Virginia Beach is a self-contained city located on the southeast coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 437,994. By 2015, the population is estimated at 452,745. Despite being mostly suburban, it is the most populous city in Virginia and the 41st largest city in the country. Located in the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach is included in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. This area, known as the "First Area of ​​America", also includes the independent cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, as well as other small towns, counties and towns in Hampton Roads.
Virginia Beach is a resort town with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels, motels and restaurants along the waterfront. Each year the city hosts the East Coast Surfing Championships and the North American Football Championship, a beach soccer tournament. It is also home to several state parks, several old protected coastal areas, three military bases, a number of large corporations, two universities, international headquarters and TV broadcasting studio locations for Pat Robertson Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment, and many historic sites. Near the point where Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Cape Henry is the first landing site of the British colony, which finally settled in Jamestown, on 26 April 1607.
The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest pleasure beach in the world. The city is located at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the longest tunnel-bridge complex in the world.
Video Virginia Beach, Virginia
History
Chesepian is a historic native in what is now known as Tidewater in Virginia at a European meeting. Little is known about them but archaeological evidence suggests that they may be associated with the Carolina Algonquian, or Pamlico people. They will speak one of the Algonquian languages. This is common among many tribes in coastal areas, which form the loose Confederate Powhatan, totaling tens of thousands of inhabitants. The Chesepians occupy what is now defined as independent cities in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
In 1607, after a 144-day voyage, three ships led by Captain Christopher Newport, and carrying 105 men and boys, made their first landings in the New World on the mainland, where the southern mouth of the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. They named it Cape Henry, after Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King James I of England. The British colonists from the London Company of London moved from this area, as they were under orders to search the site farther inland, which would be better protected from competing European vessels. They created their first permanent settlement on the north side of the James River at Jamestown.
Adam Thoroughgood (1604-1640) from King's Lynn, Norfolk, England was one of the earliest British settlers in this area, developed as Virginia Beach. At the age of 18, he has been contracted as a contract worker to pay travel costs to the Virginia Colony in the hope of improving his life. He achieved his freedom after several years and became a leading citizen of the region. In 1629, he was elected to the House of Burgesses for Elizabeth Cittie, one of four "citties" (or merges) divided into sections established in 1619.
In 1634, the Colonies were divided into eight original Virginia, soon to be replaced as districts. Thoroughgood is credited with using its home name in England when it helped name the "New Norfolk County" in 1637. The following year, New Norfolk County was divided into the Upper Norfolk County (soon renamed Nansemond County) and Lower Norfolk County. A good observation after 1634 was along the Lynnhaven River, named for his home in England.
Lower Norfolk County was great when it was first organized, defined as from the western Atlantic Ocean passing through the Elizabeth River, encompassing the entire territory now in the modern cities of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. It attracted many entrepreneurs, including William Moseley with his family in 1648. Belonging to the Merchant Adventurers Guild of London, he immigrated from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where he was in international trade. He settled on land on the northern side of the Elizabeth River (Virginia), east of what flourished as Norfolk.
After settlement increased, in 1691 Lower Norfolk County was divided to form the county of Norfolk and Princess Anne. Princess Anne, the easternmost area of ​​South Hampton Roads, extended from Cape Henry at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, south to what became the border of the North Carolina colony. This includes all the areas facing the Atlantic Ocean. Princess Anne County was known as a jurisdiction from 1691 to 1963, more than 250 years old.
In the early centuries, this area was rural and developed for plantation agriculture. In the late 19th century, a small resort area on Virginia Beach was developed in Princess Anne County after the arrival of 1883 train service to the coast. Virginia Beach Hotel is opened and operated by the Norfolk and Virginia Beach Railroad and Improvement Company on the oceanfront, near the small community of Seatack. The hotel was confiscated and the railway was rearranged in 1887. The hotel was upgraded and reopened in 1888 as Princess Anne Hotel.
In 1891, guests at the new hotel witnessed the crash and rescue effort of the US Life Savings Service for Norwegian Dictators skin. The head of the ship, which was washed away on the beach a few days later, was established as a monument to the victims and the savior. It stands along the oceanfront for over 50 years. In the 21st century, he inspired a pair of matching Norwegian Women's Monuments, carved by ÃÆ'ËÅ"rnulf Bast and installed in Virginia Beach and Moss, Norway.
