The City of
Chesapeake is located in the region called Hampton Roads, the 27th largest metro area in
the country with over 1.5 million residents. Chesapeake is also located adjacent to the
world's largest natural harbor and the world's largest naval base.
Part of the Atlantic
Intracoastal Waterway, which stretches from Maine to Florida, passes through Chesapeake.
Chesapeake is the second largest city in land area in Virginia (353 square miles) and 13th
largest city in the U.S. Our estimated population as of January 1997 is 190,469.
The City of Chesapeake was
created with the merger of Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk in 1963. The
city's history dates back much further. Chesapeake is the site of the battle of Great
Bridge which took place on December 9, 1775, just a few hundred yards from where City Hall
stands today.
Chesapeake is also the
site of the Great Dismal Swamp and the South Norfolk Historic District. Chesapeake is one
of the fastest growing cities in Virginia, with a population increase of 20.8% since 1990.
The City of Chesapeake can
be reached by using one of several major transportation links in Hampton Roads including:
I-64, I-264, I-464 and I-664. U.S. Route 58 connects Chesapeake to the principal
north-south highways I-95 and I-85 just west of the city. U.S. Route 13 connects the city
to Virginia's Eastern Shore cutting 100 miles off highway trips to the New Jersey/New York
area.
