City of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Flag Seal
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state
Coordinates: 36°50′04″N 76°05′6.72″W / 36.83444, -76.0852
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Government
- Mayor	Meyera E. Oberndorf
Area
- City	497. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Meyera E Oberndorf (born February 10, 1941) has been the Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia, since 1988 Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status 3 sq mi (1,288. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 1 km²)
- Land	248. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² 3 sq mi (643. 1 km²)
- Water	249. 0 sq mi (645. 0 km²)
Elevation	10 ft (6 m)
Population (2006 Census Estimate)
- City	436,619
- Density	1,712. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/sq mi (661. 3/km²)
- Urban	1,212,000
- Metro	1,795,015
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	757
FIPS code	51-82000[1]
GNIS feature ID	1500261[2]
Website: http://www.vbgov.com/

Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌgɪniʌˈbiːtʃ/) is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area in the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks ImageArea code 757png|right|The area colored red indicates the southeast corner of Virginia served by area code 757poly 60 2 11 58 12 78 32 106 40 109 45 105 68 123 73 119 Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout An independent city is a City that does not form part of another general-purpose Local government entity South Hampton Roads, also known as Southside, is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Chesapeake Bay is the largest Estuary in the United States. It is the most populous city in Virginia and the 41st largest city in the United States, with an estimated population of 435,619 in 2006. The ^[3]

Virginia Beach is the easternmost of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads that make up the core of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA. The Seven Cities of Hampton Roads are seven independent cities located in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia in the United States Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News VA-NC MSA is a US Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget This area, known as "America's First Region", also includes the independent cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, as well as other smaller cities, counties and towns of Hampton Roads. Chesapeake is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads portion of the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the Hampton is an Independent city in Virginia, and therefore not part of any Virginia county Newport News is an Independent city in Virginia. It is at the south-western end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Portsmouth is an Independent city located in the US Commonwealth of Virginia. Suffolk is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area of eastern Virginia.

Virginia Beach is best known as a resort, with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels, motels, and restaurants along its oceanfront. A resort is a place used for Relaxation or Recreation, attracting visitors for Holidays or Vacations Resorts are places towns or sometimes Every year it is host to the East Coast Surfing Championship as well as the North American Sand Soccer Championship that attracts teams from around the world. It is also home to several state parks, several long protected beach areas, three military bases, a number of large corporations, two universities, and historic sites. Near the point where the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Cape Henry was the site of the first landing of the English colonists bound for Jamestown on April 26, 1607. Cape Henry is a cape on the Atlantic shore of Virginia in the Independent city of Virginia Beach. First Landing State Park (formerly Seashore State Park) offers recreational opportunities at Cape Henry in the independent city of Virginia Beach Virginia Jamestown, located on Jamestown Island in the Virginia Colony, was founded on May 14 1607 Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy.

The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U It is located at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT is a 23-mile (37-km long facility that connects the Delmarva Peninsula with southeastern Virginia in the United States ^[4]

History

Main articles: History of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, Virginia

Chesepians were the first inhabitants of the area now known as South Hampton Roads in Virginia of which anything is known. The history of Virginia Beach goes back to the Native Americans live in the area for thousands of years before the English colonists established their first permanent settlement in 1607 Princess Anne County is an extinct county which was located in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States from Chesepian were a Native American tribe who inhabited the area now known as South Hampton Roads in the U ^[5] The Algonquian word "Chesepioc" means "Great Shellfish Bay", a reference to the Chesapeake Bay. The Algonquian (also Algonkian, and pronounced both and) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic They occupied an area which is now the independent cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. ^[6]

Cape Henry from the air, facing ESE

In 1607, after a voyage of 144 days, three ships headed by Captain Christopher Newport carrying 105 men and boys made their first landfall in the New World where the Atlantic Ocean meets the southern mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in the northeastern part of the city. Christopher Newport (c 1561&ndash1618 was an English sailor and Privateer. They named it Cape Henry, after Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King James I of England. For other people known as Henry Prince of Wales see Henry Prince of Wales. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James However, these English colonists of the Virginia Company of London left the area, as they were under orders to seek a site further inland which would be more sheltered from ships of competing European countries. The London Company (also called the Charter of the Virginia Company of London) was an English Joint stock company established by royal charter by They created their first permanent settlement at Jamestown. ^[7]

Adam Thoroughgood (1604-1640) of King's Lynn, Norfolk, England is one of the earliest Englishmen to settle in the area which became Virginia Beach. Adam Thoroughgood (1604 &ndash 1640 was a Colonist and Community leader in the Virginia Colony who helped settle the area of South Hampton Roads King's Lynn is a town and Port in Norfolk, England. Over the years the town has been known variously as Bishop's Lynn and Lynn Regis Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland At the age of 18, he became an indentured servant to pay for passage to the Virginia Colony. An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to The Colony of Virginia (also known frequently as the Virginia Colony and occasionally as the Dominion and Colony of Virginia) was the English colony He earned his freedom and became a leading citizen of the area. In 1629, he was elected to the House of Burgesses for Elizabeth City (or "cittie" as it was then spelt). The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected lower house in the legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in Elizabeth City (or cittie as it was then called was one of four incorporations established in the Virginia Colony in 1619 by the proprietor the Virginia Company. ^[8]

In 1634, the Colony was divided into shires, soon renamed counties. A shire is an Administrative division of Great Britain and Australia. A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. Thoroughgood is credited with using the name of his home in England when helping name New Norfolk County in 1637. New Norfolk County is a long-extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1636 until 1637. The following year, New Norfolk County was split into Upper Norfolk County (soon renamed Nansemond County) and Lower Norfolk County. Upper Norfolk County is an extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1637 until 1646. Nansemond County is an extinct county which was located in Virginia Colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia (after statehood in the United States, Lower Norfolk County is a long-extinct county which was located in colonial Virginia from 1637 until 1691. Thoroughgood's choice of residence after 1634 was along the Lynnhaven River, also named for his home in England. The Lynnhaven River is a tidal Estuary located in the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the United States, and flows Lower Norfolk County was quite large, and stretched all the way from the Atlantic Ocean west past the Elizabeth River, encompassing the entire area now within the modern cities of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. The Elizabeth River is a short Tidal estuary forming an arm of Hampton Roads at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the ^[8]

