Jump to content

Hampton Roads: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→History: added name and link of the Civil War peace negotiation
Jcon9 (talk | contribs)
129 edits
←Replaced content with ''''Hampton Roads''' may refer to: ==Places== Hampton Roads (region) Hampton Roads (harbor)'
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Hampton Roads''' may refer to:
{{Coord|36|58|N|76|22|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox Metropolitan Area
| MSA_name = Hampton Roads
| name = Hampton Roads <br />&nbsp;Formerly known as Tidewater, Virginia<ref name="autogenerated1" /><br />&nbsp;
| map = Newport news norfolk portsmouth rotated.jpg|thumb|210px
| largest_city = [[Virginia Beach]]
| other_cities = &nbsp;- [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Poquoson, Virginia|Poquoson]]<br />&nbsp;- [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]]
| rank_us = 35<sup>th</sup>
| population = 1,795,015(2008 est.)
| density_mi2 = 2647
| density_km2 =
| area_mi2 =
| area_km2 = 1364.4
| states = &nbsp;- [[Virginia]]<br />&nbsp;- [[North Carolina]]
| highest_ft = N/A
| highest_m = N/A
| lowest_ft = 0
| lowest_m = 0


==Places==
}}
[[Hampton Roads (region)]]
'''Hampton Roads''' is the name for both a body of water and the [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]-[[Virginia Beach]] [[Virginia Beach – Norfolk – Newport News, VA–NC MSA|metropolitan area]] which surrounds it in southeastern [[Virginia]]. Hampton Roads is notable for its year-round ice-free harbor, for [[United States Navy]], [[U.S. Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], [[U.S. Air Force|Air Force]], [[NASA]], [[U.S. Marines|Marines]], and [[United States Army|Army]] facilities, shipyards, [[coal pier]]s, and hundreds of miles of waterfront property and beaches, all of which contribute to the diversity and stability of the region's economy.
[[Hampton Roads (harbor)]]

The water area known as Hampton Roads is one of the world's biggest natural [[harbor]]s (more accurately a [[roadstead]] or "roads"), and incorporates the mouths of the [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]] and [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] with several smaller rivers and itself empties into the [[Chesapeake Bay]] near its mouth leading to the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

The land area (formerly known as [[Tidewater region of Virginia|"Tidewater"]]<ref name="autogenerated1" />) includes dozens of cities, counties and towns on the [[Virginia Peninsula]] and in [[South Hampton Roads]]. [[File:DowntownNorfolk1.JPG|300px|left|thumb|The skyline of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], the region's urban center.]]Some of the more outlying areas from the harbor may or may not be included as part of "Hampton Roads", depending upon the organization or purpose. For a commonly used example, as defined for federal economic purposes, the Hampton Roads metropolitan statistical area ([[Metropolitan Statistical Area|MSA]]) additionally includes [[Currituck County, North Carolina|one county]] in northeastern [[North Carolina]] and two counties in Virginia’s [[Middle Peninsula]]. Officially, the [[Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA]] has a population of about 1.7 million, the 36th-largest metropolitan area in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} Many are predicting that the Hampton Roads Area, and especially the seven cities of [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]], [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]], [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]], [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], and [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]], will grow faster than expected. The predictions of some researchers estimate that the 2010 census will show a population well in excess of 2 million.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

The area is steeped in 400 years of American history, and hundreds of historical sites and attractions in the area draw visitors from around the world each year. The harbor was the key to the Hampton Roads area's growth, both on land and in water-related activities and events. Ironically, the harbor and its tributary waterways were (and still are) both important transportation conduits and obstacles to other land-based commerce and travel. Creating and maintaining adequate infrastructure has long been a major challenge. The [[Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel]] (HRBT) and the [[Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel]] (MMMBT) are major harbor crossings of the [[Hampton Roads Beltway]] which links each of the largest population centers of Hampton Roads. In 2007, the new [[Hampton Roads Transportation Authority]] (HRTA) was formed under a controversial state law to levy various additional taxes to generate funding for major regional transportation projects, including a long-sought and costly third crossing of the harbor of Hampton Roads.

==Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA==
[[File:1024px-Map of Virginia and North Carolina highlighting Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA.png|thumb|right|250px|Counties of the metropolitan area]]The U.S. Census Bureau defines the '''Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA''' as the 16 cities and counties of Virginia and North Carolina listed below. While the borders of what locals call "Hampton Roads" may not perfectly align with the definition of the MSA, Hampton Roads is most often the name used for the metropolitan area.

'''Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA''' is a U.S. [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA). As of 2007 its population is estimated to be 1,658,754.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://recenter.tamu.edu/data/popm00/pcbsa47260.html
|title=Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA Population and Components of Change
|publisher=Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University
|year=2008
|accessdate=2008-10-07
}}</ref>

''Note: Since a state constitutional change in 1871, all cities in [[Virginia]] are [[independent city|independent cities]] and they are not legally located in any county. The OMB considers these independent cities to be [[county-equivalent]]s for the purpose of defining MSAs in Virginia. Each MSA is listed by its counties, then cities, each in alphabetical order, and not by size.''

'''Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA''' or more commonly known as the Hampton Roads Metropolitan area includes areas in Virginia and the State of [[North Carolina]].

The MSA consists of these locations in Virginia<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/lists/2007/List4.txt | title = Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Components| format = [[Text file|TXT]] | work = Metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions defined by the Office of Management and Budget, November 2007 | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division | date = 2008-06-24 | accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref>:
*[[Gloucester County, Virginia|Gloucester County]]
*[[Isle of Wight County, Virginia|Isle of Wight County]]
*[[James City County, Virginia|James City County]]
*[[Mathews County, Virginia|Mathews County]]
*[[Surry County, Virginia|Surry County]]
*[[York County, Virginia|York County]]
*[[Chesapeake, Virginia|City of Chesapeake]]
*[[Hampton, Virginia|City of Hampton]]
*[[Newport News, Virginia|City of Newport News]]
*[[Norfolk, Virginia|City of Norfolk]]
*[[Poquoson, Virginia|City of Poquoson]]
*[[Portsmouth, Virginia|City of Portsmouth]]
*[[Suffolk, Virginia|City of Suffolk]]
*[[Virginia Beach|City of Virginia Beach]]
*[[Williamsburg, Virginia|City of Williamsburg]]

The MSA also includes the following location in North Carolina:
*[[Currituck County, North Carolina|Currituck County]]

==Name==
The term "Hampton Roads" is a centuries-old designation that originated when the region was a struggling English outpost nearly four hundred years ago. The name is believed to have originated from the combination of two separate words.

The word "Hampton" honors one of the founders of the [[Virginia Company of London]] and a great supporter of the colonization of Virginia, [[Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton]]. In the easternmost part of the new colony, downstream from Jamestown, the early administrative center was known as [[Elizabeth City (Virginia Company)|Elizabeth Cittie]] [sic], named for [[Elizabeth of Bohemia|Princess Elizabeth]], the daughter of King James I, and formally designated by the Virginia Company in 1619. (The [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]] was also named for the princess).

The town at the center of Elizabeth Cittie became known as simply "Hampton", and a nearby waterway was designated Hampton Creek (also known as Hampton River). The town (and later city) of Hampton was the [[county seat]] of [[Elizabeth City County, Virginia|Elizabeth City County]] for over 300 years, until they were politically consolidated into the current large [[independent city]] known as [[Hampton, Virginia]], in 1952. The City of Hampton thus became one of the large cities of Hampton Roads, of which four others also grew to the larger sizes by consolidating with neighboring jurisdictions such as counties and towns in the mid-twentieth century.

A land area to the north across the bay in what is now called "the [[Eastern Shore of Virginia|Eastern Shore]]" became known as [[Northampton County, Virginia|Northampton]]. Another area south of the James River became [[Southampton County, Virginia|Southampton]]. As with Hampton, both of these names also remain in use in modern times.

The term "Roads" as applied to a water channel<ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/roads Dictionary. com</ref> is used elsewhere. Examples include [[Castle Roads, Bermuda|Castle Roads]], in another of the [[London Company|Virginia Company's]] settlements, [[Bermuda]], and [[Lahaina Roads]], in [[Hawaii]]. Signifying the safety of a port, the word "roads" (also called [[roadstead]]) in nautical terminology of the day meant "a place less sheltered than a harbor where ships may ride at anchor."

The combination of the words as "Hampton Roads" was recorded as the channel linking the James, Elizabeth, and Nansemond rivers with the Chesapeake Bay in an act of the [[Virginia General Assembly]] in 1755.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://hamptonroads.com/2008/06/whats-name-hampton-roads What's in a name? Hampton Roads | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Perhaps by definition, the label "harbor" is technically incorrect. However, Hampton Roads has become well-known as the "world's greatest harbor." This is partially because it is the northernmost major East Coast port of the United States which is normally ice-free year round. The latter status is claimed with the notable exception of extraordinarily cold winter of 1917, which was [[List of extreme weather events|the entire U.S.'s coldest year on record]].

Although the designation initially applied to the water area, the region has also come to be known as "Hampton Roads", a label more specific than the term "Tidewater Virginia", which could by implication, include other areas of tidal lands in eastern Virginia. The [[U.S. Postal Service]] changed its postmark from "Tidewater Virginia" to "Hampton Roads, Virginia" beginning in 1983.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

==History==
{{Summarize|from|History of Hampton Roads|date=May 2010}}
{{Main|History of Hampton Roads}}
[[Image:Hampton Roads 1859.jpg|250px|right|thumb|The harbor area of Hampton Roads, from official state map of pre-civil war Virginia circa 1858. ''image from the Library of Virginia'']]

The first colonists arrived in 1607 when English [[Christopher Newport|Captain Christopher Newport's]] three ships, his [[flagship]] ''[[Susan Constant]]'', the smaller ''[[Godspeed (ship)|Godspeed]]'', and even smaller [[Discovery (1602 ship)|''Discovery'']] landed in April 1607 at [[Cape Henry]] along the Atlantic Coast in today's City of Virginia Beach, an event now known as the "First Landing." However, they moved on, under orders from the [[Virginia Company of London]], the crews and new colonists sought a more sheltered area up one of the rivers. Their major concern was other European competitors such as the [[Spain|Spanish]], who had earlier discovered the [[Chesapeake Bay]] and Virginia's rivers, and had even in 1570 begun a small settlement on the [[Virginia Peninsula]] known as the [[Ajacan Mission]], which had failed.

During 18 days of exploring the area, they surely saw the enormous harbor of Hampton Roads, and some of the party must have appreciated its possibilities. However, after exploring the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] west at least as far as present-day [[Hopewell, Virginia|Hopewell]], they agreed upon [[Jamestown Island]], where they established the first successful English colony in the [[New World]] on 14 May 1607.<ref name="apva.org">http://www.apva.org/history/index.html Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities: ''Jamestown History''</ref>

Despite the defensive advantages of that location against Spanish attacks, the low and marshy site at Jamestown proved a very poor choice in many other ways. More than five years of fragile existence and high mortality rates followed including the [[Starving Time (Jamestown)|Starving Time]] of 1609-10 when over 80% of the 500 colonists perished before the future of the [[Virginia Colony]] began to appear more promising. The change came about with the just-in-time arrival of a new Governor, [[Lord De La Warr]], and a new colonist with a successful business idea named [[John Rolfe]], who established the Virginia tobacco industry.<ref name="apva.org"/>

For centuries, the harbor and rivers of Hampton Roads have been ideal locations for both commerce and for many major shipyards. Some were established as early as the late 18th century such as the [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard|Gosport Navy Yard]] in what is now the [[Portsmouth, Virginia|City of Portsmouth]].