The resort initially relies on trains and electric trolley service. The completion of Virginia Beach Boulevard in 1922, which extended from Norfolk to the oceanfront, opened the route for cars, buses and trucks. The passenger train service to the oceanfront was finally stopped as traffic increased with vehicles. The Virginia Beach resort, which developed into a city founded in 1906. Over the next 45 years, Virginia Beach continues to grow in popularity as a seasonal vacation spot. The casino is replaced by amusement parks and family oriented attractions. In 1927 The Cavalier Hotel opened and became a popular holiday spot.
Virginia Beach gained the status of an independent city in 1952, though a permanent relationship between it and Princess Anne County. In 1963, after voters in two jurisdictions endorsed a supportive referendum, and with the approval of the Virginia General Assembly, the two political subdivisions were consolidated as a new, much larger independent city, defending the name of the more well-known Virginia Beach resort..
The Alan B. Shepard Civic Center ("The Dome"), an important building in the city's history, was built in 1958, and is dedicated to the career of former Virginia Beach resident and astronaut Alan Shepard. When the area changes, the Dome is often used as a bingo hall. The building was destroyed in 1994 to provide space for city parking lots and potential future development.
Real estate, defense, and tourism are the main sectors of the Virginia Beach economy. Local public and private groups have maintained interest in real-estate redevelopment, resulting in a number of joint public-private projects, such as commercial parks. Examples of public-private development include the Virginia Beach Convention Center, the Oceanfront Hilton Hotel, and the Virginia Beach Town Center. Municipalities assist in project financing through the use of tax increase financing: create special tax districts and build roads and related infrastructure to support developments. The City Center opened in 2003, with related construction continuing. The Convention Center opened in 2005.
The city is beginning to run out of clear land available for new development next to the Green Line, an urban growth boundary that divides the northern part of the city and the southern countryside of the city. The filling and development of residential neighborhoods has placed a number of operational constraints at Naval Air Station Oceana, the main fighter jet base for the US Navy. While the air base enjoys widespread support from Virginia Beach in general, the Pentagon Base Realignment and the closing of the commission have proposed closing Oceana within the next decade.
Maps Virginia Beach, Virginia
Geography
Virginia Beach is located on 36.8506 Â ° N 75.9779 Â ° W / 36.8506; -75.9779 ( Virginia Beach ) .
According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ​​497 square miles (1,290 km 2 ), which is 249 square miles (640Ã, km 2 )) and 248 square miles (640Ã, km 2 ) (49.9%) is water. It is the largest city in Virginia with the total area and area of ​​town the third largest city. The average altitude is 12 feet (3.7 m) above sea level. Most of the city flows into the Chesapeake Bay through the Lynnhaven River and its tributaries.
It is located in the southeast corner of Virginia in the Hampton Roads area bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The Metropolitan Hampton Roads (formally known as Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA) is the 37th largest in the United States, with a total population of 1,707,639. These areas include Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg and Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Surry and York, and North Carolina Currituck. While Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the MSA, it actually now serves as a suburb. Norfolk City is recognized as a central business district, while the Virginia Beach resort district on the seafront and Williamsburg is mainly tourism centers.
Nearby Areas
When the modern city of Virginia Beach was created in 1963, with the consolidation of 253 square miles (660Ã, km 2 ) Princess Anne County with 2 square miles (5.2Ã, km 2 ) The city of Virginia Beach, the larger new city is divided into seven areas: Bayside, Blackwater, Kempsville, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne, Pungo, and Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach has many different communities and environments within its bounds, including: Alanton, Aragona Village, the largest sub-division in Tidewater when completed, Bay Colony, Bayside, Cape Henry, Chesapeake Beach, Croatan Beach, Great Neck Point, Green Run , Kempsville, Lago Mar, London Bridge, Lynnhaven, Newtown, The North End, Oceana, Ocean Park, Pembroke Manor, Princess Anne, Pungo, Red Mill Commons, Sandbridge, Thalia and Thoroughgood.
Climate
The Virginia Beach climate is subtropical moist (KÃÆ'¶ppen: Cfa). Winter is cool and light snow. Summer is hot and humid. Official weather statistics are recorded at Norfolk International Airport on the extreme northwestern border of Virginia Beach. The average annual temperature is 59.6 Â ° F (15.3 Â ° C), with average annual 5.8 inches (150 mm) snowfall at the airport about 3.0 inches (76 mm) in the southeast corner in the vicinity of Back Bay. The average annual rainfall (high rainfall) is high, ranging from 47 inches (1,200 mm) at the airport to over 50 inches (1,300 mm) per year in Back Bay. The wettest season is summer, especially July to early September, with the wettest August single, averaging over 5.5 inches of rain. From October to June, the average monthly rainfall is very consistent, ranging between 3.1 and 3.7 inches. The highest recorded temperature to date was 105 Â ° F (41 Â ° C) in July 2010, and the lowest recorded temperature was -3 Â ° F (-19 Â ° C) in January 1985, both recorded at Norfolk International Airport..
