Ocean View (Norfolk)
Encyclopedia
Ocean View is a coastal region in the independent city
of Norfolk
, Virginia
in the United States
. It has several miles of shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay
to the north, starting with Willoughby Spit
to the west and the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
in the independent city of Virginia Beach
on the east.
was part of Elizabeth River Shire when it was formed in 1634. From this original shire
(or county), in 1636, New Norfolk County was formed, which was divided again into Upper and Lower Norfolk counties in 1637. Lower Norfolk County was split in 1691 to form Princess Anne County and Norfolk County
.
The Ocean View area was to remain part of Norfolk County for over 225 years, until it and the adjacent Willoughby Spit
area were annexed by the independent City of Norfolk
in 1923. (Virginia has had independent city
political subdivisions since 1871). A small portion of East Ocean View adjacent to the Little Creek Amphibious Base
was added in a land-swap with the city of Virginia Beach
in 1988.
and west of Little Creek.
The Ocean View area was surveyed and laid out with streets and lots as Ocean View City in 1854 by William Mahone
, a young civil engineer who was building the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
. Under the leadership of Walter H. Taylor
, about 30 years later, a narrow gauge steam passenger railroad service was established between Norfolk and Ocean View, a 9-mile long line crossing what was then known as Tanner's Creek (later renamed Lafayette River
). Originally named the Ocean View Railroad, it was later known as the Norfolk and Ocean View Railroad. A small steam locomotive named the General William B. Mahone hauled ever increasing volumes of passengers, primarily on the weekends. The steam service was later replaced by electric-powered trolley cars, becoming both a popular resort and a streetcar suburb
of the City of Norfolk. Initially, the improvements consisted of the swimming beach and cottages. The location was quite popular for Sunday outings from Norfolk.
With the advent of additional electric streetcars in the late 19th century, an amusement park
was developed at the end-of-the-line and a boardwalk was built along the adjacent beach
area. These were a favorite of sailors on leave from the Norfolk Navy Base
. Buses replaced the streetcars in the late 1940s. In the mid 20th century, for a number of years, AM radio station WGH broadcast live from a booth under the roller coaster
.
Completion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
in 1957 connected the Ocean View area to the Virginia Peninsula
. However, it and other newer highways encouraged visitors to continue on to the Virginia Beach
resort area on the Atlantic Ocean
, a small city which boomed after merging with Princess Anne County
in 1963. In particular, construction of nearby Interstate 64
and the Virginia Beach Expressway (now part of Interstate 264
) made it easier for tourists from afar to bypass Ocean View en route to the Oceanfront area of Virginia Beach.
was closed in the 1970s and was torn down for a 1979 made for TV movie called The Death of Ocean View Park, which starred Mike Connors
of "Mannix" fame and featured blowing up the landmark wooden roller coaster
. While there had been popular concern as to the structural integrity of the famous wooden structure, early attempts to destroy it with explosives met with failure. Finally, the landmark relented, and became part of history. Also, the movie Rollercoaster (with Timothy Bottoms
) features the "Rocket", Ocean View Amusement Park's famous roller coaster, in the opening sequences.
In the late 20th century, substantial portions of Ocean View were plagued with vice activity and related problems. In particular, the abundant number of sex offenders and gang members in the West and East Ocean View area.
In the early 21st century, as the entire coastal property market surged with new growth, redevelopment in the Ocean View community has resulted in new upscale residential properties replacing old beach cottages and small motels along the resort strip, and bay front property has regained and exceeded its past values.
Today, U.S. Highway 60 is the main roadway paralleling the bay along the resort strip on Ocean View Avenue. U.S. Highway 460 begins at its junction in front of the site of the former amusement park, where a city park is now located.
in late 2003. A new pier has been built, called the Ocean View Fishing Pier. Now owned by Ron Boone Sr., it continues to be an Ocean View landmark and attraction.
This fishing pier is 1,690 feet long and is generally known as the longest fishing pier in America.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has several miles of shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
to the north, starting with Willoughby Spit
Willoughby Spit
Willoughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. It is bordered by water on three sides: the Chesapeake Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and Willoughby Bay to the south.- History :...
to the west and the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
The Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The base comprises four locations in three states, including almost 12,000 acres of real estate. Its Little Creek location in Virginia Beach, Virginia totals...
in the independent city of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
on the east.
Shire to county to city
The entire area of South Hampton RoadsSouth Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
was part of Elizabeth River Shire when it was formed in 1634. From this original shire
Shire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
(or county), in 1636, New Norfolk County was formed, which was divided again into Upper and Lower Norfolk counties in 1637. Lower Norfolk County was split in 1691 to form Princess Anne County and Norfolk County
Norfolk County, Virginia
Norfolk County was a county of the South Hampton Roads in eastern Virginia in the United States that was created in 1691. After the American Civil War, for a period of about 100 years, portions of Norfolk County were lost and the territory of the county reduced as they became parts of the separate...
.
The Ocean View area was to remain part of Norfolk County for over 225 years, until it and the adjacent Willoughby Spit
Willoughby Spit
Willoughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. It is bordered by water on three sides: the Chesapeake Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and Willoughby Bay to the south.- History :...
area were annexed by the independent City of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
in 1923. (Virginia has had independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
political subdivisions since 1871). A small portion of East Ocean View adjacent to the Little Creek Amphibious Base
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
The Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The base comprises four locations in three states, including almost 12,000 acres of real estate. Its Little Creek location in Virginia Beach, Virginia totals...
was added in a land-swap with the city of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
in 1988.
Ocean View City: trolleys, famous amusement park
The area which became known as Ocean View City was originally a 360 acre (1.5 km²) tract called the Magagnos Plantation which had extensive frontage on the Chesapeake Bay east of Willoughby SpitWilloughby Spit
Willoughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. It is bordered by water on three sides: the Chesapeake Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and Willoughby Bay to the south.- History :...
and west of Little Creek.
The Ocean View area was surveyed and laid out with streets and lots as Ocean View City in 1854 by William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
, a young civil engineer who was building the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was built between Norfolk and Petersburg, Virginia and was completed by 1858.It played a role on the American Civil War , and became part of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad in 1870. The AM&O became the Norfolk and Western in 1881...
. Under the leadership of Walter H. Taylor
Walter H. Taylor
Walter Herron Taylor was an American banker, lawyer, soldier, politician, author, and railroad executive from Norfolk, Virginia. During the American Civil War, he was an officer in the Confederate States Army, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel as an aide to General Robert E. Lee...
, about 30 years later, a narrow gauge steam passenger railroad service was established between Norfolk and Ocean View, a 9-mile long line crossing what was then known as Tanner's Creek (later renamed Lafayette River
Lafayette River
The Lafayette River, earlier known as Tanner's Creek, is a tidal estuary which empties into the Elizabeth River just south of Sewell's Point near its mouth at Hampton Roads, which in turn empties into the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the United States...
). Originally named the Ocean View Railroad, it was later known as the Norfolk and Ocean View Railroad. A small steam locomotive named the General William B. Mahone hauled ever increasing volumes of passengers, primarily on the weekends. The steam service was later replaced by electric-powered trolley cars, becoming both a popular resort and a streetcar suburb
Streetcar suburb
A streetcar suburb is a residential community whose growth and development was strongly shaped by the use of streetcar lines as a primary means of transportation. Early suburbs were served by horsecars, but by the late 19th century cable cars and electric streetcars, or trams, were used, allowing...
of the City of Norfolk. Initially, the improvements consisted of the swimming beach and cottages. The location was quite popular for Sunday outings from Norfolk.
With the advent of additional electric streetcars in the late 19th century, an amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
was developed at the end-of-the-line and a boardwalk was built along the adjacent beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
area. These were a favorite of sailors on leave from the Norfolk Navy Base
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
. Buses replaced the streetcars in the late 1940s. In the mid 20th century, for a number of years, AM radio station WGH broadcast live from a booth under the roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
.