In 1691, Lower Norfolk County was divided to form Norfolk County and Princess Anne County. Norfolk County is an extinct county in South Hampton Roads in eastern Virginia in the United States. Princess Anne County is an extinct county which was located in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States from Princess Anne, the easternmost county in South Hampton Roads, extended northward from the North Carolina border to Cape Henry at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, and included all of the area fronting the Atlantic Ocean. Princess Anne County was to last from 1691 to 1963, over 250 years. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[9]

Princess Anne County (1691-1963), now extinct, with Virginia Beach from 1895 Virginia map

The small resort area of Virginia Beach grew in Princess Anne County beginning in the late 19th century, particularly after the 1888 arrival of rail service and electricity and the opening of the original Princess Anne Hotel at the oceanfront near the tiny community of Seatack. Seatack Virginia was located in Princess Anne County and is now part of the Oceanfront resort strip and adjacent area of the Independent city of Virginia Beach In 1891, guests at the new hotel watched the wreck and rescue efforts of the United States Life-Saving Service for the Norwegian bark Dictator. The United States Life-Saving Service was a United States government agency that grew out of private and local humanitarian efforts to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners The ship's figurehead, which washed up on the beach several days later, was erected as a modest monument to the victims and rescuers along the oceanfront for more than 50 years, and later became the inspiration for the current matching Norwegian Lady Monuments in Virginia Beach, and Moss, Norway. Norwegian Lady Statues are located in the Sister cities of Moss, a coastal town and municipality in the county Moss is a coastal town and municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway. ^[10]

Although the resort was initially dependent upon railroad and electric trolley service, the completion of Virginia Beach Boulevard in 1922, which extended from Norfolk to the oceanfront, opened the way for automobiles, buses, trucks, and passenger rail service, the latter of which was eventually discontinued. A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a Train Virginia Beach Boulevard is a major connector highway which carries U Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. The growing resort of Virginia Beach became an incorporated town in 1906. An incorporated town is a Town that is a Municipal corporation. Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting In 1927 The Cavalier Hotel opened and became an extremely popular vacation spot for both the wealthy and celebrities of the time. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Over the next 45 years, Virginia Beach continued to grow in popularity as a seasonal vacation spot, and casinos gave way to amusement parks and family-oriented attractions. Virginia Beach became a tiny independent city, politically independent from Princess Anne County in 1952, although the numerous ties between Virginia Beach and Princess Anne remained. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1963, after approval by referendum of the voters of the City of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, and with the approval of the Virginia General Assembly, the two political subdivisions were consolidated as a new, much larger independent city, retaining the better-known name of the Virginia Beach resort. The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. ^[11]

Real estate, defense, and tourism are major sectors of the Virginia Beach economy, but the city has begun to run out of clear land available for new construction above the Green Line, an urban growth boundary dividing the urban northern and rural southern sections of the city. An urban growth boundary', or UGB, is a regional boundary set in an attempt to control Urban sprawl by allowing the area inside the boundary for higher ^[12]

As such, while Virginia Beach does not have a redevelopment authority, local public and private groups have maintained a vested interest in real-estate redevelopment, resulting in a number of joint public-private projects such as commercial parks. Examples of this are the Virginia Beach Convention Center, the Oceanfront Hilton Hotel, and the Virginia Beach Town Center. Virginia Beach Town Center is a group of offices stores and restaurants in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Using tax increment financing through creation of special tax districts and street and infrastructure construction, the City was able to assist in financing the projects making them a reality. The Town Center opened in 2003 and still has construction taking place, while the Convention Center opened in 2005. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^{[13] [14]}

In addition, some unique structures like The Alan B. Sheppard Dome ("The Dome"), a geodesic dome and convention center designed by Buckminster Fuller and built in the 1960s which was dedicated to the career of astronaut Alan Shepard, were destroyed by the city. A geodesic dome is an almost spherical shell structure based on a network of Great circles ( Geodesics lying approximately on the surface of a Sphere Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller ( July 12, 1895 &ndash July 1, 1983) was an American Architect, Author Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr (November 18 1923 &ndash July 21 1998 ( Rear Admiral, USN Ret ^[15]

Infill and development of residential neighborhoods has placed a number of operating constraints on Naval Air Station Oceana, a major fighter jet base for the U. Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base S. Navy. While the airbase currently enjoys wide support from Virginia Beach at large, the Pentagon Base Realignment and Closure commission has proposed closure of Oceana within the next decade. Base Realignment and Closure (or BRAC) is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed ^[16]

Geography and climate

Image of the Chesapeake Bay shore.

Virginia Beach is located at 36°50′4″N 76°5′13″W / 36.83444, -76.08694 (Virginia Beach)Coordinates: 36°50′4″N 76°5′13″W / 36.83444, -76.08694 (Virginia Beach)^[17]. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

497. 3 square miles (1,288. 1 km²). 248. 3 square miles (643. 1 km²) of it is land and 249. 0 square miles (645. 0 km²) of it (50. 07%) is water. The average elevation is 12 feet (4 meters) above sea level. Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface A major portion of the city drains to the Chesapeake Bay by way of the Lynnhaven River and its tributaries.

