Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake, Virginia
Seal
Location in the State of Virginia
Country State County	United States Virginia Independent city
Founded	1963
Government
• Mayor	Dalton S. Edge
Elevation	10 m (40 ft)
Population  (2000)
• City	214,725
• Metro	1,381,583
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Website	www.cityofchesapeake.net

Chesapeake is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 199,184, but as of 2004, the population estimates given by the U.S. Census Bureau was 214,725.

The City

Chesapeake is one of the larger cities in Virginia and the nation in terms of land, a fact that poses challenges to city leaders in supporting a large infrastructure. It is currently the third largest city in Virginia in terms of population. The presence of many historically and geographically distinct communities also poses challenges to city leaders, who are also faced with conflicts between development of suburban areas and preservation of virgin forest, wetlands, and whose city includes a large portion of the Great Dismal Swamp.

History

The city was created in 1963, when the former independent city of South Norfolk was consolidated with Norfolk County and reincorporated (approval from the Virginia General Assembly) as the new City of Chesapeake. The new name was selected through a voter referendum. Although the city is relatively young, Norfolk County had been formed in 1691.

For more history of these predecessors, see articles on Norfolk County and South Norfolk

Chesapeake's history goes far back into Virginia's colonial roots. The Intracoastal Waterway passes through Chesapeake. On the waterway, at Great Bridge where the locks transition from the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River to the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal lies the site of the Battle of Great Bridge. This American Revolutionary War battle was responsible for removing Lord Dunmore and any other vestige of English Government for the Colony of Virginia during the early days of the American Revolution on December 9, 1775.

The Dismal Swamp Canal runs through Chesapeake as well. The site of this canal was surveyed by George Washington, among others, and is known as "Washington's Ditch." It is the oldest continuously used man made canal in the United States today and has been in service for over 230 years. The canal begins in the Deep Creek section of the city branching off from the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. The canal runs through Chesapeake paralleling U.S. Highway 17 into North Carolina and connects to Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Until the late 1980s and early 1990s, much of Chesapeake was either suburban or rural, serving as a bedroom community of the adjacent cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach with residents commuting to these locations. Beginning in the late 1980s and accelerating in the 1990s, however, Chesapeake saw significant growth, attracting numerous and significant industries and businesses of its own. This explosive growth quickly led to strains on the municipal infrastructure, ranging from intrusion of saltwater into the city's water supply to congested roads and schools.

Geography

Chesapeake is located at 36°46′2″N 76°17′14″W (36.767398, -76.287405)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 908.8 km² (350.9 mi²). 882.5 km² (340.7 mi²) of it is land and 26.4 km² (10.2 mi²) of it (2.90%) is water.

The northeastern part of the Great Dismal Swamp is located in Chesapeake.

Adjacent counties and cities

• Portsmouth, Virginia (north)
• Norfolk, Virginia (north)
• Virginia Beach, Virginia (east)
• Currituck County, North Carolina (south)
• Camden County, North Carolina (south)
• Suffolk, Virginia (west)

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 225.7/km² (584.6/mi²). There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 82.4/km² (213.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.87% White, 28.53% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 69,900 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.17.

The age distribution is: 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,743, and the median income for a family was $56,302. Males had a median income of $39,204 versus $26,391 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,949. About 6.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Along with the rest of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg and Poquoson, Virginia), Chesapeake is served by Norfolk International Airport.

Chesapeake in the News

Chesapeake made national headlines in 2003 when, under a court-ordered change of venue, the community hosted the first trial of convicted murderer Beltway sniper Lee Boyd Malvo for one of the 2002 terrorist-style attacks. A jury spared him a potential death penalty, choosing a sentence of "life in prison without parole" instead for the young man, who was 17 years old at the time of the crime spree. A jury in neighboring Virginia Beach sentenced his older partner John Allen Muhammad to death for another of the attacks.

See article Beltway Sniper Attacks

In the summer of 2005, after receiving complaints, the Chesapeake Public Library removed a painting by Karen Kinser, "Morning Dreamer," from the walls of its Central Branch. The painting displays a single bare female breast. The decision sparked controversy because some viewed it as an attack on intellectual liberty. Commentators were quick to note that the Virginia state flag also displays a female figure with a bare breast.

Communities

• Bowers Hill
• Buell
• Deep Creek
• Fentress
• Great Bridge
• Greenbrier
• Hickory
• Hodges Ferry
• South Norfolk (formerly incorporated town and independent city)
• Wallaceton
• Western Branch
• Crestwood (Washington Borough)
• Eva Gardens (Crestwood community, Washington Borough)

See also

• List of famous people from Hampton Roads
• Norfolk County, Virginia
• Origin of Chesapeake Name
• Chesapeake City Public Schools

External links

• City of Chesapeake
• Chesapeake Public Schools