In addition, the city's geographic location, in connection with the main storm's path, is very beneficial which is why it has earned a reputation as a holiday destination. This is south of the average path of storms coming from higher latitudes, and north of the usual trajectory of storms and other major tropical storms, with the exception of Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Due to the moderate effects of Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is the northernmost location on the east coast where many species of plants (both subtropical and tropical) will grow reliably. Spanish moss, for example, is near the northernmost boundary of its natural range at First Landing State Park, and is the northernmost location where it is widespread. Other plants such as minor Sabals, Sabet Palmetto, Pindo Palm, and Oleander were successfully planted here while they succumbed to the cooler winter temperatures to the north and inland to the west.
Demographics
According to the 2010 Census, the Virginia Coast's racial composition is as follows:
- White or Caucasian: 67.7% (Non-Hispanic White: 64.5%)
- Black or African American: 19.6%
- Native Americans: 0.4%
- Asia: 6.1% (4.0% Philippines, 0.5% China, 0.4% India, 0.4% Vietnam, 0.3% Korea, 0.2% Japan)
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
- Some other races: 2.0%
- Two or more races: 4.0%
- Hispanic or Latino (any race): 6.6% (2.2% Puerto Rico, 1.9% Mexico, 0.3% Dominica, 0.2% Panama, 0.2% Salvador, 0, 2% Cuban, 0.2% Colombian)
In the 2000 census, there were 425,257 people, 154,455 households, and 110,898 families living in the city. Population density is 1,712.7 people per square mile (661.3/km ²). There are 162,277 housing units with an average density of 653.6 per square mile (252.3/km²).
There are 154,455 households where 38.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% are married couples living together, 12.4% have unmarried female households present, and 28.2% is not family. 20.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.5% have someone living alone 65 or older. The average household size is 2.70 and the average family size is 3.14.
The age distribution was 27.5% below the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% 65 years or older. The mean age is 33 years. For every 100 women, there are 98.0 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 95.8 men.
The average income for households in the city is $ 48,705, and the average income for families is $ 53,242. Virginia Beach had the highest median family income among the big cities in 2003. The per capita income for the city was $ 22,365. About 5.1% of families and 6.5% of the population are below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those aged 65 and older.
The coastal city of Virginia has a lower crime rate than other regional cities in Hampton Roads, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth, which all exceed the national average crime rate. In 1999 Virginia Beach experienced 12 murders that gave the city a murder rate of 2.7 per 100,000 people. For 2007, Virginia Beach had 16 murders, with a murder rate of 3.7 per 100,000 people. That's lower than the national average of 6.9 that year. The total city crime index for 2007 was 221.2 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average of 320.9. According to Congressional Quarterly Press' 2008 Crime Town Rankings: Crimes in Metropolitan America, Virginia Beach, Virginia ranks 311 in violent crimes among 385 cities containing over 75,000 inhabitants.
Religion
34.4% of the urban population is affiliated with the religious congregation, compared with 50.2% of the national figure. There are 146,402 adherents and 184 different religious congregations in the city.
- 28% Catholic Church
- 14% Southern Baptist Convention
- 13% United Methodist Church
- 12% Charismatic Independent Church
- 33% More
Economy
Virginia Beach consists of various industries, including national and international corporate headquarters, advanced manufacturers, defense contractors and locally owned businesses. The city's location and business climate have made it an international trading hub, as nearly 200 foreign companies have established their North American presence, location or headquarters in Hampton Roads. Twenty companies based in the world have US or North American headquarters in Virginia Beach, including companies such as STIHL, Busch, IMS Gear, and Sanjo Corte Fino. Other major companies headquartered in Virginia Beach include Amerigroup, Christian Broadcasting Network, and Operation Blessing International. Other large entrepreneurs include GEICO, VT, and Navy Exchange Command Commands. Virginia Beach is ranked 45th in Forbes list of the best places for business and careers.
Tourism produces a large part of Virginia Beach's economy. With an estimated $ 857 million spent in related tourism industries, 14,900 jobs serve 2.75 million visitors. The city coffers benefit as visitors give $ 73 million in revenue. Virginia Beach opened the Convention Center in 2005 that caters to large group meetings and events. The hotel is not only the coastline of the ocean but also clustered around the Virginia Beach Town Center and other parts of the city. Restaurants and entertainment industries also directly benefit from Virginia Beach tourism.