Completion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is the -long Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60. It is a four-lane facility comprising bridges, trestles, man-made islands, and tunnels under the main shipping channels for Hampton Roads harbor in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the...
in 1957 connected the Ocean View area to the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
. However, it and other newer highways encouraged visitors to continue on to the Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
resort area on the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, a small city which boomed after merging with Princess Anne County
Princess Anne County, Virginia
Princess Anne County is a former county which was created in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States in 1691. The county was merged into the city of Virginia Beach...
in 1963. In particular, construction of nearby Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
and the Virginia Beach Expressway (now part of Interstate 264
Interstate 264 (Virginia)
Interstate 264 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from a junction with Interstate 64 and Interstate 664 near Bowers Hill in Chesapeake east into Portsmouth and through the Downtown Tunnel under the South Branch of the Elizabeth River into Norfolk...
) made it easier for tourists from afar to bypass Ocean View en route to the Oceanfront area of Virginia Beach.
Decline, reemergence
After some years of decline after World War II, Ocean View Amusement ParkOcean View Amusement Park
Ocean View Amusement Park was located at the end of Granby Street at Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk, Virginia. The amusement park was featured in the 1977 movie Rollercoaster. The wooden coaster depicted in the movie was called "The Rocket". The last day the park was open to the public was during...
was closed in the 1970s and was torn down for a 1979 made for TV movie called The Death of Ocean View Park, which starred Mike Connors
Mike Connors
Mike Connors is an American actor best known for playing detective Joe Mannix in the CBS television series, Mannix. Before that, he had played a crime-fighting investigator, wielding a .38 handgun hidden in his back, in another CBS series, Tightrope.-Early life:Connors was born Krekor Ohanian in...
of "Mannix" fame and featured blowing up the landmark wooden roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
. While there had been popular concern as to the structural integrity of the famous wooden structure, early attempts to destroy it with explosives met with failure. Finally, the landmark relented, and became part of history. Also, the movie Rollercoaster (with Timothy Bottoms
Timothy Bottoms
-Early life:Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California, the eldest son of Betty and James "Bud" Bottoms, who is a sculptor and art teacher. He is the brother of actors Joseph Bottoms , Sam Bottoms and Ben Bottoms . In 1967, Bottoms toured Europe as part of the Santa Barbara Madrigal...
) features the "Rocket", Ocean View Amusement Park's famous roller coaster, in the opening sequences.
In the late 20th century, substantial portions of Ocean View were plagued with vice activity and related problems. In particular, the abundant number of sex offenders and gang members in the West and East Ocean View area.
In the early 21st century, as the entire coastal property market surged with new growth, redevelopment in the Ocean View community has resulted in new upscale residential properties replacing old beach cottages and small motels along the resort strip, and bay front property has regained and exceeded its past values.
Today, U.S. Highway 60 is the main roadway paralleling the bay along the resort strip on Ocean View Avenue. U.S. Highway 460 begins at its junction in front of the site of the former amusement park, where a city park is now located.
Ocean View Fishing Pier
Not only was the Amusement Park so well known to the area, so was Harrison's Fishing Pier. Owned by Bill Harrison and managed by Charlie Woodard. It was completely destroyed during Hurricane IsabelHurricane Isabel
Hurricane Isabel was the costliest and deadliest hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Isabel formed near the Cape Verde Islands from a tropical wave on September 6 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean...
in late 2003. A new pier has been built, called the Ocean View Fishing Pier. Now owned by Ron Boone Sr., it continues to be an Ocean View landmark and attraction.
This fishing pier is 1,690 feet long and is generally known as the longest fishing pier in America.
See also
- Sewell's PointSewell's PointSewells Point is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water port of Hampton Roads. Sewells Point is bordered by water on three sides, with Willoughby Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and the Lafayette...
- Willoughby SpitWilloughby SpitWilloughby Spit is a peninsula of land in the independent city of Norfolk, Virginia in the United States. It is bordered by water on three sides: the Chesapeake Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and Willoughby Bay to the south.- History :...
- City of NorfolkNorfolk, VirginiaNorfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
- Norfolk CountyNorfolk County, VirginiaNorfolk County was a county of the South Hampton Roads in eastern Virginia in the United States that was created in 1691. After the American Civil War, for a period of about 100 years, portions of Norfolk County were lost and the territory of the county reduced as they became parts of the separate...
- Ocean View Elementary School
- Northside Middle SchoolNorthside Middle School (Norfolk, Virginia)Northside Middle School is an American public school, located in the community of Ocean View in the city of Norfolk, Virginia. It teaches grades six through eight...
(located in Ocean View)