The harbor was also a key point for military control of the region. Even the earliest settlers created fortifications at [[Old Point Comfort]] by 1610 against potential attacks by ships of Spanish or other unfriendly European forces.

Important conflicts of the [[American Revolutionary War]] involved Norfolk and [[Craney Island]] (at the mouth of the [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]] in Portsmouth). It was at Norfolk where the last Royal Governor of the Virginia Colony, [[John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore|Lord Dunmore]], departed mainland Virginia for the last time.

The first naval action of the [[War of 1812]] took place on 8 July 1812, when the [[Bermuda sloop]], HMS Whiting, its crew oblivious to the US declaration of war, lowered anchor in Hampton Roads. As its captain was being rowed ashore, the [[Royal Navy|Royal Naval]] vessel was seized by the American privateer ''Dash'', which happened to be leaving port.

Under the new United States government, by the 1830s, the entrance from [[Chesapeake Bay]] was defended by [[Fort Monroe]], built by the U.S. Army beginning in 1819 on [[Old Point Comfort]], and by [[Fort Wool]], built as Fort Calhoun in 1829, on a small island called the [[Rip Raps]] near the middle of the channel (and now adjacent to one of the manmade islands of the [[Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel]]). Much work in the building of these fortresses in the early 19th century was done by a 24-year old engineer in the U.S. Army, a Lieutenant named [[Robert E. Lee]]
[[Image:Battle of Hampton Roads 3g01752u.jpg|thumb|200px|Battle of Hampton Roads]]
During the [[American Civil War]] (1861–1865), the famous [[Battle of Hampton Roads]] between the first American [[ironclad warship]]s, the [[USS Monitor|USS ''Monitor'']] and the [[CSS Virginia|CSS ''Virginia'' (ex-''USS Merrimack'')]] took place off [[Sewell's Point]], on March 8–9, 1862. That battle was inconclusive, but later in 1862, Union forces took control of Hampton Roads, Norfolk, and the lower James River. However, their efforts to take the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] capital of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] via the James River with their vastly superior Navy were thwarted by a strong Confederate battery position high above a bend in the river about {{convert|8|mi|km|0}} below Richmond at [[Drewry's Bluff]].

Fort Monroe was the launching place for Union General [[George B. McClellan|George McClellan]]'s massive 1862 [[Peninsula Campaign]], a land campaign of many months which began at Fort Monroe and advanced up the [[Virginia Peninsula]], with a Siege at Yorktown and another battle at Williamsburg before the Union Army almost literally reached the gates of Richmond, ending at the [[Chickahominy River]] within earshot of the city's church bells, according to the journals of Union soldiers. However, the Confederates mounted a credible defense of their capital city, and McClellan's campaign failed to capture Richmond, ending in the [[Seven Days Battles]], during which the Union Army withdrew, effectively extending the War for almost three more years.

During the [[American Civil War]] (1861~1865), after the efforts of [[Francis Preston Blair|Francis P. Blair]] (Sr.), the Confederate president [[Jefferson Davis]] sent three Peace Commissioners in an effort to negotiate for peace (the "[[Hampton Roads Conference]]"). This unsuccessful attempt at peace lasted for four hours, and at the end of the Conference, the commissioners returned to [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}

Beginning in 1861, some of the former [[slavery|slaves]] found refuge in a [[Grand Contraband Camp|camp]] near [[Fort Monroe]], which remained in Union hands throughout the War. There, the commander, Union Army General [[Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)|Benjamin F. Butler]], a [[lawyer]] by training, declared them to be [[contraband (American Civil War)|"Contraband of war"]]. On that legal basis, Union forces refused to return them to Confederate owners as would have been the practice even in many "free states" before Virginia seceded and declared itself a foreign power. Soon, word spread, and many slaves were understandably anxious to become "contraband."

Although many of the "contraband" men at Hampton and elsewhere during the War volunteered and became part of the [[United States Colored Troops]] (USCT), others and the women and children grew in increasing numbers near Fort Monroe in [[Elizabeth City County, Virginia|Elizabeth City County]]. From the wood and materials salvaged from the remains of the Town of Hampton, which had been burned earlier by retreating Confederates, they built the [[Grand Contraband Camp]], near, but outside the protective walls of the Army base. It was the first self-contained [[African American]] community in the United States.

Close by, was (and still is) the [[Emancipation Oak]], on the grounds of the school for them which grew to become [[Hampton University]]. Beginning as a [[normal school]] founded to train teachers, Hampton University was established by church groups and former [[Union (American Civil War)|Union Army]] officers. Early educators of the era included [[Mary S. Peake|Mary Smith Peake]] and former Union Army General [[Samuel Chapman Armstrong]], who was himself the son of missionaries, and had commanded a USCT force during the War. Among the earlier students was a young former slave named [[Booker T. Washington]], who became a famed [[African-American]] educator and was the first head of present-day [[Tuskegee University]]. The Emancipation Oak is part of the official logo of the modern city of Hampton.

The [[Jamestown Exposition]] for the 300th anniversary of the 1607 founding of [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]] was held at [[Sewell's Point]] in a rural section of [[Norfolk County, Virginia|Norfolk County]] in 1907.

President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] arrived by water in the harbor of Hampton Roads, as did other notable persons such as [[Mark Twain]] and [[Henry H. Rogers|Henry Huttleston Rogers]], who both arrived aboard the latter's steam yacht [[Kanawha (1899)|''Kanawha'']]. A major naval display was featured, and the U.S. [[Great White Fleet]] made an appearance. The leaders of the U.S. Navy apparently did not fail to note the ideal harbor conditions, as was later proved.

Beginning in 1917, as the United States became involved in [[World War I]] under President [[Woodrow Wilson]], formerly rural [[Sewell's Point]] became the site of what grew to become the largest Naval Base in the world which was established by the [[United States Navy]] and is now known as the [[Naval Station Norfolk]].

Twice in the 20th century, families of mostly [[African American]] heritage were displaced in entire communities when land along the northern side of the [[Virginia Peninsula|Peninsula]] primarily in [[York County, Virginia|York County]] west of Yorktown was taken in large tracts for military use during [[World War I]] and [[World War II]], creating the present-day U.S. [[Naval Weapons Station Yorktown]], which includes Cheatham Annex, and a former [[Seabee]] base which became [[Camp Peary]].

Communities including [[Lackey, Virginia|"the Reservation"]], [[Halstead's Point, Virginia|Halstead's Point]], [[Penniman, Virginia|Penniman]], [[Bigler's Mill, Virginia|Bigler's Mill]], and [[Magruder, Virginia|Magruder]] were all [[Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia|lost]] and absorbed into the large military bases.

Although some left the area entirely, many of the displaced families chose to relocate nearby to [[Grove, Virginia|Grove]], an unincorporated town in southeastern [[James City County, Virginia|James City County]] where many generations of some of those families now reside. From a population estimated at only 37 in 1895, Grove had grown to an estimated 1,100 families by the end of the 20th century. (To its north, Grove actually borders the Naval Weapons Station property and on its extreme east, a portion of the U.S. Army's land at [[Fort Eustis]] extends across Skiffe's Creek, although there is no direct access to either base).

===Colonial Williamsburg===
{{Main|Colonial Williamsburg}}

A dream of one Episcopalian priest to save his 18th century church building was to expand to create the world's largest [[living museum]]. Replacing Jamestown at the end of the 17th century, [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] had been capital of the Colony and the new State of Virginia from 1699-1780. After the capital moved to Richmond in 1780, Williamsburg became a quieter and sometimes described as "sleepy" small town. It saw some action during the [[Battle of Williamsburg]] of the 1862 Peninsula Campaign during the Civil War. However, it was not located along any major waterway and did not have railroad access until 1881. Perhaps due to the secure inland location originally known as [[Middle Plantation]], for Williamsburg, growth and great expansion of commerce in the 19th century did not occur as rapidly as in many other Virginia cities. The main activities were the [[College of William and Mary]] and [[Eastern State Hospital]], each historic institutions in their own right. In addition to the city's historic past, quite a few buildings of antiquity from the 18th century were still extant, although time was taking a toll by the early 20th century.

The Reverend Dr. [[W.A.R. Goodwin]] of [[Bruton Parish Church]] initially had wanted merely to save his historic church building. This he accomplished by 1907. He later served in [[Rochester, New York]] for many years. Upon returning to Williamsburg in 1923, he began to realize that many of the other colonial-era buildings also remained, but were in deteriorating condition, and their continued longevity was at risk.

Goodwin dreamed of a much larger restoration along the lines of what he had accomplished with his historic church. A cleric of modest means, he sought support and financing from a number of sources before successfully drawing the interests and major financial support of [[Standard Oil]] heir and [[philanthropist]] [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]] and his wife [[Abby Aldrich Rockefeller]]. The result of their combined efforts was the creation of [[Colonial Williamsburg]], which included a restoration of the [[Wren Building]] at the [[College of William and Mary]] and a change of much of the downtown Williamsburg area into a {{convert|301|acre|km2|1|sing=on}} Historic Area of restored and replica buildings and surrounds to celebrate the patriots and the early history of America.

By the 1930s, Colonial Williamsburg had become the centerpiece of the [[Historic Triangle|Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia]]. These were, of course, Jamestown, where the colony started, Williamsburg, and [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]], where independence from [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] was won. The three points were joined by the U.S. [[National Park Service]]'s [[Colonial Parkway]], a remarkable accomplishment built over a period of 27 years. The Historic Triangle area of the Hampton Roads region became one of the largest tourist attractions in the entire world.

In Dr. Goodwin's words: "Williamsburg is Jamestown continued, and Yorktown is Williamsburg vindicated."

{{See also|Historic Triangle}}

===Other notable Hampton Roads "firsts"===
America's first free public schools, the Syms and Eaton free schools (later combined as [[Syms-Eaton Academy]]), were established in Hampton in 1634 and 1659 respectively. The Syms-Eaton Academy was later renamed Hampton Academy and in 1852 became part of the public school system, thus [[Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)|Hampton High School]] lays claim to being the oldest public school in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hampton Academy | year=2009 |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/253776/Hampton-Academy}}</ref> The trust fund created from the Syms and Eaton donations has remained intact since the 17th century and was incorporated into support for the Hampton public school system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Syms-Eaton Academy | year=2006 |url=http://historichamptonroads.com/syms_eaton_01.htm }}</ref>

In 1957, the [[Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel]] was the first [[bridge-tunnel]] complex in the world, to be followed by the area's much longer [[Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel]] in 1963.

In the 1960s, the first [[astronaut]]s of [[Project Mercury]] trained at the [[NASA]] facility adjacent to Hampton's [[Langley Air Force Base]]. Local features including [[Mercury Boulevard]] commemorate this fact.

==Government==
The area consists of ten independent cities and seven counties. Each city is independent and has the powers and responsibilities of a county, including maintaining courts, schools, and a sheriff. Some cities do share these responsibilities with an adjoining county. These localities do come together to consult on regional issues.