Virginia Beach has a large agribusiness sector that generates $ 80 million for the city's economy. One hundred seventy-two farms are in Virginia Beach, mostly below the green line in the southern part of town. Farmers can sell their goods and products in the City Farmer's Market.
Virginia Beach is home to several US military bases. These include NAS Navy Navy and the Training Center for Hampton Roads, and Joint Expeditionary Base East located in Cape Henry. In addition, NAB Little Creek is located mostly in the coastal city of Virginia but has the Norfolk address.
NAS Oceana is the largest company in Virginia Beach; it was decided by the 2005 BRAC Commission that NAS Oceana should be closed unless the Virginia Beach city condemned homes in areas designated as "Potential Accident Zones." This action has never been the position of the United States Navy; indeed, the Navy does not recommend NAS Oceana to the BRAC Commission for possible closure. The NAS Oceana closing issue remained unresolved in May 2008
Both NAS Oceana and the Training Center of Hampton Roads are regarded as the largest of its kind in the world. Furthermore, located in nearby Norfolk is central to the United States Naval Fleet Center, Norfolk Navy Base.
54% of the 171,000 people working in Virginia Beach live in the city, 12% live in Chesapeake, and 10% live in Norfolk. A further 99,600 people traveled from Virginia Beach, with 35% going to Norfolk and 23% going to the Chesapeake. In 2016, 3.9% of the population is unemployed.
Culture
The city is home to some interesting places in the field of historical, scientific, and visual/performing arts, and has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia features an ever-changing exhibit in various media. The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, photography, glass, video, and other visual media from internationally recognized artists as well as renowned national and regional artists. MOCA was born from the annual Boardwalk Art Show, which began in 1952 and is now the largest fundraiser in the museum. By operating at national standards, MOCA received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2010.
Virginia Aquarium & amp; The Marine Science Center (formerly Virginia Marine Science Museum) is a popular aquarium near the oceanfront featuring 300,000 gallons of Norfolk Canyon Aquarium, which contains sand tigers, nurses and brown sharks, as well as stinging rays and other high seas. There are also 70,000 gallon sea turtle turtles, sea turtle turtle laboratories, marine exploration exhibits, jellyfish and aquarium octopus, and even models the size of a humpback whale. Other features include Owls Creek salt marshes and nature trails.
One of the Worlds Greatest collections of World War I and World War II aircraft is located at the Aviaiton Military Museum in the Pungo area of ​​Virginia Beach.
The Virginia Beach Amphitheater, built in 1996, features popular shows and concerts, from Kenny Chesney to Taylor Swift to Coldplay to Ozzfest. The Sandler Center, a 1,200-seat art performance theater, opened at Virginia Beach Town Center in November 2007. Virginia Beach is home to many historical sites and has 18 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The site includes Adam Thoroughgood House (one of Virginia's oldest surviving colonial houses), Francis Land House (200-year-old plantation), Cape Henry Lights and near Cape Henry Light Station (second tower), Bayville Farm, De Witt Cottage, Ferry Farm Farm, Dr John Miller-Masury House, Adam Keeling House, Old Donation Church, Pembroke Manor, Pleasant Hall, Shirley Hall (Devereaux House), Thomas Murray House, US Coast Guard Station (Seatack), Upper Wolfsnare, Weblin House, and Wishart Boush House, and Wolfsnare.
The Edgar Cayce Hospital for Research and Enlightenment was founded in Virginia Beach in 1928 with 60 beds. Cayce is a paranormal from Kentucky who claims healing abilities and makes forecasts. Cayce is known as the father of the "New Age" movement in the 1960s. Cayce lived in Virginia Beach until he died on January 3, 1945. His followers are still active in Virginia Beach. The 67th Street facility has a great private library of books on psychic matters, and is open to the public. The beach-architecture headquarters building features massage therapy with appointments. The University of the Atlantic was opened by Cayce in 1930; it was closed two years later but reopened in 1985. The University of the Atlantic was originally intended to study Cayce's readings and research on spiritual subjects.
The largest festival in town, the Neptune Festival, attracts 500,000 visitors to the coast and 350,000 visitors to the air show at NAS Oceana. Celebrating the city's heritage link with Norway, the event was held in September in the beach area and the City Center. Every August, the American Music Festival provides festival participants with live music performed gradually across the coast, including the beach on Fifth Street. The festival ends with Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.
