Chesapeake, VA

Chartered in 1963, Chesapeake, Virginia, is one of seven cities comprising the Hampton Roads region of the state. Chesapeake is situated on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, of which the city's Dismal Swamp Canal, the oldest of its kind in America, is a major part.

The city's unique character stems from a mix of urban areas and federally protected wetlands, with miles of waterfront to facilitate commercial fisheries and shipping, as well as residential communities. Chesapeake contains commercial and suburban residential areas to the north and mostly undeveloped forests and wetlands along its southern border with North Carolina. Chesapeake covers more than 350 square miles, ranking it among the largest American cities in terms of land mass.

The city takes its name from the extinct tribe of Chesapeake Indians, who were possibly wiped out by the chief of the Powhatan tribe, also of Southeastern Virginia, when the Chesapeakes refused to join the Powhatan Confederacy.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Chesapeake consists of six political boroughs:

• Butts Road is home to many residents who commute to work in the nearby city of Portsmouth.
• Deep Creek was once a settlement near the Great Dismal Swamp bordering North Carolina. Today the community of suburban neighborhoods abuts protected wetlands and the natural beauty of pristine forests.
• Great Bridge is a mostly residential area, hosting city hall and other major municipal buildings.
• Pleasant Grove is a residential borough with a mix of single-family homes, apartments and condominiums.
• South Norfolk was formerly an incorporated part of the county of Norfolk.
• Western Branch, the northernmost borough of the city, consists of mostly residential neighborhoods and a smattering of strip malls along the low-lying coastal plain.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The median household income for Chesapeake residents is about $63,000 (2007 U.S. Census estimate). Service-provider jobs comprise two-thirds of employment in Chesapeake. These include trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality focused primarily on tourism.

Among major the employers in and around Chesapeake are:

• Naval Support Activity, Norfolk, Northwest Annex, a Navy fleet-support center
• Canon Information Technology Services, a tech support center for Canon products
• Elizabeth River Terminals gas pipeline company

BEST BETS

Many of the city's key attractions are aquatic or linked to nature in some way:

• Chesapeake Arboretum: This nearly 50-acre attraction was created in 1996 as a nonprofit arboretum. It contains a mature hardwood forest with trails and gardens. The arboretum is open daily with free admission.
• Dismal Swamp Canal: Opened more than 200 years ago, this is the oldest manmade canal in the country and extends along the Great Dismal Swamp, winding from Virginia into North Carolina. The canal is part of the waterway that flows from Virginia to the Florida Keys.

Chesapeake is a sportsperson's paradise, with ample opportunities for fishing as well as every imaginable water sport, from boating and parasailing to jet skiing and windsailing. Many families spend a pleasant morning crabbing or fishing from a pier, but check local licensing requirements before doing so.

The popular and scenic Northwest River Park campground is open April through November. Located on the banks of the Northwest River in southeastern Chesapeake, the more than 750-acre park is a four-time winner of "Best of Chesapeake." Year-round boating, fishing, hiking, and special programs are available. The park also features a putt-putt golf course, horseshoe pitching, volleyball nets, and seasonal boat rentals on the inland lake and the river.

Other tourist attractions in Chesapeake include historic waterfront plantations and parks, hiking trails, golf, and shopping for antiques.

EDUCATION

Chesapeake is within an easy commute of several universities and community colleges, including the following:

• Christopher Newport University
• Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Hampton University
• Norfolk State University
• Old Dominion University
• Regent University
• Paul D. Camp Community College
• Strayer University
• Thomas Nelson Community College
• Tidewater Community College

LOCAL MEDIA

AM Radio Stations

• WGAI 560 (News/Talk)
• WTAR 850 (Talk)
• WRJR 1010 (Religious)
• WCMS 1050 (Sports)
• WJOI 1230 (Nostalgia)
• WLQM 1250 (Gospel)
• WLRT 1490 (Oldies)
• WVAB 1550 (News)

FM Radio Stations

• WWIP 89.1 (Gospel)
• WHRV 89.5 (Public Radio)
• WRVS 89.9 (Urban Contemporary)
• WHRO 90.3 (Classical)
• WAZP 90.7 (Christian Contemporary)
• WFOG 92.9 (Oldies)
• WVKL 95.7 (Urban Contemporary)
• WROX 96.1 (Alternative)
• WGH 97.3 (Country)
• WNOR 98.7 (Rock)
• WYFI 99.7 (Religious)
• WXMM 100.5 (Rock)
• WWDE 101.3 (Adult Contemporary)
• WOWI 102.9 (Hip Hop)
• WNVZ 104.5 (Top 40)
• WAFX 106.9 (Classic Hits)

Television Stations

• WTKR CBS
• WAVY NBC
• WVEC ABC
• WGNT The CW
• WTVZ MyNetworkTV
• WVBT FOX
• WPXV ION Television
• WHR PBS

Newspapers

• The Virginian-Pilot
• Port Folio Weekly
• New Journal and Guide
• Hampton Roads Business Journal