The military has a large presence in the region. Area military facilities (alphabetically) include [[Camp Peary]] in York County, [[Fleet Training Center Dam Neck]] in Virginia Beach, [[Fort Eustis]] in Newport News, [[Langley Air Force Base]] in Hampton, [[Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek]] in Virginia Beach, [[Fort Monroe]] in Hampton (scheduled to be closed by 2011), [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]] in Portsmouth (not to be confused with [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]], in [[Kittery]], [[Maine]]), [[Naval Station Norfolk]], [[Naval Air Station Oceana]] in Virginia Beach, the [[Coast Guard Integrated Support Command]] Portsmouth.<ref>http://www.uscg.mil/mlclant/iscportsmouth/ Coast Guard Integrated Support Command Portsmouth</ref>[[Saint Julian Creek Naval Depot Annex]] in Chesapeake, [[Fort Story]] in Virginia Beach, and [[Naval Weapons Station Yorktown]] in York County.

The federal government also has two major research laboratories there. NASA/Langley is the home of a variety of aircraft-related research, including several one-of-a-kind wind tunnels. It is on the northeast edge of Hampton, near Poquoson. Also, the Department of Energy's [[Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility]] (known as 'Jefferson Lab')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jlab.org/|title=Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility}}</ref> conducts cutting edge physics research in [[Newport News]]; the lab hosts the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jlab.org/12GeV/|title=12 GeV Upgrade Technical Scope}}</ref> and a kilowatt-class Free-Electron Laser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jlab.org/FEL/|title=The FEL Program at Jefferson Lab}}</ref>

Virginia defines regional planning districts by law. Generally, members are independent cities and counties; [[incorporated town]]s are located within counties in Virginia. Localities around the state are allowed to belong to more than one Planning District, as their constituents may have interests which crossover individual planning district boundaries.

The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) currently includes 16 cities and counties, all in Virginia, and represents over 1.6 million people.

The 16 jurisdictions include: the Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the Counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry, and York. It is noteworthy that there are incorporated towns located in three of the counties within the district (Isle of Wight, Southampton and Surry).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.hrpdc.org/Membership.asp
|title=Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Membership
}}</ref> The differences between the service area of the HRPDC and the federally defined metropolitan area are:
* Southampton County and the City of Franklin are not in the federally defined metropolitan area.
* Mathews County is in the metropolitan area but not part of the HRPDC. The metropolitan area also includes Currituck County, North Carolina.

==Geography==
[[File:Elizabeth River at NNSY.jpg|thumb|right|250px|View of the Elizabeth River with Downtown Norfolk at top right]]The '''water area''' known as '''Hampton Roads''' is a wide channel through which the waters of the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]], [[Nansemond River]], and [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]] pass (between [[Old Point Comfort]] to the north and [[Sewell's Point]] to the south) into the [[Chesapeake Bay]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

The region has extensive natural areas, including {{convert|26|mi|km|0}} of Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay beaches, the [[Great Dismal Swamp]], picturesque rivers, state parks, wildlife refuges, and botanical gardens. Inland from the bay, the region includes [[Lake Drummond]], one of only two natural [[lake]]s found in Virginia, and miles of waterfront property along the various rivers and waterways. The region's native flora is consistent with that of the Southeast Coastal Plain and the lower Southeast Maritime Forest.

The '''land area''' which constitutes "Hampton Roads" varies depending upon perspective and purpose. Most of the land area of Hampton Roads is geographically divided into 2 smaller regions: the eastern portion of the [[Virginia Peninsula]] (the Peninsula) and [[South Hampton Roads]] (locally known as "the Southside"), which are separated by the harbor. When speaking of communities of Hampton Roads, virtually all sources (including the three discussed in the following paragraphs) include the seven major cities, two smaller ones, and three counties within those two subregions.

In addition, the [[Middle Peninsula]] counties of Gloucester and Mathews, while not part of the geographical Hampton Roads area, are included in the vast metropolitan region's population. Also, a small portion of northeastern North Carolina ([[Currituck County, North Carolina|Currituck County]]) is included in the region's statistics. Due to a peculiarity in the drawing of the Virginia-North Carolina border, [[Knott's Island, North Carolina|Knott's Island]] in that county is connected to Virginia by land, but is only accessible to other parts of North Carolina across waterways via a [[ferry]] system.

Each of the following current cities, counties and towns is included by at least one of the three organizations that define "Hampton Roads"

[[Image:Welcome To HamptonVA.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hampton is a Hampton Roads community.]]
The Hampton Roads area consists of nine independent cities (which are not part of any county). [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]], [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]], and [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]] cover the Southside of Hampton Roads while [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]], [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], [[Poquoson, Virginia|Poquoson]], and [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] reside on the Peninsula. [[Franklin, Virginia|Franklin]] borders Suffolk but the Census Bureau does not consider it as a part of the metro area.<ref name="whitehouse.gov">[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf]</ref>

The metro area has one county in North Carolina, [[Currituck County, North Carolina|Currituck]]. The remaining counties, in Virginia, include [[Isle of Wight County, Virginia|Isle of Wight]] and [[Surry County, Virginia|Surry]] on the Southside, [[James City County, Virginia|James City]] and [[York County, Virginia|York]] on the Virginia Peninsula, and [[Gloucester County, Virginia|Gloucester]] and [[Mathews County, Virginia|Mathews]] on the Middle Peninsula. While [[Southampton County, Virginia|Southampton]] is adjacent to Surry, Isle of Wight, and the City of Suffolk, the Census Bureau does not consider it part of the metro area.<ref name="whitehouse.gov"/>

Five [[incorporated town]]s reside in the metro area including [[Claremont, Virginia|Claremont]] in Surry County, [[Dendron, Virginia|Dendron]] in Surry County, [[Smithfield, Virginia|Smithfield]] in Isle of Wight County, [[Surry, Virginia|Surry]], Surry County's seat, and [[Windsor, Virginia|Windsor]] in Isle of Wight County. (Two other incorporated towns, [[Boykins, Virginia|Boykins]] and [[Courtland, Virginia|Courtland]] are located in Southampton County, and therefore, like the county within which they are located, are not part of the federally-defined metropolitan area).<ref name="whitehouse.gov"/>

Other unincorporated towns and communities in the metropolitan area which are not within its cities include [[Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia|Gloucester Courthouse]] and [[Gloucester Point, Virginia|Gloucester Point]] in Gloucester County, [[Isle of Wight Courthouse, Virginia|Isle of Wight Courthouse]], [[Rushmere, Virginia|Rushmere]], [[Rescue, Virginia|Rescue]], [[Carrollton, Virginia|Carrollton]], [[Benns Church, Virginia|Benns Church]], and [[Walters, Virginia|Walters]] in Isle of Wight County, [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]], [[Grafton, Virginia|Grafton]], [[Seaford, Virginia|Seaford]], and [[Tabb, Virginia|Tabb]] in York County, [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]], [[Ford's Colony, Virginia|Ford's Colony]], [[Grove, Virginia|Grove]], [[Lightfoot, Virginia|Lightfoot]], [[Toano, Virginia|Toano]], and [[Norge, Virginia|Norge]] in James City County, [[Moyock, North Carolina|Moyock]], [[Knotts Island, North Carolina|Knotts Island]], and [[Currituck, North Carolina|Currituck]] in Currituck County, North Carolina.<ref name="whitehouse.gov"/>

The Hampton Roads MSA has a population of about 1.7 million and is tied with [[Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC MSA]] as the fifth largest metropolitan area in the southeastern USA after [[South Florida metropolitan area|Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL MSA]], [[Metro Atlanta|Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA]], the [[Tampa Bay Area|Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA]], and [[Orlando-Kissimmee, FL MSA]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}<!-- either 5th or 7th, depending on association of Washington and Baltimore -->

==Transportation==
{{Main|Transportation in Hampton Roads}}
[[Image:PortsmouthNorfolkFerry1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ferry Between Norfolk and Portsmouth]]
Historically, from the earliest times, the harbor was the key to the Hampton Roads area's growth, both on land and in water-related activities and events. Ironically, the harbor and its tributary waterways were (and still are) both important transportation conduits and obstacles to other land-based commerce and travel. Yet, the community leaders learned to overcome them.

In modern times, the region has faced increasing transportation challenges as it has become largely urbanized, with additional traffic needs. In the 21st century, the conflicts between traffic on vital waterways and land-based travel continue to present the area's leaders with extraordinary transportation challenges, both for additional capacity, and as the existing infrastructure, much of it originally built with [[toll road|toll revenues]], has aged without an adequate source of funding to repair or build replacements. The now-closed [[Kings Highway Bridge]] in [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]] and the [[Jordan Bridge]] closed by neighboring [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] in 2008 were each built in the 1920s. These were considered locally prime examples of this situation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Demolition set for Kings Highway Bridge; no replacement in sight|first=Aaron|last=Applegate|work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|date=2007-03-23|url=http://hamptonroads.com/node/240691}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2008-10-16|first=Mike |last=Saewitz|work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|title=Jordan Bridge closure likely to cause longer backups|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/jordan-bridge-closure-likely-cause-longer-backups}}</ref>

In 2007, the new [[Hampton Roads Transportation Authority]] (HRTA) was formed under a controversial state law to levy various additional taxes to generate funding for major regional transportation projects, including a long-sought and costly additional crossing of the harbor of Hampton Roads (The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel, and the James River Bridge are the existing crossings). As of March 2008, although its projects were considered to be needed, the agency's future was in some question while its controversial sources of funding were being reconsidered in light of a Virginia Supreme Court decision.<ref>O'Dell, Larry. "Supreme Court ruling voids Hampton Roads Transportation Authority", Associated Press, http://www.dailypress.com/dp-gasupremecourt0229,0,6977613.story Retrieved 2008-03-13.</ref>
[[Image:TugboatNorfolkVA.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A tugboat in Norfolk]]
[[Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport]], located in Newport News, and [[Norfolk International Airport]], in Norfolk, both cater to passengers from Hampton Roads. The primary airport for the Virginia Peninsula is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. The Airport is experiencing a 4th year of record, double-digit growth, making it one of the fastest growing airports in the country. In January 2006, the airport reported having served 1,058,839 passengers.<ref name="Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport">{{cite web
| url = http://www.nnwairport.com/
| title = Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
| accessdate = 2008-02-25
| publisher = Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
}}</ref>
[[Norfolk International Airport]] {{Airport codes|ORF|KORF|ORF}}, serves the region. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] and [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]].<ref name="ORF History">{{cite web
| url = http://www.norfolkairport.com/airportinfo/missionhistory.htm
| title = Norfolk International Airport Mission and History
| accessdate = 2007-10-02
| publisher = Norfolk International Airport
}}</ref> Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty five destinations. ORF had 3,703,664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities.<ref name="ORF Statistics">{{cite web
| url = http://www.norfolkairport.com/airportinfo/orfstats.pdf
|format=PDF| title = Norfolk International Airport Statistics
| accessdate = 2007-10-02
| publisher = Norfolk International Airport
}}</ref> The [[Chesapeake Regional Airport]] provides general aviation services and is located on the other side of the Hampton Roads Harbor.<ref name="Chesapeake Regional Airport">{{cite web|url=http://www.chesapeakeairport.com/|title=Chesapeake Regional Airport|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref>