The city is located at the southeastern corner of the Virginia in the Hampton Roads area bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area (officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA) is the 34th largest in the United States, with a total population of 1,576,370. Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasIn the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB has produced See also Metropolitan Statistical Area, Core Based Statistical Area Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasThe United States Census Bureau has defined The area includes the Virginia cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg, and the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Surry, and York, as well as the North Carolina county of Currituck. Poquoson (pəˈkoʊsən is an Independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia Gloucester is a county of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. Isle of Wight County is a county located in the South Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the James City County (formally the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region of the Mathews County is a County located on the Middle Peninsula in the U Surry County is a county located in the South Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United York County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Currituck County is a County located in the US state of North Carolina. While Virginia Beach is the most populated city within the MSA, it actually currently functions more as a suburb. The city of Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach oceanside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily centers of tourism.

The Virginia tidewater area has grown faster than the local freshwater supply. The river water has always been salty, and the fresh groundwater is no longer available in most areas. Currently, water for the tidewater area is pumped through an aqueduct from Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia-North Carolina border. An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another Lake Gaston is a manmade reservoir located in the US states of North Carolina and Virginia. The pipeline is 76 miles long and 60 inches in diameter. Much of its follows the former right-of-way of an abandoned portion of the Virginian Railway. A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted – through an Easement or other mechanism – for Transportation purposes such as for a Rail line or The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. ^[18] It is capable of pumping 60 million gallons of water per day(60MGD), Chesapeake is a partner in the project and is allotted 10 MGD. ^[19]

Neighborhoods

Virginia Beach from space

When the modern city of Virginia Beach was created in 1963, by the consolidation of the 253 square mile (655 km²) Princess Anne County with the 2 square mile (5 km²) City of Virginia Beach, the newly larger city was divided into seven boroughs: Bayside, Blackwater, Kempsville, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne, Pungo, and Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach has many distinctive communities and neighborhoods within its boundaries, including Chesapeake Beach, Great Neck, Kings Grant, Alanton, Green Run, Bayside, Blackwater, College Park, Croatan Beach, Church Point, Greenwich, the North End, Kempsville, London Bridge, Lynnhaven, Little Neck, Middle Plantation, Munden, Oceana, Ocean Park, Pembroke Manor, Pembroke Meadows, Pembroke Shores Princess Anne, Pungo, Salem, Sandbridge, Seatack, Shadowlawn, Thalia, Thoroughgood, and the Oceanfront. Chesapeake Beach, also known as Chic's Beach and Chicks Beach, is a stretch of beaches running about two miles from the Lynnhaven Inlet to just west of Kings Grant is an established Neighborhood located within the Lynnhaven section of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Alanton is a residential neighborhood in the northern part of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Green Run is a residential and commercial community covering nearly six square miles in the center of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Bayside is an Unincorporated community within the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Croatan Beach is an affluent residential neighborhood in the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Kempsville was formerly an Unincorporated town which was located in Princess Anne County Virginia. London Bridge is an Unincorporated community within the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Lynnhaven is a residential neighborhood in North Central Virginia Beach, Virginia. Oceana is a major Unincorporated community within Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Pembroke Manor (also known as Pembroke) is an area in the heart of the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA located around Princess Anne is a community located in the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA at the junction of Princess Anne Road and North Pungo is a rural community located in the southern portion of the Independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Salem is a residential area of Virginia Beach, Virginia located in the southern part of the Independent city. Thalia it is a residential neighborhood in the northeastern area of the Independent city of Virginia Beach in the South Hampton Roads the Hampton Roads ^[20]

Climate

The climate of Virginia Beach can be considered humid subtropical, due to the moderating effect of the ocean. Humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa or Cwa) is a climate zone characterized by hot humid summers and chilly to mild winters However, winters can bring prolonged cold periods, but snow is quite rare. Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings. Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days The mean annual temperature is 60 °F (15 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 2. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 5 inches and an average annual rainfall of 45 inches. The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. The highest recorded temperature was 103°F (39°C) in August 1957, and the lowest recorded temperature was -11°F (-24°C) in January 1985. ^[21],^[22]

Additionally, the geographic location of the city, with respect to the principal storm tracks, is especially favorable, as it is south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes, and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms. ^[23]

Demographics

Age distribution in Virginia Beach

As of the census of 2000,^[1] there were 425,257 people, 154,455 households, and 110,898 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 1,712. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 7 people per square mile (661. 3/km²). There were 162,277 housing units at an average density of 653. 6/sq mi (252. 3/km²).

The racial makeup of the city was 71. 41% White (69. 46% non-Hispanic white), 18. 95% African American, 0. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa 38% Native American, 4. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States 91% Asian, 0. Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. They include sub-ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Indian 10% Pacific Islander, 1. Pacific Islander Americans are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. 51% from other races, and 2. 75% from two or more races. 4. 18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans of Hispanic or Latino descent, which comprises ancestry or origins in Hispanic America

There were 154,455 households out of which 38. 8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55. 7% were married couples living together, 12. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28. 2% were non-families. 20. 4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5. 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 70 and the average family size was 3. 14.

The age distribution is 27. 5% under the age of 18, 10. 0% from 18 to 24, 34. 3% from 25 to 44, 19. 8% from 45 to 64, and 8. 4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 98. 0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95. 8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,705, and the median income for a family was $53,242. Males had a median income of $33,756 versus $25,979 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,365. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 5. 1% of families and 6. 5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 6% of those under age 18 and 4. 7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Tourism at the beach boosts Virginia Beach's economy

Virginia Beach is best known for its tourism but the military and agribusiness sectors contribute to the City's economy. The City's economy also contains a large retail component. Major companies headquartered in Virginia Beach include Lillian Vernon and Stihl (North American headquarters). Lillian Vernon Corporation is an American Catalog merchant and online retailer that sells household children's and fashion accessory products Andreas Stihl AG & Company is a manufacturer of Chain saws and other handheld power equipment including trimmers and blowers Other major employers include GEICO, Amerigroup, and Navy Exchange Service Command. The Government Employees Insurance Company, usually known by the Acronym GEICO, is an American Auto insurance company ^[27]