Sports
Since Norfolk contains the main business districts of Hampton Roads, most of the major spectator sports are there. While the Hampton Roads area has recently been considered a viable prospect for major league professional sports, and regional leaders have been trying to get Major League Baseball, NBA and NHL franchises in the past, no team has moved into the area yet. Hampton Roads is the second largest metropolitan area in the United States without a club in major professional sports leagues, after the Austin metropolitan area.
The Norfolk Admirals won the Calder AHL Cup in 2012.
The Virginia Destroyers, a UFL franchise, played in Virginia Beach Sportsplex until the collapse of the league in 2012. Two soccer teams, Virginia Beach Piranhas, men's team in the USL Premier Development League, and Hampton Roads Piranhas, women's team in W-League play in Virginia Beach Sportsplex. Virginia Beach Sportsplex contains a central training site for the US women's national team hockey team.
The city is also home to the East Coast Surfing Championships, an annual contest of over 100 top global professional surfers and about 400 amateur surfers. This is the oldest surfing contest in North America.
There are eleven public golf courses open in the city, as well as four state club layouts and 36 military holes on the Aeropines NAS Oceana field. Among the most notable public courses are Hell's Point Golf Club and Virginia Beach National, which last hosted the Virginia Beach Open, a Nationwide Tour event from 2000 to 2006. Also, Kingsmill Resort hosts the Kingsmill Championship, an annual LPGA Tour tournament.
Virginia Beach is the host for Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon every year on Labor Day weekend in conjunction with the American Music Festival. It is one of the largest Half Marathon in the world. The last 3 miles (4.8 km) are on the sidewalk.
In 2012, Virginia Beach is one of the few cities that try to lure the Sacramento Kings to play there.
Parks and recreation
Virginia Beach is home to 210 municipal parks, covering over 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares), including neighborhood parks, community parks, district parks, and other open spaces. Each park is unique and offers something for everyone, from wide open spaces to playgrounds, picnic spots, and soccer fields.
Mount Trashmore Park is clearly visible from I-264 while traveling to the oceanfront. The park is 165 hectares (67 ha). This hill has a height of 60Ã, ft (18 m) and a length of more than 800Ã, ft (240 m), and is created by compacting solid layers of solid waste and clean soil. This is the highest point in Virginia Beach. The park also has two lakes: Lake Windsor and Lake Trashmore. Lake Trashmore is filled with fish, but not healthy for fishing. Residents can also take advantage of the skate park.
One of the main parks is Red Wing Park, a 97 hectare (39 ha) park in the east-central part of the city, very close to the Oceana Naval Air Station. This land became a park in 1966. The unique feature of this park is the Miyazaki Japanese Garden, which is the result of its interaction with Miyazaki's sister city, Japan. Other features include: Aroma Reba Park S. McClanan, 5 picnic shelters with charcoal grills, tennis courts, pickleball field, basketball court, 2 volleyball courts, handball/racquetball pitches, horseshoe pit, two playground areas, together, gardens, picnic area with charcoal grill, dog park, open fields, vending machines, public toilets, playground, forest area.
Another major park in the city is the Great Neck Park, a 70-hectare park (28 ha) located in Lynnhaven District. Facilities include five large group shelters, a small shelter, a family picnic table and a toaster, three playgrounds, a horse pit, a volleyball court, vending machines, walkways, four baseball fields, and a gazebo located at the end of a picturesque path overlooking the River Lynnhaven.
The Back Bay National Wildlife Reserve, founded in 1938, is a freshwater protection area of ​​8,000 acres (32 km km) bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Back Bay to the west. The barrier islands have large sand dunes, maritime forests, fresh water swamps, ponds, sea beaches, and large impoundment for extensive winters. It is managed by the US Fish and Fish Service.
First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park are both located in coastal areas within the boundaries of city companies as well. Both offer camping facilities, cabins and outdoor recreational activities in addition to nature and history tours.
Munden Point Park is a rural park located at the southern end of town, right on The North Landing River. Owned and maintained by Virginia Beach City. The park has five shelters, three baseball fields, boat lanes, boat rentals, three playgrounds, horseshoe pits, five volleyball courts, and light hiking trails. The outdoor amphitheater is equipped with electrical outlets and is available for wedding reservations, out-of-class activities and other events. Toilets, parking, vending machines, playgrounds, parks and barbecue grills are also available for use. Kano, boat ramps, and disc golf course can also be hired to go.