[[Amtrak]] serves the region with three trains a day to its Williamsburg and Newport News stations. The line runs west along the [[Virginia Peninsula]] to [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] and points beyond. Connecting buses are available to Norfolk and Virginia Beach. A high speed rail connection at Richmond to both the [[Northeast Corridor]] and the [[Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor]] are also under study.<ref>[http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&code=NPN Amtrak Newport News Station] Amtrak. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref><ref name="SEHSR">{{cite web
| url = http://www.sehsr.org/
| title = Southeast High Speed Rail
| accessdate = 2007-10-15
| publisher = Southeast High Speed Rail
}}</ref>

[[Intercity bus]] service is provided by [[Greyhound Lines]] (Carolina Trailways) with bus stations in Newport News, Hampton, and Norfolk.<ref>http://www.greyhound.com/home/</ref> Transportation within Hampton Roads is served by a regional bus service, [[Hampton Roads Transit]].<ref>[http://www.gohrt.com/schedulesandservices/busroutes.html Bus Routes] Hampton Roads Transit. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref> Local routes serving Williamsburg, James City County, and upper York County is operated by [[Williamsburg Area Transport]].<ref>http://www.williamsburgtransport.com/</ref>

A [[light rail]] service to be known as [[Tide Light Rail|The Tide]] is under construction in Norfolk. It is set to begin service in 2010. Operated by Hampton Roads Transit, it will become the first major light rail service in the region. It is projected to have a daily ridership of between 7,130 to 11,400 passengers a day upon completion.<ref name="September30">{{cite news
| last =Messina
| first =Debbie
| coauthors =
| title =Norfolk's light rail gets the green light
| work =The Virginian-Pilot
| pages =
| date =September 30, 2007
| url =
| accessdate = }}</ref> There has also been a light rail study in the Hampton - Newport News areas.<ref name="PRTP">{{cite news
| title =PRTP
| work =Hampton Roads Transit
| year =2008
| url = http://www.hrtransit.org/developmentproject/peninsularapidtransitproject.html
| accessdate = }}</ref>

[[Image:IMG 4039111.jpg|thumbnail|I-64 on the Hampton Roads Beltway, north of I-264|right]]
The Hampton Roads area has an extensive network of [[Interstate Highway]]s, including the [[Interstate 64]], the major east-west route to and from the area, and its spurs and bypasses of [[Interstate 264 (Virginia)|I-264]], [[Interstate 464|I-464]], [[Interstate 564|I-564]], and [[Interstate 664|I-664]].

The [[Hampton Roads Beltway]] extends {{convert|56|mi|km|0}} on a long loop through the region, crossing the harbor on two toll-free [[bridge-tunnel]] facilities. These crossings are the [[Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel]] between [[Phoebus, Virginia|Phoebus]] in Hampton and [[Willoughby Spit]] in Norfolk and the [[Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel]] between Newport News and Suffolk.
The Beltway connects with another Interstate highway and three arterial U.S. Highways at [[Bower's Hill, Virginia|Bower's Hill]] near the northeastern edge of the [[Great Dismal Swamp]]. Other major east-west routes are [[U.S. Highway 58]], [[U.S. Highway 60]], and [[U.S. Highway 460]]. The major north-south routes are [[U.S. Highway 13]] and [[U.S. Highway 17]].

There are also two other tunnels in the area, the [[Midtown Tunnel]], and the [[Downtown Tunnel]] joining Portsmouth and Norfolk, as well as the {{convert|17|mi|km|0|sing=on}}-long [[Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel]], a toll facility which links the region with Virginia's [[Eastern Shore of Virginia|Eastern Shore]] which carries [[U.S. Highway 13|US 13]].<ref name =facts>{{cite web | title = Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Facts | publisher = Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission | url = http://www.cbbt.com/facts.html | accessdate = 2009-01-30}}</ref> The original Downtown Tunnel in conjunction with the [[Berkley Bridge]] were considered a single bridge and tunnel complex when completed in 1952, perhaps stimulating the innovative [[bridge-tunnel]] design using [[man-made island]]s when the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel was planned, first opening in 1957. The [[George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge]] is a major [[toll bridge]] connecting U.S. Highway 17 on the [[Virginia Peninsula|Peninsula]] at [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]] with Virginia's [[Middle Peninsula]] region. Another major crossing of waterways is the [[James River Bridge]], carrying [[U.S. Highway 17|US 17]] [[U.S. Highway 258|US 258]], and [[Route 32 (Virginia)|SR 32]] from Newport News to [[Isle of Wight County, Virginia|Isle of Wight County]].<ref name="Bridges and Tunnels">http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hro-tunnel-default.asp Virginia Department of Transportation Travel Center - Hampton Roads Tunnels and Bridges</ref>

The region is notable in that it has 2 types of public transport services via [[ferry|ferries]]. A passenger ferry is operated on the Elizabeth River between downtown areas of Norfolk and Portsmouth by HRT.<ref name="Ferry">{{cite news
| title =Paddle Wheel Ferry
| work =Hampton Roads Transit
| year =2008
| url = http://www.hrtransit.org/services/paddlewheelferry.html
| accessdate = }}</ref> The [[Jamestown Ferry]] (also known as the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry) is an automobile [[ferry]] system on the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] connecting [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]] in [[James City County, Virginia|James City County]] with Scotland in [[Surry County, Virginia|Surry County]]. It carries [[State Route 31 (Virginia)|State Route 31]]. Operated by [[Virginia Department of Transportation|VDOT]], it is the only 24-hour state-run ferry operation in Virginia and has over 90 employees. It operates four ferryboats, the ''Pocahontas'', the ''Williamsburg'', the ''Surry'', and the ''Virginia''. The facility is toll-free.<ref name="Jamestown-Scotland Ferry">{{cite news
| title =Jamestown-Scotland Ferry
| work =Virginia Department of Transportation
| year =2008
| url = http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/ferry-jamestown.asp
| accessdate = }}</ref>

==Education==
[[Image:DSU1.jpg|thumb|170px|left|The David Student Union at Christopher Newport University]]
Hampton Roads' individual cities and counties administer their own K-12 education for their localities. In addition to public education, area residents have many private and religious school options.

The area also has a number of higher education options for area residents. The [[College of William and Mary]] in Williamsburg was founded in 1693 and has served as the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States.<ref>[http://www.wm.edu/about/index.php About W&M] College of William and Mary. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref> [[Old Dominion University]], founded as the [[College of William and Mary|Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary]] in 1930, became an independent institution in 1962 and now offers degrees in 68 undergraduate and 95 (60 masters/35 doctoral) graduate degree programs. Norfolk's [[Eastern Virginia Medical School]], founded as a community medical school by the surrounding jurisdictions in 1973, is noted for its research into reproductive medicine<ref name="About Jones Institute">{{cite web|url=http://www.jonesinstitute.org/|title=Jones Institute|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> and is located in the region's major medical complex in the [[Ghent district]]. [[Norfolk State University]] is the largest majority black university in Virginia and offers degrees in a wide variety of [[liberal arts]].<ref name="AboutNSU">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsu.edu/about/|title=About Norfolk State|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> [[Virginia Wesleyan College]] is a small private [[liberal arts]] college on the border of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.<ref name="About VWU">{{cite web|url=http://www.vwc.edu/about/|title=About Virginia Wesleyan|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> [[Hampton University]], a private HBCU university, has a long history serving Hampton.<ref>[http://www.hamptonu.edu/about/ Hampton Facts] Hampton University. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref> [[Christopher Newport University]] serves as a public university and is located in Newport News.<ref>[http://about.cnu.edu/ About CNU] Christopher Newport University. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref>[[Regent University]], a private university founded by Christian Evangelist and Leader [[Pat Robertson]] which has historically focused on graduate education but is attempting to establish an undergraduate program as well.<ref name="Regent">{{cite web | url = http://www.regent.edu/about_us/ | title=About Regent University | publisher=Regent University |accessdate=2007-12-11 }}</ref> [[Atlantic University]], associated with the Edgar Cayce organization, the [[Association for Research and Enlightenment]] (ARE), offers M.A. degrees in Transpersonal Studies, with many New Age subjects thanks to its Edgar Cayce link.<ref name="About AU">{{cite web|url=https://www.atlantic-university.org/|title=Atlantic University|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref>
[[Image:Crimdell.jpg|thumb|right|Crim Dell in the heart of William & Mary's wooded campus]]
Area residents also have options for training for technical professions. The Apprentice School was founded in 1919 and offers four/five year programs in mechanical and technical fields associated with the shipbuilding industry. Graduates from the Apprentice School go on to work at the Newport News Shipbuilding.<ref name="Apprentice School">{{cite web|url=http://www.apprenticeschool.com/|title=Apprentice School |accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref>[[ECPI College of Technology]] has campuses in Virginia Beach and Newport News<ref name="About ECPI">{{cite web|url=http://www.ecpi.edu/|title=About ECPI|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> while [[ITT Technical Institute]] has a campus in Norfolk. Avarett University have campuses in Newport News, Bryant and Stratton College has a campus in Virginia Beach's Town Center; Bryant & Stratton will open another campus in Hampton in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bryant & Stratton College To Open Its Third Va. Campus in Hampton|url = http://www.peninsulatowncenter.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=y456M5JdYBg%3D&tabid=1704 | accessdate=2010-03-03}}</ref> The Culinary Institute of Virginia <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.chefva.com/ | title = Culinary Institute of Virginia}}</ref> is located in Norfolk.

Three institutions in the Virginia Community College System offer affordable higher education options for area residents. [[Tidewater Community College]] in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth, [[Paul D. Camp Community College]] in Suffolk, Franklin, and Smithfield, and [[Thomas Nelson Community College]] in Hampton and Williamsburg offer two-year degrees and specialized training programs.<ref name="TCC">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcc.edu|title=Tidewater Community College|accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref><ref>[http://tncc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1441&Itemid=384 Why TNCC?] Thomas Nelson Community College. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref>

Bible training schools include Hampton University and Regent University, but also Canaan Theological College & Seminary, Bethel College and Victory Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Hampton, Tabernacle Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary, Gateway Christian College and Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Virginia Beach, Providence Bible College & Theological Seminary in Norfolk and the Hampton Roads campus of the [[John Leland Center for Theological Studies]].

==Economy==

Hampton Roads is home to four Fortune 500 companies. Representing the food industry, transportation, retail and healthcare, these four companies are located in [[Smithfield, Virginia|Smithfield]], [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] and [[Virginia Beach]].

{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
;2010 [[Fortune 500]] Corporations<ref>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/states/VA.html |title=Fortune 500 2010 |publisher=Fortune |date=April 15, 2010}}</ref> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

*163 [[Smithfield Foods]]
*287 [[Norfolk Southern]]
*397 [[Dollar Tree]]
*404 [[Amerigroup]]

[[Image:hampton roads from space.jpg|thumb|200px|Hampton Roads from space]]
Hampton Roads has become known as the "world's greatest natural harbor". The port is located only {{convert|18|mi|km|0}} from open ocean on one of the world's deepest, natural ice-free harbors. Since 1989, Hampton Roads has been the mid-Atlantic leader in U.S. waterborne foreign commerce and is ranked second nationally behind the Port of South Louisiana based on export tonnage. When import and export tonnage are combined, the Port of Hampton Roads ranks as the third largest port in the country (following the ports of New Orleans/South Louisiana and Houston). In 1996, Hampton Roads was ranked ninth among major U.S. ports in vessel port calls with approximately 2,700. In addition, this port is the U.S. leader in coal exports. The [[coal]] loading facilities in the Port of Hampton Roads are able to load in excess of 65 million tons annually, giving the port the largest, most efficient and modern coal loading facilities in the world.

