South Norfolk, Virginia
Encyclopedia
South Norfolk was an independent city
in the South Hampton Roads
region of eastern Virginia
and is now a section of the City of Chesapeake
, one of the cities of Hampton Roads
which surround the harbor of Hampton Roads
and are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway
.
along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River
, South Norfolk became an incorporated town
in Norfolk County
in 1919. Within three years, it became an independent city.
As the much larger independent City of Norfolk expanded rapidly into the adjacent communities after World War II
, the voters of South Norfolk chose to consolidate with Norfolk County (by mutual agreement) and with approval from the Virginia General Assembly
, formed the new City of Chesapeake in 1963. The new name was also selected through a voter referendum.
In the early 1920s streetcars ran from Ocean View in Norfolk, to South Norfolk. There was a ferry that docked at the end of Indian River Road and crossed the southern branch of the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth.
They say the move siphoned tax dollars from their community and rerouted them to other parts of the fledgling city. Greenbrier and Great Bridge, which were just being developed, received much of the focus. But that is changing.
The Gateway at SoNo, the city’s first major redevelopment project generated by the City’s South Norfolk Revitalization Plan. When completed, The Gateway at SoNo, which will span 6 acres (24,281.2 m²), will feature 133 condominiums and loft apartments as well as 54000 square feet (5,016.8 m²) of retail and office space. Harris-Judah LLC, the builder/developer behind The Gateway at SoNo, has announced that affordable, single family homes are available in Chesapeake’s South Norfolk area. The homes, which are row-style, are located on B Street and a total of approximately 15 will be available.
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,...
in the South Hampton Roads
South 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....
region of eastern 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...
and is now a section of the City of Chesapeake
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
, one of the cities of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
which surround the harbor of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
and are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway
Hampton Roads Beltway
The Hampton Roads Beltway is a loop of Interstate 64 and Interstate 664, which links the communities of the Virginia Peninsula and South Hampton Roads which surround the body of water known as Hampton Roads and comprise much of the region of the same name in the southeastern portion of Virginia in...
.
History
Located a few miles south of the larger City of NorfolkNorfolk, 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....
along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River
Elizabeth River (Virginia)
The Elizabeth River is a tidal estuary forming an arm of Hampton Roads harbor at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the United States. It is located along the southern side of the mouth of the James River, between the cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk...
, South Norfolk became an incorporated town
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
in 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...
in 1919. Within three years, it became an independent city.
As the much larger independent City of Norfolk expanded rapidly into the adjacent communities after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the voters of South Norfolk chose to consolidate with Norfolk County (by mutual agreement) and with approval from the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
, formed the new City of Chesapeake in 1963. The new name was also selected through a voter referendum.
In the early 1920s streetcars ran from Ocean View in Norfolk, to South Norfolk. There was a ferry that docked at the end of Indian River Road and crossed the southern branch of the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth.
Revitalization
According to the Virginian-Pilot, many South Norfolk residents believe their community's growth was stunted 42 years ago when it merged with Norfolk County to create the City of Chesapeake.They say the move siphoned tax dollars from their community and rerouted them to other parts of the fledgling city. Greenbrier and Great Bridge, which were just being developed, received much of the focus. But that is changing.
The Gateway at SoNo, the city’s first major redevelopment project generated by the City’s South Norfolk Revitalization Plan. When completed, The Gateway at SoNo, which will span 6 acres (24,281.2 m²), will feature 133 condominiums and loft apartments as well as 54000 square feet (5,016.8 m²) of retail and office space. Harris-Judah LLC, the builder/developer behind The Gateway at SoNo, has announced that affordable, single family homes are available in Chesapeake’s South Norfolk area. The homes, which are row-style, are located on B Street and a total of approximately 15 will be available.
See also
- Norfolk County, VirginiaNorfolk 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...
- Chesapeake, VirginiaChesapeake, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
- Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia