 60 miles of shore line, making it a fisherman’s dream. In Poquoson almost all roads lead to the waters, so the bull islanders have ample fishing, sailing, swimming, and eating of seafood. Besides, people who fish for a living, many of the residents of Poquoson work at NASA, Langley Air Force Base, and Newport News Shipyard. The fisherman share the highways at the close of a business day with scientists, doctors and business managers and others who work in more metropolitan areas but call Poquoson home each night.
Poquoson has a wide variety of old and new homes. Residents can choose an old and new homes. Residents can choose an old farm house with plenty of acreage, a custom home on the waterfront, or one of the town houses and condominiums. As a bedroom community, Poquoson is just a few minutes drive from Hampton, Newport News, and this area’s numerous historic sites.
Population (year 2000): 11,566, Est. population in July 2002: 11,686 (+1.0% change)
Elevation: 9 feet
County: Poquoson (city)
Land area: 15.5 square miles
Zip code: 23662
Elevation: 9 feet
County: Poquoson (city)
Land area: 15.5 square miles
Zip code: 23662
Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Hampton, VA (6.9 miles, pop. 146,437).
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Norfolk, VA (18.8 miles, pop. 234,403).
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (215.4 miles, pop. 1,517,550).
Nearest cities: Hampton, VA (6.9 miles), Newport News, VA (8.7 miles), Yorktown, VA (11.7 miles), Gloucester Point, VA (12.8 miles), Norfolk, VA (18.8 miles), Smithfield, VA (19.9 miles), Portsmouth, VA (21.0 miles), Rushmere, VA (21.0 miles).
Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (20.3%), Public administration (12.0%), Manufacturing (11.3%), Retail trade (10.9%), Construction (10.3%), Professional,scientific,management,administrative,and waste management services (10.1%).
Hospitals/medical centers near Poquoson:
• COLUMBIA PENINSULA BEHAVIORIAL CENTER (about 7 miles; HAMPTON, VA)
• SENTARA HAMPTON GENL HOSP (about 7 miles; HAMPTON, VA)
• RIVERSIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 9 miles; NEWPORT NEWS, VA)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Poquoson:
• LANGLEY AFB (about 5 miles; HAMPTON, VA; ID: LFI)
• NEWPORT NEWS/WILLIAMSBURG INTERNATIONAL (about 8 miles; NEWPORT NEWS, VA; ID: PHF)
• NORFOLK NS (about 16 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: NGU)
Other public-use airports nearest to Poquoson:
• NORFOLK INTL (about 21 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: ORF)
• WILLIAMSBURG-JAMESTOWN (about 24 miles; WILLIAMSBURG, VA; ID: JGG)
• HAMPTON ROADS EXECUTIVE (about 26 miles; NORFOLK, VA; ID: PVG)
Library in Poquoson:
• POQUOSON PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $476,167; Location: 500 CITY HALL AVE.; 40,110 books; 1,227 audio materials; 3,267 video materials; 148 serial subscriptions)