It is little surprise therefore that the Hampton Roads region's economic base is largely port-related, including shipbuilding, ship repair, naval installations, cargo transfer and storage, and manufacturing related to the processing of imports and exports. Associated with the ports' military role are almost 50,000 federal civilian employees.

The harbor of Hampton Roads is an important highway of commerce, especially for the cities of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], and [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]].

[[Northrop Grumman Newport News]] (formerly Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company), the world's largest [[shipyard]], is located a short distance up the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]]. In Portsmouth, a few miles up the Elizabeth River, the historic [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]] is located. BAE Systems, formerly known as NORSHIPCO, operates from sites in the City of Norfolk. There are also several smaller shipyards, numerous docks and terminals.

[[Image:Northrop Grumman Newport News 032007 015.png|thumb|200px|Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding]]
Massive [[coal pier]]s and loading facilities were established in the late 19th and early 20th century by the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Railway]] (C&O), [[Norfolk and Western Railway]] (N&W), and [[Virginian Railway]] (VGN). The latter two were predecessors of the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]], a [[Class I railroad]] which has its headquarters in Norfolk, and continues to export coal from a large facility at [[Lambert's Point]] on the Elizabeth River. [[CSX Transportation]] now serves the former C&O facility at Newport News. (The VGN's former coal facility at [[Sewell's Point]] has been gone since the 1960s, and the property is now part of the expansive [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk Navy Base]]).

Hampton Roads is also a chief rendezvous of the [[United States Navy]]. The Hampton Roads area has the largest concentration of military bases and facilities of any metropolitan area in the world. The area is home to the [[Allied Command Transformation]], which is the only major military command of the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] ([[NATO]]). [[Langley Air Force Base]] is home to [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC). The [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk Navy Base]] is located at [[Sewell's Point]] near the mouth, on the site used for the tercentennial [[Jamestown Exposition]] in 1907. For a width of {{convert|500|ft|m|-1}} the Federal government during 1902 through 1905 increased its minimum depth at low water from {{convert|25.5|ft|m|1}} to {{convert|30|ft|m|0}}, and the channel has now been dredged to a depth of {{convert|55|ft|m|0}} in some places.

[[Image:Langley research center.jpg|thumb|200px|NASA Langley Research Center]]
[[NASA]]'s [[Langley Research Center]], located on the Peninsula adjacent to [[Langley Air Force Base]] in Hampton, is home to scientific and aerospace technology research. The [[Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility]] (commonly known as Jefferson Labs) is located nearby in Newport News.

The area's experiences with commercial and retail centers began early in 1918. Afton Square, located in the [[Cradock]] naval community of Portsmouth, was the first planned shopping center in the USA and has served as template for future developments throughout the nation.<ref>http://www.portsmouthva.gov/planning/cradock.htm Cradock</ref>

Hampton Roads experienced tremendous growth during and after World War II. In the 1950s, a trend in retail was the [[shopping center]], a group of stores along a common sidewalk adjacent to off-street parking, usually in a suburban location.
[[Image:LynnhavenOutdoor.JPG|thumb|200px|Lynnhaven Mall, opened in 1981, has 1.4 million square feet and 180 stores.]]
In 1959, one of the largest on the east coast of the USA was opened at the northeast corner of Military Highway and Virginia Beach Boulevard on property which had formally been used as an airfield. The new [[JANAF Shopping Center]], located in Norfolk, featured acres of free parking and dozens of stores. Backed by retired military personnel, the name JANAF was an acronym for Joint Army Navy Air Force.<ref>http://www.janafshopping.com/aboutjanaf.php About JANAF Shopping Center</ref>

During the 1950s and early-1960s, other shopping centers in Hampton Roads were developed, such as Wards Corner Shopping Center, Downtown Plaza Shopping Center and Southern Shopping Center in Norfolk; Mid-City Shopping Center in Portsmouth; Hilltop Shopping Center (now known as [[The Shops at Hilltop]]) in Virginia Beach; Riverdale Shopping Center in Hampton and the Warwick-Denbigh Shopping Center in Newport News.

In the late-1960s, a new type of shopping center came to Hampton Roads: the Indoor [[Shopping Mall]]. In 1965, South Hampton Roads broke ground on its first shopping mall in Virginia Beach, known as [[Pembroke Mall]]. The mall opened in 1966, and became Hampton Road's newest indoor shopping destination. The [[Virginia Peninsula]] had its first indoor shopping mall in 1973, with [[Coliseum Mall]]. Coliseum Mall drew so much traffic from [[Interstate 64]], that a towering [[overpass|flyover]] was built at the Mercury Boulevard and Coliseum Drive intersection, to accommodate eastbound mall traffic, from the Mercury Boulevard interchange. Coliseum Mall was demolished to make way for the open air mixed-use development [[Peninsula Town Center]]. Also in the 1970s, [[Tower Mall]] was built in Portsmouth, but was torn down and turned into the Victory Crossing shopping development. In Norfolk, [[Military Circle Mall]] on [[Military Highway]] was built across [[Virginia Beach Boulevard]] from the large JANAF Shopping Center with its own high-rise hotel right in the center. In 1981, [[Greenbrier Mall]] gave Chesapeake a shopping mall of its own as well, and Virginia Beach got the massive Lynnhaven Mall the same year.
[[Chesapeake Square Mall]] was constructed in Chesapeake, VA in 1989, near the border of Suffolk, Virginia, and has spawned a number of shopping centers in the surrounding areas. [[Image:Macarthercenter.JPG|thumb|200px|MacArthur Center, opened in 1999, has 1.1 million square feet and 140 stores.]]
[[MacArthur Center]] opened in March 1999, which made downtown Norfolk a prime shoppers destination, with the region's first [[Nordstrom]] department store anchor. MacArthur Center is compared to other downtown malls, such as Baltimore's [[Harborplace]], Indianapolis' [[Circle Centre]] Mall, Atlanta's [[Lenox Square]] Mall and most comparably to [[Fashion Centre at Pentagon City|The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City]] near [[Washington, D.C.]], in [[Arlington, Virginia]].

Currently, Virginia Beach's [[Lynnhaven Mall]] is the region's largest shopping center with nearly 180 stores, and is one of the region's biggest tourist draws, with the Virginia Beach oceanfront, [[Colonial Williamsburg]], [[Busch Gardens Williamsburg]]: The Old Country and MacArthur Center.

For a long time, the indoor shopping malls were seen as largely competitive with small shopping centers and traditional downtown type areas. However, in the 1990s and since, the "[[big-box]] stores" on the Peninsula and Southside, such as Wal-mart, Home Depot, and Target have been creating a new competitive atmosphere for the shopping malls of Hampton Roads.
[[File:Patrick Henry Mall sign, Hampton Roads, Virginia.jpg|thumb|200px|Patrick Henry Mall, opened in 1987, has 700,000 square feet and 120 stores]]
Several older malls such as Pembroke and Military Circle have since their grand openings have been renovated several, and others have been closed and torn down. Newmarket North Mall is now [[NetCenter]], a business center. [[Coliseum Mall]], in Hampton, is being redeveloped as [[Peninsula Town Center]] in a new style, in step with the latest commercial real estate trend: the nationwide establishment of "[[lifestyle centers]]". Additional malls which have closed include [[Mercury Mall]] in Hampton (converted to Mercury Plaza Shopping Center in the mid-1980s, then completely torn down in 2001), and [[Tower Mall]] in Portsmouth (Built in the early 1970s, then torn down in 2001).

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px" class=wikitable
! Shopping mall !! Location !! Number of stores !! Area !! Year opened
|-
| [[Lynnhaven Mall]]|| [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]] ||180 ||{{convert|1400000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}}||1981
|-
| [[MacArthur Center]] || [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] ||140 ||{{convert|1100000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}} ||1999
|-
| [[Chesapeake Square Mall]] || [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] ||130 ||{{convert|800000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}} ||1989
|-
| [[Greenbrier Mall]] || [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] ||120 ||{{convert|809017|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} ||1981
|-
| [[Patrick Henry Mall]] || [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]] ||120 ||{{convert|644000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}} ||1987
|-
| [[The Gallery at Military Circle]] || [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] || 120 || {{convert|944447|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} ||1970
|-
| [[Pembroke Mall]] || [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]] || 100 || {{convert|650000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on}} || 1966
|-

</table>

====America's First Region====
In late 2006, the Hampton Roads Partnership, a non-profit organization representing 17 localities (ten cities, six counties, and one town), all local universities and major military commands as well as leading businesses in southeastern Virginia, commenced a campaign aimed at branding land area of Hampton Roads as "America's First Region".

The new title is based on events in 1607 when English [[Christopher Newport|Captain Christopher Newport's]] three ships - the ''[[Susan Constant]]'', ''[[Godspeed (ship)|Godspeed]]'', and [[Discovery (1602 ship)|''Discovery'']] landed at [[Cape Henry]] along the Atlantic Coast in what is today Virginia Beach. After 18 days of exploring the area, the ships and their crews arrived at [[Jamestown Island]] where they established the first English speaking settlement to survive in the [[New World]] on 14 May 1607.

Because the region's east-west boundaries (now the City of Virginia Beach and James City County) have not changed since 1607, the Partnership felt justified in labeling Hampton Roads "America's First Region". It unveiled the new brand before 800 people at the annual meeting of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce on December 13, 2006. A video shown that afternoon included endorsements from mayors and county board of supervisors chairs representing Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and James City County as well as the [[Governor of Virginia]], [[Timothy Kaine]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.hrp.org/
|title=Hampton Roads Partnership
}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}<!-- need direct statement, not advertising link -->

The mission of Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (HREDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to business attraction&mdash;marketing the Hampton Roads region as the preferred location for business investment and expansion. HREDA represents the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and Franklin, as well as the counties of Gloucester, James City, Isle of Wight, York, and Southampton.<ref name="HREDA">http://www.hreda.com Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance</ref>

==Flag==
[[Image:HRflag.gif|275px|right|thumb|Hampton Roads flag, adopted 1998]]
In 1998, a flag representing the Hampton Roads region was adopted. The design of the flag was created by a contest. The winner, sixteen year-old Andrew J. Wall of [[Frank W. Cox High School]] in Virginia Beach, raised the new regional flag for the first time on the mast of a ship moored in the harbor.

As conceived by student Andrew Wall and embellished by the selection committee, his flag is highly symbolic:
:The ring of sixteen white stars stands for the cities and counties that comprise the region of Hampton Roads. The blue upper panel refers to the sea and sky, recalling the first European settlers at Jamestown in 1607, the first battle between ironclad ships in 1862, the importance of shipbuilding and ship repair in the area, as well as maritime commerce, fishing, recreational boating, and the major military and government installations around the area’s shores. Agriculture, the environment, tourism, industry, and a healthy quality of life are suggested by the lower panel of green. The wavy white central band with three crests suggests past, present, and future. The wave also recalls the surf and sand dunes of the area as seen from the sea. Water is the central theme. It touches all the components and binds them together.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-va-hr.html
|title=Hampton Roads, Virginia (U.S.)
|publisher=Flags of the World
}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[Image:Historic Triangle Virginia.png|275px|right|thumb|Virginia's Historic Triangle]]
The area is most often associated with the larger [[American South]]. People who have grown up in the Hampton Roads area have a unique [[Tidewater accent]] which sounds different than a stereotypical [[Southern American English|Southern accent]]. Vowels have a longer pronunciation than in a regular southern accent.<ref name="Virginia Accents">{{cite web
| url = http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/niceandcurious/manyvoices.htm
| title = Virginia’s Many Voices
| accessdate = 2008-03-07
| publisher = Fairfax County Public Library
}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Attractions, museums and sites of interest===
There's also a wealth of other points of history to explore in the Hampton Roads area. Lead by the Historic Triangle area, Hampton Roads consistently rates among the top tourism destinations in the world.

