NORFOLK

City Offices
810 Union Street
Norfolk 757-664-6510
www.norfolk.gov

Chamber of Commerce
500 East Main Street
Norfolk 757-622-2312
www.hamptonroadschamber.com

 

Services
Boosting the thriving economy are outstanding transportation facilities. Four major highways dissect Norfolk and connect to the Interstate 64/644 beltway. In addition to world-class shipping and distribution services, Norfolk International Airport is only minutes from home. The seaport city of Norfolk is also home to the world’s largest naval base, premier cultural and recreational attractions, leading medical complexes, and major colleges and universities.

Area youth receive a quality education in both public and private schools, with excellent opportunities for specialized training and higher education close to home. Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Wesleyan College, and the Eastern Virginia Medical School complex are all located in Norfolk. Local programs are also available from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Tidewater Community College.

State-of-the-art healthcare can be found in a number of leading hospitals throughout the city. These institutions anchor a comprehensive network of skilled professionals in private practice as well as innovative fitness centers, birthing centers, women’s health centers, long-term care centers, hospice, specialty clinics, family practice clinics, walk-in emergency care, and home health care. A wealth of community education programs ensure the well-being of every resident with proactive health screenings and classes on nutrition.

 

Lifestyle
Few cities in the nation can match Norfolk for its blend of award-winning contemporary style and rich historical heritage. With its vibrant city skyline, fascinating waterfront, and wealth of amenities, Norfolk is intent on retaining its ranking as one of the Top Ten most livable cities as well as its listing in the book, 50 Fabulous Places to Retire in America. Business, industry and residential sectors all reap the advantages of life in the hub of Hampton Roads. To the north is Ocean View, across the waterway is the Virginia Peninsula, to the east is Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth is conveniently situated to the southwest.

Recreational facilities and opportunities for outdoor adventure are outstanding in this region. Community recreation centers, golf courses, sweeping municipal parks, swimming pools, ballfields, play­grounds, tennis courts, and amphitheaters for concerts are all available within the city. A variety of public beaches and boat ramps appeal to water-sport enthusiasts of all ages. Hiking, biking, camping, boating, sailing, and horseback riding are just a few of the common pastimes.

Local performing arts centers like Willett Hall showcase a season of top performers and Broadway shows in an acoustically perfect environment. In addition to the nationally recognized Chrysler Museum, Norfolk is home to a premier arts community that includes children’s theater, opera, ballet, live stage performances, symphonies, choral groups, and every type of musical concert. Norfolk residents also enjoy the continual parade of famous musical artists who book engagements on their way to Virginia Beach venues.

City of Norfolk
“Renaissance” embodies the spirit of Norfolk, one of the most exciting examples of city renewal on the East Coast. From the Festival Marketplace called The Waterside, residents and visitors alike can watch the massive military ships as they share the city’s busy harbor with small ferries, sailboats, and commercial vessels. Just a few blocks away are some of Hampton Roads’ premier museums, art centers, and upscale shops. One of the latest additions is the MacArthur Center, a $30 million extravaganza of department stores, restaurants, and theaters.

Sweeping revitalization is evident in every corner of the waterfront city. Highly visible examples include Harbor Park, home of the Triple A Norfolk Tides’ state-of-the-art baseball stadium; the prestigious Marriott hotel and convention center; and Nauticus, the futuristic space-age museum that rivals the Louvre. In recent years, city renewal efforts totaling more than $400 million from public and private investors have sent downtown property values soaring. Complementing the excitement of downtown is the fashionable restaurant and shopping district of Ghent, another Hampton Roads historic treasure.

Although manufacturing enterprises abound in Norfolk, a portion of the city’s downtown district serves as the legal and financial center of southeastern Virginia. Seven major banking institutions operate a home office or regional headquarters in downtown Norfolk, ranking the city among the highest for fiscal strength among the nation’s 50 wealthiest cities. Major employers are marked by diversity, from automotive manufacturing to financial institutions, shipbuilding operations, transportation, and government installations.

Housing options in Norfolk are as abundant as they are attractive. Newcomers can choose from handsome older homes in long-established neighborhoods or custom homes situated in modern developments with every modern amenity. Waterfront properties, historic row-houses, Cape Cods, colonials, sprawling ranches, beach cottages, condominiums, and multi-family complex are all available in a variety of price ranges.

Combining an award-winning contemporary lifestyle with a rich historical legacy, Norfolk offers newcomers the best of all worlds in a thriving metropolitan environment. Graced by a temperate climate and natural beauty, Norfolk adds a highly rated educational system, superb recreational amenities, a robust economy, and some of Hampton Roads’ most respected cultural and commercial attractions. Little wonder that so many of Virginia’s new residents and businesses are choosing Norfolk as the ideal place to call home.