Tourism produces a large share of Virginia Beach's economy. With an estimated $857 million spent in tourism related industries, 14,900 jobs cater to 2. 75 million visitors. City coffers benefit as visitors provide $73 million in revenue. Virginia Beach opened a Convention Center in 2005 which caters to large group meetings and events. Hotels not only line the Oceanfront but also cluster around Virginia Beach Town Center and other parts of the City. Restaurants and entertainment industries also directly benefit from Virginia Beach's tourism. ^[28]

Virginia Beach has a large argibusiness sector which produces $80 million for the city economy. One hundred-seventy-two farms exist in Virginia Beach, mostly below the greenline in the southern portion of the City. Farmers are able to sell their goods and products at the City's Farmer's Market. ^[29][30]

A VF-41 F-4J over NAS Oceana in the late 1960s

Virginia Beach is home to several United States Military bases. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States These include the United States Navy's NAS Oceana and FTC Dam Neck, and the United States Army's Fort Story located at Cape Henry. Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base Training Support Center Hampton Roads is the current name of the facility in Virginia Beach Virginia which was long-known at "FTC Dam Neck" The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Fort Story Military Reservation is a facility of the US Army located in the independent city of Virginia Beach Virginia at Cape Henry. Additionally, NAB Little Creek is located mostly within the city of Virginia Beach but carries a Norfolk address. The Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy 's Atlantic Fleet. ^[31]

NAS Oceana is the largest employer in Virginia Beach; it was decreed by the 2005 BRAC Commission that NAS Oceana must close unless the city of Virginia Beach condemns houses in areas designated as "Accident Potential Zones. " This action has never been the position of the United States Navy; indeed, the Navy had not recommended NAS Oceana to the BRAC Commission for potential closure. The issue of closure of NAS Oceana remains unresolved as of May, 2008. ^[16]

Both NAS Oceana and FTC Dam Neck are considered to be the largest of their respective kind in the world. Furthermore, located in nearby Norfolk is the central hub of the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk Navy Base. The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM of the United States Navy is the part of the Navy responsible for operations in and around the Atlantic Ocean. Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces operating in the Atlantic Ocean, ^[32]

Culture

Main article: Culture in Virginia Beach

Adam Thoroughgood House, before 1957 restoration

As with most of Virginia (the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C metro area being the notable exception), Virginia Beach is most often associated with the larger American South. Museums and cultural arts The city is home to several points of interest in the historical scientific and performing arts areas and has become a popular tourist destination in recent Northern Virginia (colloquially referred to as "NOVA" or "NoVA" consists of several The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive People who have grown up in the Hampton Roads area have a unique Tidewater accent which sounds different than a stereotypical Southern accent. Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. Tidewater Accent is an American English Accent and is also a Dialect. Southern American English is a group of Dialects of the English language spoken throughout the Southern region of the United States, from Southern Vowels have a longer pronunciation than in a regular southern accent. ^[33]

The city is home to several points of interest in the historical, scientific, and performing arts areas, and has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (formerly the Virginia Marine Science Museum) is a popular aquarium near the oceanfront that features the 300,000-gallon Norfolk Canyon Aquarium, containing sand tiger, nurse and brown sharks, as well as sting rays and other large open-ocean dwellers. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, formerly known as the Virginia Marine Science Museum, is an Aquarium and Marine science Museum Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body Dasyatidae is a family of rays, cartilaginous marine Fishes related to Skates and Sharks Dasyatids are common in tropical There is also a 70,000-gallon sea turtle aquarium, sea turtle hatchling laboratory, hands-on ocean exploration exhibits, jellyfish and octopus aquariums, and even a life-size model of a humpback whale. Sea turtles ( Superfamily Chelonioidea) are Turtles found in all the world's oceans except the Arctic Ocean. Other features include the Owls Creek salt marsh and a nature trail. ^[34]

The Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheather features a wide variety of popular shows and concerts, ranging from Kenny Chesney to Gretchen Wilson to Coldplay to Ozzfest. Kenny Chesney (born Kenneth Arnold Chesney, March 26, 1968) is an American Country music artist Gretchen Frances Wilson (born June 26 1973 in Pocahontas Illinois) is an American Country music artist Coldplay TalkColdplay#Is_or_Are_dispute_again Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States (and in some years Europe) featuring performances by many heavy metal and Hard rock The Sandler Center, a 1200-seat performing arts theatre, opened in the Virginia Beach Town Center in November, 2007. ^[35]

Two lighthouses at Cape Henry

Virginia Beach is home to many sites of historical importance, and has 18 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of Such sites include the Adam Thoroughgood House (one of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia), the Francis Land House (a 200-year-old plantation), the Cape Henry Lights and nearby Cape Henry Light Station (a second tower), Bayville Farm, DeWitt Cottage, Ferry Farm Plantation, Dr. The Adam Thoroughgood House, is a brick house in located within the neighborhood of Thoroughgood in Virginia Beach Virginia. The Cape Henry Lighthouse has long been important for the large amount of ocean-going shipping traffic for the harbors its rivers and shipping headed to ports on the Chesapeake Bay John Miller-Masury House, Adam Keeling House, Old Donation Church, Pembroke Manor, Pleasant Hall, Shirley Hall (Devereaux House), Thomas Murray House, U. Dating from the late 17th century the Adam Keeling House is the second oldest house in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. S. Coast Guard Station (Seatack), Upper Wolfsnare, Weblin House, and Wishart Boush House, and Wolfsnare. ^[36]

The Edgar Cayce Hospital for Research and Enlightenment was established in Virginia Beach in 1928 with 60 beds. Edgar Cayce ( March 18, 1877 &ndash January 3, 1945) (ˈkeɪsiː was an American psychic. Cayce was a psychic from Kentucky who claimed healing abilities and made prophesies. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Cayce resided in Virginia Beach until he died on 3 January 1945. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar His followers are still active in Virginia Beach. Atlantic University was opened by Cayce in 1930; it closed two years later but was re-opened in 1985. Atlantic University is an institution of higher education in Virginia Beach, Virginia, associated with the Edgar Cayce organization the Association Atlantic University was originally intended for study of Cayce's readings and research on spiritual subjects. ^[37]

The city's largest festival, the Neptune Festival, attracts 500,000 visitors to the Oceanfront and 350,000 visitors to the air show at NAS Oceana. Celebrating the city's heritage link with Norway, events are held in September in the Oceanfront and Town Center areas. ^[38] Every August, the American Music Festival provides festival attendees with live music performed on stages all over the Oceanfront, including the beach on Fifth Street. The festival ends with the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. ^[39]

Sports

Virginia Beach has no major league professional sports teams or spectator sports. Since Norfolk contains the central business district of Hampton Roads, most of the major spectator sports are located there. While the Hampton Roads area has been recently considered as a viable prospect for major-league professional sports, and regional leaders have attempted to obtain Major League Baseball, NBA and NHL franchises in the recent past, no team has yet relocated to the area. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America ^[40]

There are two soccer teams, the Hampton Roads Piranhas, a men's team in the USL Premier Development League, and a women's team by the same name in the W-League, the de facto top women's league after the suspension of the Women's United Soccer Association. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Hampton Roads Piranhas is a professional American women’s Soccer team founded in 1995 which is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, History In 1995 the USISL split into two leagues one professional and one amateur History The W-League's inaugural season was in 1995 Originally called the United States Interregional Women's League it later changed its name to the W-League The Piranhas play at the main stadium of the Virginia Wesleyan College. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist Liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia offering a Bachelor The Virginia Beach Sportsplex contains the central training site for the U. Virginia Beach Sportsplex is a sports complex in Virginia Beach Virginia. S. women's national field hockey team. Field hockey is a Team sport in which players attempt to score goals by hitting the Ball across the pitch with a stick ^[41]

The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Championships, an annual contest of more than 100 of the world's top professional surfers and an estimated 400 amateur surfers. The East Coast Surfing Championships (ECSC is an annual Surfing contest held in Virginia Beach Virginia, and is one of the United States Surfing Federation’s major This is North America's oldest surfing contest, and features combined cash prizes of $40,000. ^[42]

There are also eleven golf courses open to the public in the city, as well as four country club layouts and 36 military holes at NAS Oceana's Aeropines course. Among the best-known public courses are Hell's Point Golf Club and Virginia Beach National, the latter of which hosts the Virginia Beach Open, a Nationwide Tour event, each April. The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the US-based PGA Tour, and features Professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough ^[43]

The North American Sand Soccer Championship is held once a year at the beach. The tournament includes the Pro/Am competition, which brings teams from all over the world to compete in the tournament. ^[44]

Virginia Beach is host to a Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon each year on Labor Day weekend in conjunction with the American Music Festival. It is one of the largest Half Marathons in the world. The final 3 miles are on the boardwalk. ^[45]

Parks and Recreation

Virginia Beach is home to 208 city parks, encompassing over 4,000 acres (16 km²), including neighborhood parks, community parks, district parks, and other open spaces. Each park is unique and offers something for everyone, from wide open spaces to playgrounds, picnic shelters, and ballfields. ^[46]

A wedding party lines up for photographs in front of a giant Neptune statue on the boardwalk

Perhaps one of the most well-known parks is the world-renowned Mount Trashmore Park, clearly visible from I-264 as you're traveling to the oceanfront. Neptune (Neptūnus is the god of water and the sea in Roman mythology, a brother of Jupiter and Pluto. Mount Trashmore Park, also known simply as Mount Trashmore, is a city Park located in Virginia Beach Virginia. The park is 165 acres (668,000 m²). The mountain is 60 ft (18 m) high and over 800 ft (240 m) long, and was created by compacting layers of solid waste and clean soil. The park also features two lakes: Lake Windsor and Lake Trashmore. Lake Trashmore is stocked with fish, but is unsanitary to fish in. Residents can also take advantage of a skate park. ^[47]

Another major park in the city is Great Neck Park, a 70 acre (283,000 m²) park located in the Lynnhaven District. Facilities include five large group shelters, mini-shelters, family picnic tables and grills, three playgrounds, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, vending machines, walking trails, four baseball fields, as well as a gazebo located at the end of a scenic walkway overlooking the Lynnhaven River. ^[48]

People enjoying rental bicycle on the Boardwalk

The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1938, is an 8,000 acre (32 km²) fresh water refuge that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Back Bay on the west. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Virginia is located in the Independent city of Virginia Beach. The barrier islands feature large sand dunes, maritime forests, fresh water marshes, ponds, ocean beach, and large impoundments for wintering wildfowl. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ^[49]

First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park are both located in coastal areas within the city's corporate limits as well. First Landing State Park (formerly Seashore State Park) offers recreational opportunities at Cape Henry in the independent city of Virginia Beach Virginia False Cape State Park is a State park in the independent city of Virginia Beach Virginia. Both offer camping facilities, cabins, and outdoor recreation activities in addition to nature and history tours. ^{[50] [51]}

Munden Point is a park located in the deep southern end of the city, which is known for being rural. Munden Point Park is a recreational park owned and maintained by the city of Virginia Beach Virginia located deep in the heart of the southern Rural areas can be large and isolated (also referred to as "the country" and/or "the countryside over the course of time ^[52]

Additionally, the famous three-mile (5 km) boardwalk at the oceanfront is often packed with fascinating entertainment, outdoor cafes, concerts and people. Made of concrete, the boardwalk links forty hotels and other attractions and has a bike path. ^[53]

Ocean Breeze Waterpark, Shipwreck Golf, and Motor World are the City's amusement parks, which were formerly called Ocean Breeze Fun Park. As separate parks, they provide miniature golf, go-karts, water slides, pools, climbing wall, paintball area, and kiddie rides. ^[54][55]