Cultural attractions include museums, historical sites, and venues from tiny to massively large for such things as art and musical shows. The region hosts two week-long visits by the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]] each year with multiple performances at Norfolk Scope and the Hampton Coliseum, and even attracts a group of [http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CircusTrain/ Circus Train Enthusiasts], [[railfan]]s who watch, photograph and report on the blue or red unit trains as they make their move between the two sites, requiring a long inland trip through [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]] and [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] in order to avoid crossing the {{convert|10|mi|km|adj=on}} geographical distance across the harbor (a trip impassable directly by modern trains; the two [[bridge-tunnel]] facilities operated by [[VDOT]] accommodate only highway traffic).

====Historic Triangle====
The [[Historic Triangle]] is located on the [[Virginia Peninsula]] and includes the colonial communities of [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]], [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], and [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]], with many restored attractions linked by the [[Colonial Parkway]].

The [[National Park Service]]'s [[Colonial Parkway]] joins the three popular attractions of Colonial Virginia with a scenic and bucolic roadway carefully shielded from views of commercial development. This helps visitors mentally return to the past, and there are often views of [[wildlife]] and [[waterfowl]]. This two lane roadway is the best (but not quickest) way to move between the three points. Near the James River and [[York River (Virginia)|York River]] ends of the parkway, there are several pull-offs, where some families allow their children to feed bread to the seagulls. Commercial vehicles, except for tour buses, are prohibited.

For an even better experience, approach the area from the south by water from [[Surry County, Virginia|Surry County]] with a ride aboard one of the [[Jamestown Ferry]]s, which include the ''Pocahontas'' and ''Williamsburg''. As passengers cross, they can walk about the boat or go up to an enclosed viewing level with restrooms.<!--"restroom" is a common US euphemism for toilet. Please clarify meaning--><!--This is EXACTLY what is meant.--> Weather and daylight permitting, passengers usually see [[Jamestown Island]] much as the first colonists may have approached it. In fact, the replicas of [[Christopher Newport]]'s the three tiny ships, ''Susan Constant'', ''Godspeed'', and ''Discovery'' are docked near the northern ferry landing at [[Glass House Point]]. Both the Jamestown Ferry and Colonial Parkway are toll-free.

The first permanent English settlement in the New World which was established at [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]] in 1607. The 350th anniversary celebration at [[Jamestown Festival Park]] in 1957 was so popular, tourism has been continuously increasing ever since. The 400th anniversary was celebrated with an 18-month long celebration called [[Jamestown 2007]].

Today, at Jamestown, you can visit recreations of an [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] village and colonial fort, and archaeological sites where current work is underway by [[archaeologists]]s from the [[Jamestown Rediscovery]] project, with recently recovered archaeological artifacts in a new display building. Replicas of the three ships, ''[[Susan Constant]]'', ''[[Godspeed (ship)|Godspeed]]'', and ''[[Discovery (1602 ship)|Discovery]]'' are docked nearby.

The two major attractions, which are complementary to each other, are the state-sponsored '''[[Jamestown Settlement]]''' near the entrance to Jamestown Island, and the National Parks Service's '''[[Historic Jamestowne]]''', on Jamestown Island itself.

In 1699, the first capital of Virginia was moved to [[Middle Plantation]] at the suggestion of students from the [[College of William & Mary]] (established 1693). It was soon renamed to [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], but became a largely forgotten little town after the capital was moved to [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] in 1780. Largely due to the 20th century preservation efforts of the Reverend Dr. [[W.A.R. Goodwin]], rector of [[Bruton Parish Church]] and the generosity of [[Standard Oil]] heir [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]], today [[Colonial Williamsburg]] is a large [[living museum]] of early American life. It has dozens of restored and recreated buildings and reenactors. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The Visitor's Center (right off the Colonial Parkway) features a short movie and is an excellent place to start (and leave automobiles, which are restricted from the restored area, where wheelchair-accessible shuttle [[bus]] service is provided).

[[Bassett Hall]], an 18th-century farmhouse, is located in Williamsburg just southeast of the Historic Area, was the Williamsburg home for over 25 years of the family of John D. Rockefeller Jr and his family from the mid-1930s until 1960, following over 7 years of restoration and expansions. The Rockefeller family bequeathed Bassett Hall to Colonial Williamsburg in 1979.<ref>[http://www.history.org/Almanack/places/hb/hbbass.cfm Completed two-year renovation in 2002]</ref> The home is now open to the public and appears much as it did in the 1930s and 40s when the Rockefellers made it their home.<ref>[http://www.history.org/History/museums/bassett_hall.cfm 20th-century family home]</ref>

The third point of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia is [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]] where General Cornwallis surrendered to [[George Washington]] in 1781, ending the [[American Revolution]]. There are two large visitor centers, battlefield drives, and a waterfront area.

Notwithstanding the amazingly successful efforts to provide a non-commercial atmosphere at the three Historic Triangle areas (and on the Colonial Parkway between them), there are many hotels, motels, campgrounds, restaurants, shops and stores, gasoline stations, and amusements close by.

*[[Busch Gardens Europe]] is a major theme park located near [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] in [[James City County, Virginia|James City County]].

* Williamsburg Pottery Factory is also nearby on [[U.S. Highway 60]], seven miles (11&nbsp;km) west of [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] in [[James City County, Virginia|James City County]].

====Peninsula museums====
Recovered artifacts from the [[USS Monitor|USS ''Monitor]] are displayed at the [[Mariners' Museum]], one of the more notable museums of its type in the world. The Museum’s collection totals approximately 35,000 artifacts, of which approximately one-third are paintings and two-thirds are three-dimensional objects. The scope of the Museum's collection is international. Included are 10 permanent galleries, changing and traveling exhibits, and virtual galleries available through the museum website. The collection of over 600,000 prints and 35,000 maritime artifacts is international in scope and includes miniature ship models, scrimshaw, maritime paintings, decorative arts, carved figureheads, and working steam engines.<ref>[http://www.mariner.org/exhibitions/ Exhibitions] The Mariner's Museum. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref>

The [[Virginia War Museum]] covers American military history. The Museum's collection includes, weapons, vehicles, artifacts, uniforms and posters from various periods of American history. Highlights of the Museum's collection include a section of the [[Berlin Wall]] and the outer wall from [[Dachau Concentration Camp]].<ref>[http://www.warmuseum.org/Exhibits.htm Exhibits] Virginia War Museum. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref>

The [[Peninsula Fine Arts Center]] contains a rotating gallery of art exhibits. The Center also maintains a permanent "Hands On For Kids" gallery designed for children and families to interact in what the Center describes as "a fun, educational environment that encourages participation with art materials and concepts."<ref>[http://www.pfac-va.org/hofka.html Hands on For Kids Gallery] Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref>

====South Hampton Roads====
The [[Chrysler Museum of Art]], located in the [[Ghent district]], is the region's foremost art museum and is considered by the ''[[New York Times]]'' to be the finest in the state.<ref name="Norfolk Travel Guide">{{cite news
| url = http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/virginia/norfolk/overview.html
| title = Norfolk Travel Guide
| accessdate = 2007-08-04
| publisher = New York Times
| first=R. W.
| last=APPLE Jr
}}</ref> Of particular note is the extensive glass collection and American [[Neoclassicism|neoclassical]] marble sculptures.

[[Nauticus]], the National Maritime Center, opened on the downtown waterfront in 1994. It features hands-on exhibits, interactive theaters, [[Aquarium|aquaria]], digital high-definition films and an extensive variety of educational programs. Since 2000, Nauticus has been home to the battleship [[USS Wisconsin (BB-64)|USS ''Wisconsin'']], the last battleship to be built in the United States. It served briefly in [[World War II]] and later in the [[Korean War|Korean]] and [[Gulf War]]s.<ref name="Nauticus">{{cite web
| url = http://www.nauticus.org/
| title = Nauticus
| accessdate = 2007-08-04
| publisher = Nauticus
}}</ref>
The General [[Douglas MacArthur]] Memorial, located in the 19th century Norfolk court house and city hall in downtown, contains the tombs of the late General and his wife, a museum and a vast research library, personal belongings (including his famous corncob pipe) and a short film that chronicles the life of the famous [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]].<ref name="MacArthur Memorial">{{cite web
| url = http://www.macarthurmemorial.org/
| title = MacArthur Memorial
| accessdate = 2007-10-09
| publisher = City of Norfolk
}}</ref>

Two former Civil War forts reside on the coast or in the Hampton Roads harbor.

1. The Casemate Museum (where former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] President [[Jefferson Davis]] was imprisoned) is at [[Fort Monroe]] in the historic [[Phoebus, Virginia|Phoebus]] area at [[Old Point Comfort]] in [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]].<ref name="Fort Monroe">{{cite web | url= http://www.monroe.army.mil/monroe/sites/local/ | title= Fort Monroe | accessdate= 2009-02-02}}</ref>

2. [[Fort Wool]] is located in the middle of the harbor and harbor tours departing from [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]] and [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]] provide access to [[Fort Wool]].

Northrop Grumman Newport News, the world's largest [[shipyard]], may also been seem from aboard a Hampton-based harbor tour.<ref name="Miss Hampton II">{{cite web | url= http://www.misshamptoncruises.com/ | title= Miss Hampton II Cruises | accessdate= 2009-02-02}}</ref>

[[NASA]] [[NASA Langley|Langley Research Center]] is in Hampton, the original training ground for the [[Mercury Seven]], [[Project Gemini|Gemini]], and [[Project Apollo|Apollo]] [[Astronauts]]. Visitors are able to learn about the region's aviation history at the [[Virginia Air and Space Center]] in [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]].<ref name="VASC">{{cite web | url= http://www.vasc.org/ | title= Virginia Air and Space Center | accessdate= 2009-02-02}}</ref> and visit an on-site display of various air craft and a space capsule located on Mercury Boulevard near the base.

The [[Children's Museum of Virginia]] in [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]] has one of the largest collection of model electric trains and other toys. ''Note: The museum is operating in limited space provided by its neighbor, Courthouse Galleries, in anticipation of the opening of its greatly expanded new facilities in the Spring of 2011.''

The [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]] in [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]] is one of the oldest shipyards and has the first [[dry dock]] on display.

The [[Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge]] (in Suffolk and Chesapeake) is accessed from [[U.S. Route 17]] in [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]].

The [[Suffolk-Nansemond Museum]] is in the restored [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|Seaboard]] and [[Virginian Railway]] passenger train station in [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]].

The [[Isle of Wight Museum]] is in [[Smithfield, Virginia|Smithfield]].

The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia located in Virginia Beach features the significant art of our time.