In addition, the 3 mile (4.8 km) sidewalk on the beach is often packed with exciting entertainment, outdoor cafes, concerts and people. Made of concrete, the boardwalk connects forty hotels and other attractions and has bike trails.
Naval Aviation Monument Park was officially dedicated on May 6, 2006, by the Hampton Road Squadron of the Navy Flight Foundation Association. Planned since 1997 in partnership with City of Virginia Beach, the park features sculptures and heroic-scale reliefs to tell the history of the Naval Aviation.
Pleasure House Point is an undeveloped 118 acre (48 hectares) park on the banks of the Lynnhaven River. Located just south of the Lesner Bridge and Chesapeake Bay, it includes oyster beds, wetlands and maritime forests. The location is a condominium development site planned to collapse in 2008. It was acquired by City of Virginia Beach with assistance from the Trust for Public Land and Chesapeake Bay Foundation in 2012. It is one of the largest undeveloped land packages. on the Lynnhaven River and will be preserved for future generations. It is also the location of Brock's Center for the Environment that provides a direct educational program for students to learn about Chesapeake Bay.
Last, of course, is the city's abundant and ample recreational facilities, which often include basketball and racquetball courts, weight and fitness training rooms, and a swimming pool. These centers also host many special programs for children, youth and adults. The Bayside facility, for example, offers yoga and pilates classes, as well as various types and styles of dance, not to mention seasonal offers for children and the elderly.
Virginia Beach's extensive park system is recognized as one of the best in the United States. In the ParkScore 2013 rating, the Trust for Public Land reports that Virginia Beach has the 8th best park system among the 50 most populous US cities. ParkScore ranked a municipal park system with a formula that analyzes the size of the city's median park, acres of parks as a percent of urban areas, the percentage of city dwellers within half a mile of the park, park service spending per population, and number of playgrounds per 10,000 population.
Government
Virginia Beach was inaugurated as a township company by the Virginia General Assembly on January 1, 1963. The city is currently operating under a council-manager form of government. The city is not under the jurisdiction of local governments, because of state laws. Instead, it serves as an independent city and operates as a state's political subdivision.
The city's legislative body consists of 11 city councils. The city manager is appointed by the council and acts as chief executive officer. Through his staff, he implements policies set by the council.
Members of city councils usually serve a period of four years and are chosen to reel in non-partisan elections. Beginning in 2008, elections are held on the first Tuesday in November on even-year. In previous years, elections were held on the first Tuesday in May in an even-numbered year. All registered voters are entitled to elect all members of the board. Three members of the council and the mayor are serving on a large scale. Others are selected by the district (and must live in the district they represent): Bayside, Beach, Centerville, Kempsville, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne, and Rose Hall.
The mayor is elected for a four-year term through direct election. The mayor presides over city council meetings, and serves as head of the ceremony and city spokesman. A deputy mayor was also elected by the city council at the first meeting after the council elections.
Virginia Beach residents also voted for five constitutional officials, and candidates for these offices were allowed to run with affiliated political parties. Three of these offices are substantially dealing with public security and justice: the sheriff, the commonwealth lawyer, and the circuit court clerk. The other two offices are concerned with fiscal policy: the city treasurer and the revenue commissioner.
Virginia Beach is fully located in Virginia's 2nd congress district, served by US Representative Scott Taylor (Republic).
Education
According to the US Census, 28.1% of the population above twenty-five (compared to the national average of 24%) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 90.4% (vs. 80% nationally) have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Virginia Beach City is home to Virginia Beach City Public School, one of the largest state school systems (based on student enrollment). Virginia Beach City Public Schools currently serves 69,735 students, and includes 56 elementary schools, 14 secondary schools, 12 high schools covering Landstown, Princess Anne, Green Run, Collegiate Run Run, Cox, Tallwood, Salem, First Colonial, Kellam, Kempsville , Bayside and Ocean Lakes High Schools as well as a number of secondary/post-secondary secondary schools and centers such as Advanced Technology Center (ATC), which provides courses for those trying to gain a place in technology. Ocean Lakes maintains a rigorous academy of mathematics and science; Bayside has a health science academy, with courses in medical microbiology, genetic medicine, and pathophysiology. Salem High School houses the Academy of Fine Arts and Performing, preparing students for jobs in Fine and Performing Arts. Landstown High School contains a Technology Academy, which helps prepare students for jobs in Business Marketing, Information Technology, and/or Engineering. The Colonial Junior High School is home to the Academy of Legal Studies, with courses such as Forensic Science, Introduction to Law, and Research and Legal Writing, preparing students for legal work. Tallwood High School recently established a world college, Kempsville High School started their Entrepreneurship and Business Academy in 2017, and Princess Anne, the city's oldest middle school, is a school of the International Baccalaueate Diploma Program. Princess Anne used to host a special program for high school pregnant in the area. The program for pregnant girls was removed from the Princess Anne campus and became part of an alternative school, Renaissance Academy, completed in late 2009. With only 8 girls continuing to the new program at the Academy, Virginia Beach is set to master the program in 2010. Program specifically offered in all these academies, although sometimes they overlap courses offered at other specialized centers, such as Landstown and ATC - less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
There are also a number of private and independent schools in the city, including the Norfolk Academy, Catholic Schools and Parishes Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hidal Tidewater Hebrew Academy, Cape Henry College School, Bishop Sullivan Catholic School (formerly Catholic Norfolk) Baylake Pines School Virginia Beach Friends School.