Naval Aviation Monument Park was formally dedicated on May 6, 2006, by the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Naval Aviation Foundation Association. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Planned since 1997 in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach, the park features heroic-scale statuary and reliefs to tell the history of Naval Aviation. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar ^[56]

Government

Virginia Beach was chartered as a municipal corporation by the General Assembly of Virginia on January 1, 1963. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The city currently operates under the council-manager form of government. In the council-manager form of government an elected city council (typically between five and 11 people is responsible for making Policy, passing Ordinances voting Appropriations ^[57]

The city's legislative body consists of an 11 member city council. A city council is a form of Local government, usually covering a City or other Urban area, such as a Town. The city manager is appointed by the council and acts as the chief executive officer. A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a City, in a council-manager form of city government Through his staff, he implements policies established by the council. ^[58]

Members of the city council normally serve four-year terms and are elected on a staggered basis. General elections are held the first Tuesday in May in even-numbered years. All registered voters are eligible to vote for all council members. Three council members and the mayor serve on an "at large" basis with no district residency requirement. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government All others are required to live in the district they represent. ^[57]

The mayor is elected to a four-year term through direct election. The mayor presides over council meetings, and serves as the ceremonial head and spokesperson of the city. A vice mayor is also elected by the city council at the first meeting in July following a council election. ^[58]

Virginia Beach has a Housing and Neighborhood Preservation division which aims to promote healthy neighborhoods and allow access to affordable housing. This division provides assistance to area neighborhoods including federal and state resources, support for neighborhood groups, training seminars, code enforcement assistance, and youth activities. The City police also offer resources and networking for the neighborhoods. ^{[59] [60]}

Education

The current building of Frank W. Cox High School

According to the U.S. Census, 28. The United States Census is a decennial Census mandated by the United States Constitution. 1% of the population over twenty-five (vs. a national average of 24%) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 90. 4% (vs. 80% nationally) have a high school diploma or equivalent.

The city of Virginia Beach is home to Virginia Beach City Public Schools, one of the largest school systems in the state and among the 50 largest school divisions in the United States (based on student enrollment). Virginia Beach City Public Schools in the City of Virginia Beach Virginia is the second largest school system in Virginia and among the 50 largest The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Virginia Beach City Public Schools currently serves 74,682 students, and includes 55 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 11 high schools which include Landstown, Princess Anne, Cox, Tallwood, Salem, First Colonial, Kellam, Green Run, Kempsville, Bayside, and Ocean Lakes High Schools as well as a number of secondary/post-secondary specialty schools and centers such as the Advanced Technology Center (ATC), which provides excellent courses for those trying to gain a place in the technology field. See also Primary education An elementary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory education known as elementary Middle school or Junior High School serves as a "bridge" between the Elementary School and the High School High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution Landstown High School and Technology Academy is a public Secondary school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia which first opened in Princess Anne High School (PAHS is the oldest remaining High school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. Frank W Cox High School is a Secondary school located in the Great Neck subdivision of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Tallwood High School is a Secondary school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. See Salem High School for other high schools with this name Salem High School is a Secondary school located in Virginia Beach First Colonial High School is a High school in Virginia Beach Virginia. Floyd E Kellam High School is a public high school in Virginia Beach Virginia. Green Run High School, home of the Green Run Stallions is a public Secondary school located at 1700 Dahlia Drive of the "Green Run" area of suburban Virginia Kempsville High School is a Secondary school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. See Bayside High School for other high schools with this name Ocean Lakes High School (OLHS is a public high school in Virginia Beach Virginia and is located in the city's southeastern section Ocean Lakes maintains a rigorous math and science academy, while Bayside houses a health sciences academy. Salem High school houses the Visual and Performing Arts Academy, preparing student for jobs in the Fine and Performing Arts. Landstown High School contains a Technology Academy, which helps prepare students for jobs in Business Marketing, Information Technology, and/or Engineering. First Colonial High School is home to a legal studies academy, Tallwood has recently founded a world studies academy, and Princess Anne, the oldest high school in the city, is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school. The International Baccalaureate (IB Diploma Programme (DP is an Educational programme examined in one of three languages ( English, French or Spanish Specialized courses are offered at all these academies, even though they occasionally overlap courses offered at other specialized centers, such as Landstown and the ATC - less than 1 mile away. ^[61]

There are also a number of private, independent schools in the city, including Norfolk Academy, Hampton Roads Academy, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School and Parish, The Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, Cape Henry Collegiate School, Gateway Christian School (a division of Gateway FreeWill Baptist), Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School (formerly Norfolk Catholic), Baylake Pines School, and Virginia Beach Friends School. Notable alumni Hunter R Rawlings III, (Class of 1962 American classics scholar 10th president of Cornell University, former president of the Cape Henry Collegiate School (also known as Cape Henry or CHC) is a well regarded independent coeducational school in Virginia Beach Virginia. Academics Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School is a college preparatory school and fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS and the Virginia Catholic Virginia Beach Friends School (VBFS is a Co-educational, independent life-skills and college preparatory day school founded in 1955 under the care of the Virginia ^[62]