===Music and venues===
The Hampton Roads region has a thriving music scene, with a heavy concentration thereof in the Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk areas. Many clubs, venues, and festivals exist within the region, all playing host to a wide variety of musical styles. There are a few hundred bands that play routinely in the region, spanning multiple genres. There are also twenty to thirty musical acts based in the region that perform throughout Hampton Roads and it's surrounding areas on a "full time" basis.

In addition, plenty of well known acts have come from the area. Some of the major rock/pop artists include [[Bruce Hornsby]], [[Gary "U.S." Bonds]], [[Juice Newton]], [[Mae]], [[Seven Mary Three]], [[Gene Vincent]], [[Keller Williams]], and [[Steve Earle]]. [[Ella Fitzgerald]] is the most recognizable jazz musician from the area. [[Robert Cray]] and [[Ruth Brown]] are both prominent blues and R&B artists. [[Tommy Newsom]] is another famous jazz musician. Many prominent rap and hip hop artists come from the area including [[Chad Hugo]], [[Clipse]], [[Magoo (rapper)|Magoo]], [[Missy Elliott]], [[Nicole Wray]], [[Pharrell Williams]], [[Quan]], [[Teddy Riley (producer)|Teddy Riley]], and [[Timbaland]].

The region has a number of venues hosting live music and performances. Several of the larger (in order of maximum seating capacity) are:

*[[Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre]] in Virginia Beach (seating 20,000)
*[[Norfolk Scope]] in Norfolk, (seating 13,800)
*[[Hampton Coliseum]] in Hampton, (seating 13,800)
*[[Kaplan Arena at William and Mary Hall]] in Williamsburg, seating (10,175)
*[[nTelos Pavilion at Harbor Center]] in Portsmouth (seating 7,500)
*[[Le Palais Royal Theatre]] at [[Busch Gardens Williamsburg]] in James City County (seating 5,600)
*[[Ferguson Center for the Arts]] in Newport News, (seating 1,725 and 453 in 2 separate concert halls)
*[[Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre]] at [[The College of William & Mary]] in Williamsburg (seating 1,700)

Dozens of much smaller commercial establishments offer live music and other entertainment such as comedy shows and mystery dinner-theater throughout the region.

==Parks and recreation==

The [[Norfolk Botanical Garden]], opened in 1939, is a {{convert|155|acre|km2|1|sing=on}} [[botanical garden]] and [[arboretum]] located near the Norfolk International Airport. It is open year round.<ref name="Norfolk Botanical Gardens">{{cite web
| url = http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/
| title = Festevents
| accessdate = 2007-08-06
| publisher = Norfolk Botanical Gardens
}}</ref>

The [[Virginia Zoo|Virginia Zoological Park]], opened in 1900, is a {{convert|65|acre|m2|sing=on}} [[zoo]] with hundreds of animals on display, including the critically endangered [[Siberian Tiger]] and threatened [[White Rhino]].<ref name="Virginia Zoo">{{cite web
| url = http://www.virginiazoo.org/about/history.php
| title = Zoo History
| accessdate = 2007-10-13
| publisher = Virginia Zoo
|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070826214123/http://www.virginiazoo.org/about/history.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-08-26}}</ref>

[[First Landing State Park]] and [[False Cape State Park]] are both located in coastal areas in Virginia Beach. Both offer camping facilities, cabins, and outdoor recreation activities in addition to nature and history tours. First Landing is the site of [[Cape Henry]] while False Cape is located at the southeastern end of Virginia Beach.<ref>{{Cite document |title=First Landing State Park
|url=http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fir.shtml
|publisher=First Landing State Park
|accessdate = 2008-03-20 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document |title=False Cape State Park
|url=http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fal.shtml
|publisher=False Cape State Park
|accessdate = 2008-03-20 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref>

[[Newport News Park]] is located in the northern part of the city of Newport News. The city's golf course also lies within the Park along with camping and outdoor activities. There are over 30 miles (50&nbsp;km) of trails in the Newport News Park complex. The park has a 5.3-mile (8.5-km) multi-use bike path. The park offers bicycle and helmet rental, and requires helmet use by children under 14. Newport News Park also offers an archery range, disc golf course, and an "aeromodel flying field" for remote-controlled aircraft, complete with a 400&nbsp;ft (120 m) runway.<ref>[http://www.nnparks.com/parks_nn.php Newport News Park] Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Accessed April 3, 2008.</ref>

The region also has amusement parks which attract tourists and locals alike. [[Ocean Breeze Waterpark]], Shipwreck Golf, and Motor World are Virginia Beach's amusement parks, which were formerly called Ocean Breeze Fun Park. As separate parks, they provide miniature golf, go-karts, water slides, pools, climbing wall, paintball area, and kiddie rides.<ref>{{Cite document |title=MotorWorld
|url=http://www.vbmotorworld.com/index.html
|publisher=Motor World
|accessdate = 2008-03-20 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document |title=Ocean Breeze Water Park
|url=http://www.oceanbreezewaterpark.com/
|publisher=Ocean Breeze Water Park
|accessdate = 2008-03-20 |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> [[Busch Gardens Williamsburg]] and [[Water Country USA]] are the major theme parks in Williamsburg.

==Sports, entertainment, and mass assembly venues==

''normal [[seating capacity]] in parentheses''

====Collegiate and other indoor arenas====
*[[William & Mary Hall|Kaplan Arena at William & Mary Hall]] at [[The College of William & Mary]] – Williamsburg (10,300)
*[[Ted Constant Convocation Center]] at [[Old Dominion University]] – Norfolk (9,650) sometimes known as the Constant Convocation Center or "the Ted"
*[[Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall]] at [[Norfolk State University]] (8,500)
*[[Hampton Convocation Center]] at [[Hampton University]] (8,200)
*[[Robert Freeman Center]] at [[Christopher Newport University]] – Newport News (6,000)
*[[Old Dominion University Fieldhouse]] – Norfolk (5,955) (Torn down in 2007)
* Gills Gymnasium at [[Norfolk State University]] (4,000)
* Jerome H. Holland Hall at [[Hampton University]] (3,000)
* Anderson Field House at [[Fort Eustis]] – Newport News (2,200)
* Jane P. Batten Student Center at [[Virginia Wesleyan College]] – Virginia Beach (2,120)

====Collegiate and other stadiums====
*[[William "Dick" Price Stadium]] at Norfolk State University (30,000) football
*[[Foreman Field|Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium]] at Old Dominion University – Norfolk (19,782) football
*[[Walter J. Zable Stadium]] at The College of William and Mary – Williamsburg (15,279) football
*[[Armstrong Stadium|Samuel C. Armstrong Stadium]] at Hampton University (14,000) football
*[[Norfolk Scope]] - Norfolk (12,600) - Hockey, opened in 1971
*[[Harbor Park]] - Norfolk (12,067) - Baseball
*[[John B. Todd Stadium]] – Newport News (11,000) football
*[[Joseph S. Darling Memorial Stadium]] – Hampton (8,000) football
* B. Herman Bailey Field – Yorktown (6,000) football
* Cooley Field - Williamsburg (3,000) football
* Old Dominion University Soccer Stadium – Norfolk (6,000)
* Union Kempsville Stadium – Virginia Beach (5,100) football
*[[Busch Field|Anheuser-Busch Field]] at The College of William and Mary – Williamsburg (4,450) soccer
* Pomoco Stadium at Christopher Newport University – Newport News (4,200) football
* District Park Sports Complex – Williamsburg (4,000) proposed
* Powhatan Stadium – Norfolk (4,000) - football, lacrosse and field hockey, opened in fall 2006
* [[Bud Metheny Baseball Complex]] at Old Dominion University – Norfolk (3,000) baseball
* Marty L. Miller Baseball Field at Norfolk State University (1,600)
*[[Plumeri Park|Joe Plumeri Park]] at The College of William and Mary – Williamsburg (1,200) baseball
*[[McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center|Mark McCormack-Betsy Nagelsen Tennis Center]] at The College of William and Mary – Williamsburg

====Convention centers====
*[[Virginia Beach Convention Center]] {{convert|516522|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} opened early 2007
*[[Williamsburg Convention Center]] {{convert|259000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}} proposed
*[[Hampton Roads Convention Center]] – Hampton {{convert|258000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}}
* Norfolk Executive Conference Center {{convert|73000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}} planned
* Chesapeake Conference Center {{convert|37000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}}
* Portsmouth Conference Center {{convert|37000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}}
* Waterside Convention Center – Norfolk {{convert|35000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}}
* City Center at Oyster Point Conference Center – Newport News (Under Construction)

====Auditoriums and performing arts theatres====
* American Theatre – Hampton
*[[Chrysler Hall]] – Norfolk
*[[Hampton Coliseum]] - Hampton (13,800 - concerts, 9,777- basketball)
*[[Attucks Theatre|Crispus Attucks Cultural Center]] – Norfolk
* Devary Theatre at Norfolk Naval Base - Norfolk
*[[Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts]] – at [[Christopher Newport University]] - Newport News
* Fort Monroe Theatre – Hampton
*[[Harrison Opera House]] – Norfolk
* Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center at Tidewater Community College – Norfolk
*[[L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center]] at Norfolk State University - Norfolk
* Music Theatre of Williamsburg (752)
*[[Norva Theatre]] – Norfolk
* nTelos Wireless Pavilion- Portsmouth, Virginia
*[[Ogden Hall]] at Hampton University - Hampton
* Peninsula Community Theater<ref>{{cite|url=http://www.pctlive.org/index.php}}</ref>
*[[Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall]] at The College of William and Mary – Williamsburg
* Premiere Theatre (aka Granby Theatre) – Norfolk
* Regent University Performing Arts Center – Virginia Beach
* Riverview Theatre – Norfolk
* Rockwell Hall at Little Creek Amphibious Base – Virginia Beach
*[[Sandler Performing Arts Center]] – Virginia Beach
* Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts - Suffolk
*[[Wells Theatre]] – Norfolk
*[[Willett Hall]] – Portsmouth
* Yoder Dairy Barn Theater - Newport News

==Media==
Two major [[newspaper]]s serve Hampton Roads: ''[[The Virginian-Pilot]]'' in the Southside, and [[Daily Press (Virginia)|''The Daily Press'']] on the Peninsula.<ref name="Hampton Roads News Links">{{cite web
| url = http://www.abyznewslinks.com/unitevanr.htm
| title = Hampton Roads News Links
| accessdate = 2007-08-06
| publisher = abyznewslinks.com
}}</ref> Smaller publications include the six days a week ''Suffolk News-Herald'', the Williamsburg-James City County area's twice-weekly ''[[Virginia Gazette]]'' (the state's oldest newspaper<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=3211
|title=University of Virginia Library Acquires Rare Colonial Newspapers
|publisher=University of Virginia
|date=November 8, 2007
|accessdate=2009-01-25
}}</ref>), the weekly ''[[New Journal and Guide]]'', and the ''Smithfield Times'' which publishes a weekly edition in the Isle of Wight County town of the same name.

''Hampton Roads Magazine'' is the region's only city and lifestyle magazine. The publication is published ten times a year and covers all of Hampton Roads, Williamsburg and the Eastern Shore.<ref name="Hampton Roads Magazine">{{cite web
| url = http://www.hrmag.com
| title = Hampton Roads Magazine
| accessdate = 2007-08-06
| publisher = Hampton Roads Magazine
}}</ref>

''[[Inside Business (newspaper)|Inside Business]]'' is the area's only business newspaper. It covers all of Hampton Roads and is published weekly.