Virginia Beach is home to two universities: Regent University, a private university founded by Christian evangelist and leader Pat Robertson, who has historically focused on graduate education but has recently also established a degree program. Atlantic University, associated with the organization of Edgar Cayce, Association of Research and Enlightenment (ARE), offers a M.A. in Transpersonal Studies, with many New Age subjects thanks to the Edgar Cayce link. Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University are near Norfolk and the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech operate the satellite campus in Virginia Beach. Tidewater Community College, a large junior college, also has its largest campus located in the city. Virginia Wesleyan College, a private liberal arts college, is on the border with Norfolk with the physical address of the school in Norfolk, but most campuses are in Virginia Beach. The main campus of ECPI University is also located here. The supplementary higher education institution is located in another community on the greater Hampton Road.
The Virginia Beach Public Library System provides free access to accurate and up to date information and materials to all individuals, and promotes reading as a critical life skill. The library supports the educational and recreational needs of the citizens of Virginia Beach with regional library systems, Central Library, Bookmobile, virtual library, South Rosemont Youth Library, Wahab Public Law Library, Municipal Reference Library and Special Services for the Blind and the Visually Impaired. The library has a collection of over 1,000,000 items including special subject collections.
Media
The Norfolk-based Virginian-Pilot, is a daily newspaper for Virginia Beach. Other papers include Veer and New Journals and Guides . In Business focuses on local business news.
Virginia Wesleyan College publishes its own newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle .
The Norfolk-Virginia Beach area is serviced by various radio stations in FM and AM dial, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area.
Virginia Beach is also served by several television stations. The market area designated by Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the US with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the US total). The main network affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WTPC-TV 21 (Trinity Broadcasting Network), WGNT 27 (CW), WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV), WVBT 43 (Fox), and WPXV 49 (ION Television). The Public Broadcasting Service Station is WHRO-TV 15. The people of Virginia Beach can also receive independent WSKY station broadcasts on channel 4 of Camden County, North Carolina. Some may also receive PBS WUND 2 (UNC-TV) affiliates, W14DC-D Home Shopping affiliate from Portsmouth, Daystar Network WVAD-LD TV 25 religious stations from Chesapeake and RTV WGBS-LD affiliates aired on channel 7 from Hampton. Virginia Beach is served by Cox Cable. DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Virginia Beach. In addition, most of the city served by Verizon FIOS.
Virginia Beach serves as the headquarters for the Christian Broadcasting Network, located adjacent to the University of the Bupati. The most famous CBN program, The 700 Club is from the Virginia Beach studio. In 2008, Virginia Beach became the site of the Reel Dreams Film Festival.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Virginia Beach is primarily served by Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF , ICAO: KORF , FAA LID: ORF ), which is now the main commercial airport in this region. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits located next to Norfolk. Seven airlines provide non-stop services to twenty-five destinations. ORF has 3,703,664 passengers taking off or landing at its facilities and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo is processed through its facilities. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also provides commercial air services to the Hampton Roads area. Chesapeake Regional Airport provides a public flight service and is located five miles (8 km) outside the city limits. Virginia Beach is served by Amtrak through Norfolk and Newport News stations, via connecting buses. The Norfolk line moves southwest to Suffolk, Virginia, then turn northwest toward Petersburg, Richmond (Staples Mill Road), and a point above it. The Newport News line stretches west along the Virginia Peninsula to Williamsburg, Richmond (via downtown Main Street and Staples Mill Road station on the outskirts of the city), and points out. High speed rail connections in Richmond to the Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed ​​Rail Corridor are also being studied.