Association for Research and Enlightenment

Virginia Beach is home to two universities: Regent University, a private university founded by Christian Evangelist and Leader Pat Robertson which has historically focused on graduate education but is attempting to establish an undergraduate program as well^[63]. Regent University is a private Coeducational Interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (born March 22 1930 is a controversial Televangelist from the United States. Atlantic University, associated with the Edgar Cayce organization, the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE), offers M. Atlantic University is an institution of higher education in Virginia Beach, Virginia, associated with the Edgar Cayce organization the Association The Association for Research and Enlightenment ( ARE) is an organization devoted to the American self-proclaimed psychic Edgar Cayce (1877-1945 A. degrees in Transpersonal Studies, with many New Age subjects thanks to its Edgar Cayce link. ^[37] Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University are in nearby Norfolk and both the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech operate satellite campuses in Virginia Beach. Old Dominion University (ODU is a large public Research university located in historic Norfolk Virginia. Norfolk State University (NSU is a four-year state-supported coed liberal arts historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech, is a public land grant polytechnic University in ^{[64] [65] [66] [67]} Tidewater Community College, a major junior college, also has its largest campus located in the city. Tidewater Community College is a two-year Higher education institution in South Hampton Roads consisting of multiple campuses in the cities of ^[68] Virginia Wesleyan College, a private liberal arts college, is located near the border with Norfolk. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist Liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia offering a Bachelor The term liberal arts refers to a particular type of educational Curriculum broadly defined as a Classical education. ^[69] ECPI College of Technology main campus is located here as well. ECPI College of Technology is a private for-profit college that serves students in North Carolina and South Carolina and Virginia through online and on-campus classes Additional institutions of higher education are located in other communities of greater Hampton Roads. ^[70]

Media

Virginia Beach's daily newspaper is the Virginian-Pilot. The Virginian-Pilot is a daily Newspaper based in Norfolk Virginia and serving southeastern Virginia, Virginia's Eastern Shore Alternative papers include the Port Folio Weekly and the New Journal and Guide. Port Folio Weekly is a free weekly Alternative newspaper serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The New Journal and Guide is a regional weekly publication based out of Norfolk Virginia and serves the Hampton Roads area The Hampton Roads Business Journal focuses on local business news. The Hampton Roads Business Journal is a regional publication serving Norfolk Virginia and the Hampton Roads area ^[71]

Virginia Wesleyan College publishes its own newspaper, Marlin Chronicles. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small Methodist Liberal arts college on the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia offering a Bachelor ^[71] Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area. Hampton Roads Magazine is a regional bi-monthly magazine that serves Norfolk Virginia and the Hampton Roads area ^[72] Virginia Beach is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area. ^[73]

Virginia Beach is also served by several television stations. The Hampton Roads designated market area (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U. A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area, DMA or simply market is a region where the Population S. with 712,790 homes (0. 64% of the total U. S. ). ^[74] The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WGNT 27 (CW), WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV), WVBT 43 (FOX), and WPXV 49 (ION Television). WTKR is the CBS affiliate serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, officially known as the Norfolk - Portsmouth - Newport News CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. WAVY-TV is the NBC affiliate serving the Norfolk / Portsmouth / Newport News Virginia television market ( DMA) The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's WVEC-TV is the ABC affiliate for the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which includes Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. WGNT, channel 27 is a CW Television Network -owned and operated station licensed to Portsmouth Virginia, and serving the Portsmouth- Norfolk - Virginia WTVZ-TV is the My Network TV affiliate serving the Norfolk - Portsmouth - Newport News Virginia (or Hampton Roads) television market MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyNet or MNT) is a Television network in the United States, owned by the Fox Broadcasting Company WVBT, channel 43 is the Fox -affiliated Television station for the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia that is licensed WPXV is the ION Television affiliate for Hampton Roads, licensed to Norfolk Virginia. Ion Television is a broadcast television network first broadcast on August 31 1998 The Public Broadcasting Service station is WHRO-TV 15. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the WHRO-TV channel 15 is the PBS member for Hampton Roads, Virginia (the Norfolk &ndash Portsmouth &ndash Newport News television Virginia Beach residents also can receive independent stations, such as WSKY broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and WGBS broadcasting on channel 7 from Hampton. WSKY-TV, which launched in October 2001 is a full-power/full market independent station serving the Norfolk - Portsmouth - Newport News VA television market WGBS-LP is a low-power Television station in Hampton Virginia, broadcasting locally on channel 7 and serving the Greater Hampton Roads area Virginia Beach is served by Cox Cable which provides LNC 5, a local 24-hour cable news network. Cox Communications, also known as Cox Cable and formerly Cox Broadcasting Corporation is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital Local News on Cable, or LNC5, is a joint venture between WVEC-TV (the local ABC affiliate DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Virginia Beach. DirecTV (trademarked as "DIREC' TV' " is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service based in El Segundo California, USA, that was founded Not be confused with Indian Service Dish TV DISH Network is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service that provides Satellite television

Virginia Beach serves as the headquarters for the Christian Broadcasting Network, located adjacent to Regent University. The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a Christian Television broadcasting network in the United States. Regent University is a private Coeducational Interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia CBN's most notable program, The 700 Club originates from the Virginia Beach studios. The 700 Club is the flagship news Talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing on cable's ABC Family and in syndication ^[75]

Several films have been made in or near the city: Deep Impact (1998) in this film after the comet plunges in to the ocean near a sign is shown saying Virginia Beaches, however, the scene was filmed on State Route 234 near Manassas, Virginia, and there is no such sign, 195 miles northwest. Deep Impact is a 1998 sci-fi - drama Disaster film released by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks SKG in the State Route 234 is a primary State highway in the US state of Virginia. The Dark Angel: Psycho Kickboxer (1997), Hearts in Atlantis (2001), Judges (2005), The Killing Kind (2004), Moving (2002), Navy SEALs (1990), The Satan Killer (1993) and Too Young the Hero (1988; TV film). Hearts in Atlantis is a 2001 Film directed by Scott Hicks. It is loosely adapted from Stephen King 's novella "Low Men in Yellow Navy SEALs is a 1990 film directed by Lewis Teague. The writers were Chuck Pfarrer and Gary Goldman. Mission Impossible 3 (2006) was filmed at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which is connected to Virginia Beach. Mission Impossible III (abbreviated MiIII) is the third 2006 Action film based on the spy-themed television series Mission ^[75]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Virginia Beach

A Hampton Roads Transit bus travels northbound on Pacific Avenue in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach's development is tied to the establishment of a transportation infrastructure that allowed access to the Atlantic shoreline

Virginia Beach is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF), now the region's major commercial airport. Norfolk International Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the Central business district of Norfolk, a city An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits straddling neighboring Norfolk. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States ^[76] Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty five destinations. ORF had 3,703,664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities. ^[77] Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also provides commercial air service for the Hampton Roads area. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is an airport located 9 mi (14 km northwest of downtown Newport News Virginia, and serves the entire Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the region of land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the USA. ^[78] The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles (8 km) outside the city limits. Chesapeake Regional Airport is a double runway airport located near Chesapeake Virginia, serving the entire Hampton Roads area ^[79]

Virginia Beach is served by Amtrak through the Newport News station, via connecting buses. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Newport News is an Independent city in Virginia. It is at the south-western end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River The line runs west along the Virginia Peninsula to Richmond and points beyond. The Virginia Peninsula is a Peninsula in southeast Virginia, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. A high speed rail connection at Richmond to both the Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor are also under study. The Northeast Corridor ( NEC) is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States by ridership and service frequency Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor ( SEHSR) is a passenger rail transportation project in the United States to extend high speed passenger rail services from ^[80]

Greyhound provides service from a central bus terminal in adjacent Norfolk. Bus services to New York City via the Chinatown bus, Today's Bus, is located on Newtown Road. The City of New York ^[81]

The city is connected to I-64 via I-264, which runs from the oceanfront, intersects with I-64 on the east side of Norfolk, and continues through downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth until rejoining I-64 at the terminus of both roads in Chesapeake where Interstate 664 completes the loop which forms the Hampton Roads Beltway. Interstate 64 (abbreviated I-64) is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. Interstate 664 ( I-664) is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Virginia, forming part of the Hampton Roads Beltway. Travelers to and from Virginia Beach can access the Hampton Roads Beltway in either direction from I-264 in Norfolk to use a choice of the two bridge-tunnel facilities to cross Hampton Roads to reach the Peninsula, Williamsburg, Richmond and points north. Other major roads include Virginia Beach Boulevard (U.S. Route 58), Shore Drive (U.S. Route 60), which connects to Atlantic Avenue at the oceanfront, Northampton Blvd (U.S. Route 13), Princess Anne Road (State Route 165), Indian River Road (former State Route 603), Lynnhaven Parkway, Independence Boulevard, General Booth Boulevard, and Nimmo Parkway. US Route 58 is an east-west US Highway that runs for 508 miles (818 km from U US Route 60 in Virginia runs 312 miles west to east through the central part of the state generally close to and paralleling the Interstate 64 corridor US Route 13 in Virginia runs north-south through the Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore regions of the state using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel State Route 165 is a primary State highway in the South Hampton Roads area of the U Streets in the oceanfront hotel and entertainment district are arranged in a fairly regular, grid like pattern, with Atlantic Avenue parallel to the shoreline, then Pacific Avenue, and Arctic Avenue going further inland.

The city is also connected to Virginia's Eastern Shore region via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT), which is the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world and known as one of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World. The CBBT, a tolled facility carries U.S. Route 13. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards US Route 13 is a north-south US highway established in 1926 that runs for from the northeastern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ^[82]

Transportation within the city, as well as with other Seven Cities of Hampton Roads is served by a regional bus service, Hampton Roads Transit. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT formed in October 1999 by the merging of PENTRAN ( Peninsula Transportation District Commission) on the Virginia Peninsula and ^[83]

Utilities

Water and sewer services are provided by the City's Department of Utilities. Virginia Beach receives its electricity from Dominion Virginia Power which has local sources including the Chesapeake Energy Center (a gas power plant), coal-fired plants in Chesapeake and Southampton County, and the Surry Nuclear Power Plant. Dominion Virginia Power is a power company primarily located in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Southampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Norfolk headquartered Virginia Natural Gas, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, distributes natural gas to the City from storage plants in James City County and Chesapeake. AGL Resources Inc is a Fortune 1000, Forbes 2000 energy services holding company AGL Resources Inc is a Fortune 1000, Forbes 2000 energy services holding company Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, James City County (formally the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region of the

Virginia Beach receives its water from Lake Gaston. Lake Gaston is a manmade reservoir located in the US states of North Carolina and Virginia. The Virginia tidewater area has grown faster than the local freshwater supply. The river water has always been salty, and the fresh groundwater is no longer available in most areas. Currently, water for the tidewater area is pumped from Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia-North Carolina borderm along with the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers. The pipeline is 76 miles (122 km) long and 60 inches (1,500 mm) in diameter. Much of its follows the former right-of-way of an abandoned portion of the Virginian Railway. ^[84] It is capable of pumping 60 million gallons of water per day(60MGD), Norfolk and Chesapeake are partners in the project. ^[85]

The City provides wastewater services for residents and transports wastewater to the regional Hampton Roads Sanitation District treatment plants. ^[86]

Healthcare

Because of the prominence of the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and V. A. Hospital in Hampton, Virginia Beach has had a strong role in medicine. Virginia Beach is served by Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and Sentara Bayside Hospital. Sentara Leigh Hospital is just across the city line in Norfolk. ^[87]

Sister cities

Virginia Beach has three Sister Cities:^[88]

• Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK
• Miyazaki, Japan
• Moss, Norway

See also

• List of people from Virginia Beach
• Norwegian Lady Statues
• Wash Woods at False Cape, one of the lost towns of Virginia

References

External links

• Official Government Website
• Official Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Website www. vbfun. com
• Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance - serving Virginia Beach
• Virginia Beach Municipal Code
• Virginia Beach City Page Virginia is for Lovers
• Tower Cam at the Old Coast Guard Station Museum at Oceanfront. Seatack Virginia was located in Princess Anne County and is now part of the Oceanfront resort strip and adjacent area of the Independent city of Virginia Beach
• Pictures of Virginia Beach
• First Landing State Park