The Hampton Roads [[designated market area]] (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.).<ref name="nielsen">Holmes, Gary. "[http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.55dc65b4a7d5adff3f65936147a062a0/?vgnextoid=6573d3b8b0c3d010VgnVCM100000ac0a260aRCRD# Nielsen Reports 1.1% increase in U.S. Television Households for the 2006-2007 Season]." ''[[Nielsen Media Research]].'' September 23, 2006. Retrieved on September 28, 2007.</ref> The major network television affiliates are [[WTKR-TV]] 3 ([[Columbia Broadcasting Service|CBS]]), [[WAVY]] 10 ([[NBC]]), [[WVEC-TV]] 13 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[WGNT]] 27 ([[The CW Television Network|CW]]), [[WTVZ]] 33 ([[MyNetworkTV]]), [[WVBT]] 43 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]), and [[WPXV]] 49 ([[ION Television]]). The [[Public Broadcasting Service]] station is [[WHRO-TV]] 15. [[UNC-TV|WUND 2]]([[UNC-TV]]/[[PBS|PBS member station]]), broadcasting out of [[Edenton, North Carolina|Edenton, NC]], serves as another PBS affiliate for the area. Area residents also can receive independent stations, such as [[WSKY-TV|WSKY]] broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, [[WGBS-LP|WGBS]] broadcasting on channel 7 from Hampton, and [[WHRE-TV|WHRE 21]], a [[Trinity Broadcasting Network|TBN]] affiliate out of Virginia Beach. Most Hampton Roads localities are served by [[Cox Cable]] which provides [[LNC 5]], a local 24-hour cable news network. Suffolk, Franklin, Isle of Wight, and Southampton are served by Charter Communications.<ref>[http://www.charter.com/Visitors/Home.aspx] Charter Communications</ref>[[Verizon FiOS]] service is currently available in parts of the region and continues to expand, offering a non-satellite alternative to Cox. [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]] are also popular as an alternative to cable television.

Norfolk is served by a variety of radio stations on the [[Template:Hampton Roads FM|FM]] and [[Template:Hampton Roads AM|AM]] dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area. These cater to many different interests, including [[news]], [[talk radio]], and [[sports]], as well as an eclectic mix of [[music]]al interests.<ref name="Hampton Roads Radio Links">{{cite web
| url = http://www.ontheradio.net/metro/Norfolk_VA.aspx
| title = Hampton Roads Radio Links
| accessdate = 2007-08-06
| publisher = ontheradio.net
}}</ref>

==Sports==
Norfolk serves as home to two professional franchises, the [[Norfolk Tides]] of the [[International League]] and the [[Norfolk Admirals]] of the [[American Hockey League]]. The Tides play at [[Harbor Park]], seating 12,067 and opened in 1993. The Admirals play at [[Norfolk Scope]] Arena, seating 8,725 or 13,800 festival seating, which opened in 1971. In addition, Norfolk will receive an expansion franchise ([[UFL Norfolk]]) in the [[United Football League (2009)|United Football League]] for the 2011 UFL Season.

On the collegiate level, the [[Old Dominion Monarchs]] and the [[Norfolk State University#Athletics|Norfolk State Spartans]] provide many sports including football, basketball, and baseball. [[Virginia Wesleyan College]] also provides sports at the NCAA Division III level.<ref name="Admirals">{{cite web|url=http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/|title=Norfolk Admirals|accessdate=2008-02-16}}</ref><ref name="Tides">{{cite web|url=http://www.norfolktides.com/|title=Norfolk Tides|accessdate=2008-02-16}}</ref><ref name="Monarchs">{{cite web|url=http://odusports.cstv.com/|title=ODU Monarchs|accessdate=2008-02-16}}</ref><ref name="Spartans">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsuspartans.com/|title=NSU Spartans|accessdate=2008-02-16}}</ref><ref name="Marlins">{{cite web|url=http://www.vwc.edu/athletics/|title=VWC Marlins|accessdate=2008-02-16}}</ref> Newport News' [[Christopher Newport University#Athletics|Christopher Newport University Captains]] field fourteen sports and compete in the [[USA South Athletic Conference]] in [[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]] of the [[NCAA]].<ref>[http://www.cnusports.com/ CNU Athletics] Christopher Newport University. Accessed April 4, 2008.</ref> The [[William & Mary Tribe|College of William and Mary Tribe]] in Williamsburg and [[Hampton University#Athletics|Hampton University Pirates]] in Hampton compete in Division I of the NCAA.<ref name="Tribe">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribeathletics.com/|title=W&M Tribe|accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref><ref name="Pirates">{{cite web|url=http://www.hamptonpirates.com/|title=Hampton University Pirates|accessdate=2009-02-01}}</ref>

The [[Hampton Coliseum]], seating 10,761 ot 13,800 festival seating, hosts the annual [[Virginia Duals]] wrestling events, and the annual [[Hampton Jazz Festival]]. The arena opened in 1970 and has previously hosted [[Hampton University]] basketball along with [[NBA]] and [[NHL]] preseason exhibition games.

Virginia Beach serves as home to two [[football (soccer)|soccer]] teams, the [[Hampton Roads Piranhas]], a men's team in the [[USL Premier Development League]], and a women's team by the same name in the [[W-League]], the ''de facto'' top women's league after the suspension of the [[Women's United Soccer Association]]. The Piranhas play at the [[Virginia Beach Sportsplex]]. The [[Virginia Beach Sportsplex]], seating 11,541 and opened in 1999, contains the central training site for the U.S. women's national [[field hockey]] team.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hrpiranhas.com/
| title = Hampton Roads Piranhas
| accessdate = 2008-03-12
| publisher = Hampton Roads Piranhas
}}</ref> The [[North American Sand Soccer Championships]], a [[beach soccer]] tournament, is held annually on the beach in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach is also home to the [[East Coast Surfing Championships]], an annual contest of more than 100 of the world's top professional surfers and an estimated 400 amateur surfers. This is North America's oldest surfing contest, and features combined cash prizes of $40,000.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.surfecsc.com/
| title = ECSC
| accessdate = 2008-03-12
| publisher = ECSC
}}</ref>

The [[Peninsula Pilots]] play in the [[Coastal Plain League]], a summer baseball league. The Pilots play in Hampton at [[War Memorial Stadium (Hampton)|War Memorial Stadium]] seating 5,125 and opened in 1948.<ref name="Peninsula Pilots">{{cite web|url=http://www.peninsulapilots.com/|title=Peninsula Pilots|accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref>

[[Langley Speedway (Virginia)|Langley Speedway]] in Hampton, seating 6,500, hosts stock car races every weekend during Spring, Summer, and early Fall.<ref name="Langley Speedway">{{cite web|url=http://www.langleyspeedway.com/|title=Langley Speedway|accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref>

The [[Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill]], an event on the [[LPGA Tour]], is contested annually on [[Mother's Day]] weekend at Kingsmill Resort near Williamsburg.

The [[Norfolk Nighthawks]] were a charter member of the [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]]'s minor league, [[af2]]. They ceased operations in 2003 after their fourth season. Also, the [[Virginia Beach Mariners]] of soccer's [[USL First Division]] were active from 1994 until 2006.

Hampton Roads has hosted many professional wrestling events throughout the years. The Norfolk Scope has served as the site of these events, including [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]'s [[Destination X]] and [[World Championship Wrestling]]'s [[WCW World World 3|World War 3]]. Norfolk Scope was also the site of an infamous episode of [[WCW Monday Nitro]], where several [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] wrestlers literally drove a tank to the entryway of the Scope, thus "invading" the competition. The Hampton Coliseum has also hosted many events, including [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWF/WWE]] ''[[WWE Raw|RAW]]'', in April 1998, August 2005, May 2007, and January 2008, as well as ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'' and for ''[[ECW on Sci Fi]]'' on December 2006. In January 2008, WWE broadcast its first television show taped in [[high-definition video|high definition]] from Hampton, VA.

The Hampton Roads area is also home to at least one professional wrestling promotion, [[Vanguard Championship Wrestling]], which holds events throughout the region, and has a weekly television show on the local Fox affiliate.

In 1997, Norfolk presented a proposal to bring an expansion hockey team to Hampton Roads. But that initiative failed. The team was going to be called the [[Hampton Roads Rhinos]].

In 2002, Norfolk presented a proposal to bring the Charlotte Hornets basketball team to southeastern Virginia, but [[New Orleans]] won the bid for the team, renaming it the [[New Orleans Hornets]].

In 2005, Norfolk presented a proposal to bring the [[Montreal Expos]] baseball team to the metro area, but [[Washington, D.C.]] won the bid for the team, renaming it the [[Washington Nationals]].

==Tallest buildings==
{{Main|List of tallest buildings in Hampton Roads}}
{| width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Name!!Stories!!Height!!City!!Year Built
|-
| [[The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center]] ([[Virginia Beach Town Center]]) || 38 || 508 ||Virginia Beach || 2007
|-
| [[Armada Hoffler Tower]] ([[Virginia Beach Town Center]]) || 23 || 396 || Virginia Beach || 2002
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| [[Dominion Tower (Norfolk)|Dominion Tower]] || 26 || 340 || Norfolk || 1987
|-
| [[Westin Hotel and Conference Center (Norfolk)]] || 26 || 315 || Norfolk || (planned)
|-
| [[Bank of America Center (Norfolk)|Bank of America Center]] || 23 || 304 || Norfolk || 1967
|}

==See also==
*[[2003 Virginia earthquake]]
*[[Colonial Williamsburg]]
*[[Historic Triangle]]
*[[Jamestown, Virginia]]
*[[List of famous people from Hampton Roads]]
*[[Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia]]
*[[South Hampton Roads]]
*[[Virginia Peninsula]]

==References==
<div class="references-small">{{Reflist|2}}</div>

*{{1911}}

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks}}
* [http://www.hamptonroadschamber.com Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.hreda.com Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance]
* [http://www.norfolkhistorical.org Norfolk City Historical Society], contains essays
* [http://www.npl.lib.va.us/history/history65.html History of Willoughby] &ndash; Norfolk Public Library
* [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I664_VA_MMMBT.html Roads to the Future - I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel]

{{Template group
|title = Articles Relating to The Hampton Roads Area
|list =
{{Hampton Roads}}
{{Hampton Roads TV}}
{{Hampton Roads Radio}}
{{Norfolk, Virginia}}
{{Virginia Beach}}
{{Newport News}}
{{USLargestMetros}}
{{Colonial Williamsburg}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Battle of Hampton Roads|state=autocollapse}}
}}

[[Category:Landforms of Virginia]]
[[Category:James River (Virginia)]]
[[Category:Ports and harbors of Virginia]]
[[Category:Regions of Virginia]]
[[Category:Hampton Roads]]

[[de:Hampton Roads]]
[[es:Hampton Roads]]
[[fr:Hampton Roads]]
[[it:Hampton Roads]]
[[he:המפטון רודס]]
[[nl:Hampton Roads]]
[[ja:ハンプトン・ローズ]]
[[pl:Hampton Roads]]
[[ru:Хэмптон-Роудс]]
[[sv:Hampton Roads]]
[[zh:漢普頓錨地]]

Revision as of 20:07, 28 October 2010

Hampton Roads may refer to:

Places

Hampton Roads (region) Hampton Roads (harbor)

Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Hampton_Roads&oldid=393486206"