Greyhound/Trailways provides services from the nearby central bus terminal in Norfolk. The Greyhound Station in Virginia Beach is located on Laskin Road, about a mile west of the beach. Bus service to New York City via Chinatown bus, Bus Today, located on Newtown Road.
The city is connected to I-64 via I-264, which stretches from the ocean shore, crossing the I-64 on the east side of Norfolk, and continues through downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth until rejoining the I-64 at the second terminal of the road at Chesapeake in where Interstate 664 completes the loop that makes up the Hampton Road Beltway. Travelers to and from Virginia Beach can access the Hampton Road Beltway in both directions from I-264 in Norfolk to use the choice of two tunnel-bridge facilities to cross the Hampton Road to reach the Peninsula, Williamsburg, Richmond and the north point. Other major roads include Virginia Beach Boulevard (US Route 58), Shore Drive (Route 60 US), which connects to Atlantic Avenue on the oceanfront, Northampton Blvd (Route 13), Princess Anne Road (Route 165), Indian River Road (formerly State Route 603), Lynnhaven Parkway, Independence Boulevard, General Booth Boulevard, and Nimmo Parkway. The streets of the hotel and the beachside entertainment district are arranged in a regular pattern like a grid, with Atlantic Avenue parallel to the shoreline, then Pacific Avenue, and Arctic Avenue getting farther inland.
The city is also connected to the East Coast region of Virginia via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT), which is the world's longest tunnel-length bridge complex and is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World Technique. CBBT, a weighted facility carrying the US Route 13.
The inner city transportation, as well as the rest of Hampton Road are served by the regional bus service, Hampton Roads Transit. The extension of the Tide light rail system from Norfolk to the ocean coast is currently being studied. For years, the people of Virginia Beach have been arguing about whether or not to extend The Tide from Norfolk to its border by splitting clear between younger and older residents and the potential cost for Virginia Beach taxpayers. In November 2016, residents voted on a referendum proposing that it would extend light rail from Norfolk to Virginia Beach with 57% against rail extension and 43% for renewal.
Walkability
A 2011 study by Walk Score puts Virginia Beach's 39th most easily explored of the fifty largest cities in the US.
Utilities
Water and sewage services are provided by the Municipal Utilities Department. Virginia Beach receives its electricity from Dominion Virginia Power with local sources including Chesapeake Energy Center, coal-fired power plants in Chesapeake and Southampton County, and Surry Nuclear Power Station. Virginia Virginia Ocean Gas, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, distributes natural gas to the city from a storage plant in James City County and Chesapeake.
Virginia Beach receives its water from Lake Gaston. The Virginia Tidewater area has grown faster than the local freshwater supply. River water is always salty, and fresh groundwater is no longer available in most areas. Currently, water for the Tidewater area is pumped from Gaston Lake, which crosses the Virginia-North Carolina border along with the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers. This pipe is 76 miles long (122 km) and 60 inches (1,500 mm). Much of that follows the former right-of-way of the abandoned section of the Virginian Railway. It is capable of pumping 60 million gallons of water per day (60MGD), Norfolk and Chesapeake are partners in this project.
The city provides wastewater services for residents and transport waste water to the Sanitation Road Road treatment plant.
Health Care
Virginia Beach is served by Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and Sentara Princess Anne Hospital. Sentara Bayside Hospital has been modified into a stand-alone Emergency Department and an outpatient care center, now known as Sentara Independence. The Sentara Leigh Hospital is located just across the city line in Norfolk. The Coastal Health Clinic offers basic medical services for uninsured Virginia Beach residents.
Famous people
Twin Cities
Sister Town in Virginia Beach is:
- Moss, Norway since March 25, 1974
- Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Ky? sh?, Japan since May 25, 1992
- Bangor, Northern Ireland, UK since May 6, 2001
- Olongapo, Philippines since July 6, 2015
Virginia Beach has two Friendship Cities:
- San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua since January 13, 2013
- Waiblingen, Germany since 2016
In popular culture
In 2015, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the game, Hasbro held an online ballot to determine which city will make it the latest version of the Monopoly edition here and Now: AS . Virginia Beach, Virginia received the fourth most number of votes in the online contest, earning a green spot on the board. The Upper Boardwalk place goes to Pierre, South Dakota.
See also
- List of people from Virginia Beach
- List of Historic Historic Places of Interest in Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Norwegian Women Statue
- Virginia Beach Fire Department
- Virginia Beach Police Department
- Virginia Beach Department of EMS
- Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad
- Wash Forest in Fake Cape
Note
References
External links
- Official website
- Convention and Visitors Bureau
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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