Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia is the state’s third-largest city in Virginia with a population of 220,560. The city is in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and is the most affluent of the seven cities that make up that region. Chesapeake can be found almost exactly at the midpoint of the American Atlantic coast and is an area where natural forests, wetlands, farms and swamps meet an urban environment. Since Money magazine ranked the city at position 85 in its 2008 “Best Places to Live” list, it is an excellent destination for anyone moving to Chesapeake.
Economy:
Chesapeake’s affluence is the result of the many industries present in the city, with many national and international companies having major offices and corporate headquarters in the area. The largest employers in Chesapeake include the Chesapeake General Hospital, QVC Chesapeake Inc., HSBC-North America, LTD Management Company LLC, Cox Communications, EDS, Reliance Staffing Services, Lifetouch National School Studios Inc., Anteon Corporation and Dollar Tree Stores. Some of these employers, like Dollar Tree Stores, also have their corporate headquarters in Chesapeake, as do companies such as Chesapeake Hardwood, Canon ITS, Plasser American and Vanderschoot USA. The presence of all of these companies has placed Chesapeake in the top 50 U.S. cities for economic growth since 2003. With such a positive economic job market, it's no wonder Chesapeake moving companies are so busy relocating new residents to the area.
History:
First settled by Europeans in 1620, Chesapeake has existed almost as long as any Virginia settlement. Known as Norfolk County since 1691, the town was the site the 1775 Battle of Great Bridge, of one of the earliest American victories in the Revolution. The Great Dismal Swamp Canal, a major route connecting inland waters to the ocean, was constructed in the 1790s and made Chesapeake into a commercial center for the region. With the coming of the Civil War, the town and canal gained military importance, with Confederate and later Union troops moving supplies along the canal throughout the period of fighting. The area remained economically important after the war as a transportation center for the surrounding farmlands. In 1963, the City of Chesapeake was created from the merger of the City of South Norfolk with Norfolk County. The town remained predominantly rural and suburban over the next decades, but rapid growth in the 1980s and 1990s transformed Chesapeake into the city it has since become.
Tourism:
Visitors to Chesapeake can take advantage of the entire region’s attractions. Cultural offerings like the Virginia Opera, Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Virginia Stage Company are based out of nearby Norfolk but offer performances throughout Hampton Roads. Major attractions such as Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and Busch Gardens are within a short drive of Chesapeake as well. The city itself serves as a center for those wishing to engage in outdoor activities like golfing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking and biking. Since the Chesapeake Regional Airport only offers private flights and maintenance, the best airport for the city is the Norfolk International Airport (six airlines offer 200 daily flights). You can get around Chesapeake and the surrounding area on buses from Hampton Roads Transit.
Colleges/Universities:
• Tidewater Community College-Chesapeake
• Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chesapeake
• Strayer University
• Sentara School-Health Professions
Interesting Facts:
• Chesapeake, with its extensive agricultural and natural areas, is the second-largest city in Virginia, based on land area.
• The city served as the venue for the trial of the “Beltway Sniper,” Lee Boyd Malvo in 2003. The young man, only 17 at the time of the attacks, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• Sports figures such as kick-boxer Bubba Blackhawk Walters, football player DeAngelo Hall, basketball star Alonzo Mourning, NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd and baseball player David Wright all hail from Chesapeake.
Helpful Links:
• City of Chesapeake
• Chesapeake Insurance
• Chesapeake Tourist Information
• Chesapeake Moving Guide