Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...

and across the Elizabeth River from

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the Nort ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915. It is part of the

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...

metropolitan area. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth are historic and active U.S. Navy facilities located in Portsmouth.

History

In 1620, the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as a suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood, a shipbuilder, who petitioned King

James I of England James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until h ...

for a land grant. The surrounding area was soon settled as a plantation community.City of Portsmouth, Virginia - History
Historical Collections of Virginia - Portsmouth

Historical Collections of Virginia - Portsmouth

Portsmouth was founded by

Colonel William Crawford William Crawford (2 September 1732 – 11 June 1782) was an American soldier and surveyor who worked as a western land agent for George Washington. Crawford fought in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. He was tortured ...

, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. It was established as a town in 1752 by an act of the

Virginia General Assembly The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World, and was established on July 30, 1 ...

and was named for

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city status in the United Kingdom, city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is admi ...

, England. In 1767, Andrew Sprowle, a shipbuilder, founded the Gosport Shipyard adjacent to Portsmouth. The Gosport Shipyard at Portsmouth was owned by the

Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...

after the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of ...

and was sold to the new United States federal government. Yellow Fever Memorial in Laurel Hill Cemetery

In 1855, the Portsmouth and Norfolk area suffered an epidemic of

yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...

which killed 1 of every three citizens. It became an independent city from Norfolk County in 1858. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...

, in 1861, Virginia joined the

Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confede ...

. Fearing that the Confederacy would take control of the shipyard at Portsmouth, the shipyard commander ordered the burning of the shipyard. The Confederate forces did in fact take over the shipyard, and did so without armed conflict through an elaborate ruse orchestrated by civilian

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

builder William Mahone (soon to become a famous Confederate officer). The Union forces withdrew to

Fort Monroe Fort Monroe, managed by partnership between the Fort Monroe Authority for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the National Park Service as the Fort Monroe National Monument, and the City of Hampton, is a former military installation in Hampton, Virgi ...

across Hampton Roads, which was the only land in the area which remained under Union control. In early 1862, the Confederate

ironclad warship An ironclad is a steam engine, steam-propelled warship protected by Wrought iron, iron or steel iron armor, armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships ...

CSS ''Virginia'' was rebuilt using the burned-out hulk of USS ''Merrimack''. ''Virginia'' engaged the Union ironclad USS ''Monitor'' in the famous Battle of Hampton Roads during the Union blockade of

. The Confederates burned the shipyard again when they left in May 1862. Following the recapture of Norfolk and Portsmouth by the Union forces, the name of the shipyard was changed to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The name of the shipyard was derived from its location in Norfolk County. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard today is located entirely within the city limits of Portsmouth, Virginia. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard name has been retained to minimize any confusion with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which itself is actually located in

Kittery, Maine Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals. The southernmost tow ...

, across the

Piscataqua River The Piscataqua River ( Abenaki: ''Pskehtekwis'') is a tidal river forming the boundary of the U.S. states of New Hampshire and Maine from its origin at the confluence of the Salmon Falls River and Cochecho River. The drainage basin of the ri ...

from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. PortsmouthVirginiaLightship

During and after World War II, the shipyard flourished and suburban development surrounded both Norfolk and Portsmouth. Portsmouth continued as the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

of Norfolk County until 1963 when the new city of Chesapeake was formed in a political consolidation with the city of South Norfolk. Portsmouth's other county neighbor, the former

Nansemond County Nansemond is an extinct jurisdiction that was located south of the James River in Virginia Colony and in the Commonwealth of Virginia (after statehood) in the United States, from 1646 until 1974. It was known as Nansemond County until 1972. Fr ...

, also consolidated with a smaller city, forming the new city of Suffolk in 1974. One of the older cities of

, in the early 21st century, Portsmouth was undergoing moderate

urban renewal Urban renewal (also called urban regeneration in the United Kingdom and urban redevelopment in the United States) is a program of land redevelopment often used to address urban decay in cities. Urban renewal involves the clearing out of bligh ...

in the downtown. The APM "MAERSK" marine terminal for container ships opened in 2007 in the West Norfolk section.

Timeline

* 1752 - Portsmouth founded by politician William Crawford; named after Portsmouth, England. * 1779 - Portsmouth sacked by British forces during the

. * 1812 - Dismal Swamp Canal opens. * 1821 - Fire. * 1822 -

-Portsmouth steam ferry begins operating. * 1824 - October 25: Lafayette visits Portsmouth. (Timeline) * 1836 - Town of Portsmouth incorporated. * 1837 - Portsmouth & Roanoke Railroad begins operating. * 1840 -

Population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using ...

: 6,477. * 1846 - Norfolk County Courthouse built. * 1850 -

: 8,626. * 1855 -

Yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...

outbreak. * 1858 - City of Portsmouth incorporated as an independent city (separated from Norfolk County). * 1865 - Zion Baptist Church founded. * 1867 - Virginia Baptist State Convention organized during a meeting in Portsmouth. * 1870 - Population: 10,590. * 1890 - Became a stop on the Atlantic and Danville Railway. * 1894 - Annexation of portions of Norfolk County North of the cityJohn D. Eyre, “City-County Territorial Competition: The Portsmouth, Virginia Case”, Southeastern Geographer, Vol. 9, No. 2, An Issue Devoted to Political Geography (November, 1969), pp. 26-38 * 1900 - Lyceum Theatre in business. * 1910 - Population: 33,190. * 1909 – Annexation of portions of Norfolk County West of the city. * 1914 - Portsmouth Public Library opens. * 1919 – Expansion via the annexation of parts of Norfolk County that included the port zone (Pinner's Point) along the Elizbeth River to the north and residential areas to the West. * 1922 - Chevra Thilim Synagogue built. * 1939 - Lyric Theatre in business. * 1948 – The fourth annexation since becoming an independent city, pushing the city boundary westward to Western Branch. * 1949 - Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum established. * 1950 - Population: 80,039. * 1952 - Downtown Tunnel opens. * 1955 - Portsmouth Historical Association founded. * 1957 - WAVY-TV begins broadcasting. * 1960 - Population: 114,773. Portsmouth annexes additional portions of Norfolk County, including ten square miles and 36,000 residents. * 1963 - Public Library's "Local History Room" established. * 1966 - Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum established. * 1968 – Further annexation of Norfolk County including ten square miles of land, 14 square miles of water area, and 11,000 residents, all within the norther one-third of Western Branch Borough. * 1974 - Richard Joseph Davis becomes mayor. * 1981 - ''Portsmouth Times''

newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sport ...

begins publication. * 1984 -

James W. Holley III James W. Holley III (November 24, 1926 – October 5, 2012) was an American politician and dental surgeon. Holley became the first Black mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia, and ultimately the city's longest serving mayor, although both his mayoral t ...

becomes

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...

. * 1993 - Bobby Scott becomes U.S. representative for

Virginia's 3rd congressional district Virginia's third congressional district is a United States congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving the independent cities of Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, and part of the independent city of Chesapeak ...

. * 1998 - Museum of Military History established. * 2001 -

Randy Forbes James Randy Forbes (born February 17, 1952) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was the U.S. representative for , serving from 2001 to 2017. Prior to joining the United States Congress, he was a member of the Virgin ...

becomes U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district. * 2010 - Population: 95,535. * 2017 - John L. Rowe, Jr. becomes mayor.

Historic sites

Olde Towne

The Olde Towne Historic District features one of the largest collections of historically significant homes between

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of downtown Washington, D.C. In 2020, the population was 159,467. ...

and Charleston, South Carolina. The Emanuel

African Methodist Episcopal Church The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the AME Church or AME, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination. It adheres to Wesleyan-Arminian theology and has a connexional polity. The African Methodist Episcopal ...

was built by slaves and free men and is the second-oldest building in Portsmouth and the city's oldest black church. The city contains a number of other historic buildings, as well, including the Pass House, which was built in 1841 by Judge James Murdaugh and occupied by Union troops from 1862 to 1865. Federal forces required Portsmouth residents to obtain a written pass to travel across the Elizabeth River and beyond. These passes were issued from the

English basement An English basement is an apartment (flat in UK English) on the lowest floor of a building, generally a townhouse or brownstone, which is partially below and partially above ground level and which has its own entrance separate from those of th ...

and thus the name "Pass House" was derived.

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

Formerly the Naval Hospital Portsmouth, the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is a United States Navy medical center adjacent to the Olde Towne Historic District and

Park View Historic District Park View Historic District is a national historic district located at Portsmouth, Virginia. It encompasses 295 contributing buildings in a primarily residential section of northeast Portsmouth. It was developed in the late-19th and early-20th ...

. Founded in 1827, it is the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system with the motto "First and Finest."

Seaboard Coastline Building

Located at 1 High Street in the Olde Towne Historic District, the Seaboard Coastline Building is a historic train station and former headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line railroad company.

The Hill House

A four-story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings. It is evident from the furnishings that the Hill family were avid collectors and lived graciously over a period of 150 years. The house remains in its original condition, with limited renovation through the years.

Cedar Grove Cemetery

Established in 1832, Cedar Grove Cemetery is the oldest city-owned cemetery in Portsmouth. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth, Virginia, the cemetery is noted for its funerary art and the civic, business, maritime, religious and military leaders who are buried there. Historical markers placed throughout the cemetery allow for self-guided tours. The cemetery is located between Effingham Street and Fort Lane in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Entrance is through the south gate to the cemetery, located on London Boulevard.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy An economy is an area of th ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (28.0%) is water. The city is also bisected by the West Branch of the Elizabeth River which flows from neighboring

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include L ...

Climate

Portsmouth's mild humid subtropical climate means outdoor activities can be enjoyed year round. The weather in Portsmouth is temperate and seasonal. Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings. The mean annual temperature is , with an average annual snowfall of 3 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. No measurable snow fell in 1999. The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. The highest recorded temperature was 105.0 °F in 1980. The lowest recorded temperature was -3.0 °F on January 21, 1985. Additionally, the geographic location of the city, with respect to the principal storm tracks, is especially favorable, as it is south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes, and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms.Information fro
NOAA
Snow falls rarely, averaging per season.

Demographics

2020 census

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2010 Census

USA Portsmouth city, Virginia age pyramid

As of the 2010 census, there were 95,535 people, 38,170 households, and 25,497 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 3,032.7 people per square mile (1,170.9/km²). There were 41,605 housing units at an average density of 1,254.7 per square mile (484.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.3%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

, 41.6%

White White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...

, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Ocea ...

, 1.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population. There were 38,170 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% have a female household with no husband present and 33.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $46,340, and the median income for a family was $53,769. Males had a median income of $39,871 versus $33,140 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $23,108. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Tourism

Portsmouth has a long history as a port town and city. The Olde Towne Business and Historical District is located in the downtown area, where a combination of preservation and redevelopment has been underway. An example is Hawthorn Hotel & Suites at The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel, which was renovated and reopened in 2005 after being closed for more than 10 years. It has been recognized by Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historical Preservation that identifies hotels that have maintained their historical integrity, architecture and ambiance and provides resources for their preservation. The historic hotel was named for

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Robert Dinwiddie Robert Dinwiddie (1692 – 27 July 1770) was a British colonial administrator who served as lieutenant governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758, first under Governor Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, and then, from July 1756 ...

, who was the administrative head of the

Colony of Virginia The Colony of Virginia, chartered in 1606 and settled in 1607, was the first enduring English colonial empire, English colony in North America, following failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey GilbertG ...

during the time Portsmouth was founded in 1752. It was largely through his efforts that Virginia survived the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...

relatively well. (

Dinwiddie County Dinwiddie County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,947. Its county seat is Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie County is part of the Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The f ...

near Petersburg was also named for him). Other points of interest include the

Portsmouth City Park Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dense ...

, featuring the

narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller struc ...

Portsmouth City Railroad Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most densel ...

with an operating Chance Rides

C.P. Huntington ''C. P. Huntington'' is a 4-2-4T steam locomotive on static display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California, USA. It is the first locomotive purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad, carrying that railroad's number ...

locomotive named ''Pokey Smokey II''. The original ''Pokey Smokey'' locomotive was built by Crown Metal Products and ran at the park for many years before being sold at auction. It now runs on the

Mideast Railroad The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europea ...

in Ederville in Carthage, North Carolina. In addition, the

Railroad Museum of Virginia Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...

located at Harbor Center Way features vintage railroad artifacts, rolling stock, and an operating model train layout.

Sports

The Portsmouth Cavaliers were a basketball team founded in 2010 and played in the American Basketball Association for the 2011–12 season. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Cavaliers played their home games at the Chick-fil-A Fieldhouse on the campus of Portsmouth Catholic Regional School. The club spent one season in the American Professional Basketball League (APBL) before folding. Each April since 1953, the city hosts the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, where

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

seniors play in front of scouts from the NBA and top European leagues. Many top basketball stars played in the PIT before successful pro careers, including Jimmy Butler,

Scottie Pippin Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr. (born September 25, 1965), usually spelled Scottie Pippen, is an American former professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning six NBA championships with the ...

, Dennis Rodman, and John Stockton.

Government

Portsmouth is governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The current mayor is Navy veteran and businessman Shannon Glover. The City Hall Building, located at 801 Crawford Street, is the regular meeting place of the City Council of The City of Portsmouth, Virginia. The City Council is a legislative body served by six members, elected for four-year terms. * John S. White, 1852-1853 * Hezekiah Stoakes, 1854 * D. D. Fiske, 1855 * James G. Hodges, 1856-1857 * George W. Grice, 1858-1860 * John O. Lawrence, 1861 * John Nash, 1862 * Daniel Collins, 1863-1865 * James C. White, 1866 * James E. Stoakes, 1868 * E. W. Whipple, 1869 * Philip G. Thomas, 1870-1871 * A. S. Watts, 1872-1874 * John O'Connor, 1876-1877 * John Thompson Baird, 1878-1894 * L.H. Davis, 1894-1896 * John Thompson Baird, circa 1896-1902 * ? * Jack P. Barnes, circa 1973 * Richard Joseph Davis, 1974-1980 * Julian E. Johansen, circa 1980-1983 *

, 1984-1987 * Gloria Webb, 1987-1996 * James W. Holley III, 1996-2010 * Kenneth I. Wright, 2010-2017 * John Rowe, 2017–present

Law enforcement

The Portsmouth Police Department has about 255 sworn law enforcement officers and 380 total employees. In May 2019, Police Chief Tonya Chapman resigned from her position. She was replaced by Angela Greene who serves as interim chief. Ten Portsmouth policemen have died in the line of duty, the first in 1871. Four of these died from gunshot wounds.

Crime

Crime in the city is much higher than elsewhere in Virginia or the United States generally.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Portsmouth Public Schools Portsmouth Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia. There are 3 Prek centers, 15 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 2 other education centers. Administration Superintendent The superi ...

operates public schools. There are three public high schools in Portsmouth, Virginia, located at three corners of the city. In the northwest section of the city, off Cedar Lane, is Churchland High School. In the downtown section of the city, between London Blvd and High Street, is I.C. Norcom High School. In the southwest section of Portsmouth, on Elmhurst Lane, is Manor High School.

Higher education

There are a number of institutions of higher education in and in close proximity to Portsmouth. The city is home to the Tri-Cities Higher Education Center of Old Dominion University (ODU), a public research university founded in 1930 whose main campus is located in Norfolk, Virginia. Portsmouth is also home to the Fred W. Beazley Portsmouth Campus of

Tidewater Community College Tidewater Community College (TCC) is a public community college in South Hampton Roads, Virginia, with campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. It is part of the Virginia Community College System and is accredited ...

, a two-year higher education institution founded in 1968 in South Hampton Roads with additional campuses located in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.

Angelos Bible College Angelos Bible College is a Bible college in Portsmouth, Virginia. The college was founded by Dr. Allen R. McFarland senior pastor, Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church. Angelos is a member of Association of Christian Schools International and Ameri ...

was established in 1984.

Media

Portsmouth's daily newspaper is the '' Virginian-Pilot'' with The Currents being the Portsmouth edition of the Sunday paper. Other papers include the ''

New Journal and Guide The ''New Journal and Guide'' is a regional weekly newspaper based in Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads area. The weekly focuses on local and national African-American news, sports, and issues and has been in circulation since 19 ...

'', and '' Inside Business''. ''Hampton Roads Magazine'' serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Portsmouth and the

area. The ''Hampton Roads Times'' serves as an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties. Portsmouth is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the

area. Portsmouth is also served by several television stations. The Hampton Roads

designated market area A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television and radio station offerings, and may also incl ...

(DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.).Holmes, Gary.
Nielsen Reports 1.1% increase in U.S. Television Households for the 2006-2007 Season
." ''

Nielsen Media Research Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rat ...

.'' September 23, 2006. Retrieved on September 28, 2007. The major network television affiliates are

WTKR-TV WTKR (channel 3) is a television station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, United States, serving the Hampton Roads area as an affiliate of CBS. It is owned by E. W. Scripps Company alongside Portsmouth-licensed CW affiliate WGNT (channel 27). ...

3 ( CBS), WAVY 10 ( NBC), WVEC-TV 13 ( ABC), WGNT 27 ( CW), WTVZ 33 (

MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...

), WVBT 43 (

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...

), and WPXV 49 (

ION Television Ion Television is an American broadcast television network owned by the Katz Broadcasting subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company. The network first began broadcasting on August 31, 1998, as Pax TV, focusing primarily on family-oriented ent ...

). The

Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educa ...

stations are WHRO-TV 15, Hampton/Norfolk and WUND-TV 2, Edenton, NC. Portsmouth residents also can receive independent stations, such as WSKY broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and

WGBS-LD WGBS-LD, virtual channel 7 ( VHF digital channel 12), is a low-powered Retro TV- affiliated television station licensed to Carrollton, Virginia, United States and serving the Greater Hampton Roads area. The station is owned by Joan Wright. Di ...

broadcasting on channel 11 from Hampton. Portsmouth is served by Cox Cable and Verizon FIOS. DirecTV and

Dish Network DISH Network Corporation (DISH, an acronym for DIgital Sky Highway) is an American television provider and the owner of the direct-broadcast satellite provider Dish, commonly known as Dish Network, and the over-the-top IPTV service, Sling TV ...

are also popular as an alternative to

cable television Cable television is a system of delivering television programming to consumers via radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through coaxial cables, or in more recent systems, light pulses through fibre-optic cables. This contrasts with bro ...

in Portsmouth. WAVY-TV and

WVBT-TV WVBT (channel 43) is a television station licensed to Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States, serving the Hampton Roads area as an affiliate of the Fox network. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Portsmouth-licensed NBC affiliate WAV ...

are both sister stations owned by Nexstar and have their office and studio located in the city.

Infrastructure

Transportation

From the earliest development, Portsmouth has been oriented to the water. In the 1830s, it was the first community in Hampton Roads to receive a new land transportation innovation, railroad service. The

Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad The Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad was organized in 1833 (as the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad) to extend from the area of the rapids of the Roanoke River at its fall line near Weldon, North Carolina to Portsmouth, Virginia, across the Elizabeth ...

, a predecessor of the

Seaboard Air Line Railroad The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad which existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, t ...

, extended to the rapids of the Roanoke River on its fall line near Weldon, North Carolina. It was to be 20 more years before its bigger neighbor, the city of Norfolk, also received a rail line, in 1858, when the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed. The

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was a United States Class I railroad formed in 1900, though predecessor railroads had used the ACL brand since 1871. In 1967 it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coas ...

operated passenger trains #36 and #5 to and from its North Portsmouth Station to Rocky Mount, North Carolina until 1954. In earlier years ACL ran trains including the ''Tar Heel'' all the way south to Wilmington, North Carolina. Seaboard RR Terminal Portsmouth VA

From Seaboard Terminal the Seaboard Air Line and then the

Seaboard Coast Line Railroad The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was a Class I railroad company operating in the Southeastern United States beginning in 1967. Its passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971. Eventually, the railroad was merged with its affiliate li ...

operated #17 and #18 to and from

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the South ...

, where the train joined with those companies' '' Silver Comet.'' The SAL also operated a local all-coach train (#3-11 southbound/#6-10 northbound) to Atlanta from the terminal. The 17/18 trains ended in 1968. Portsmouth is primarily served by the

Norfolk International Airport Norfolk International Airport is seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, an independent city in Virginia, United States. It is owned and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority: a bureau under the municipal government. The ai ...

, now the region's major commercial airport. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits of neighboring

and

Virginia Beach Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous cit ...

. 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.

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is in Newport News, Virginia, United States, and serves the Hampton Roads area along with Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk. The airport is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Comm ...

also provides commercial air service for the

area. The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles (8 km) outside the city limits. In the 21st century, the city has access to lines of CSX Transportation,

Norfolk Southern The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31, ...

and three short line railroads.

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...

provides service to points along the

Northeast Corridor The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line in the Northeast megalopolis of the United States. Owned primarily by Amtrak, it runs from Boston through Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Philadelphia, Wilmington, ...

from Newport News station across the Hampton Roads, and from Norfolk station across the Elizabeth River. Portsmouth is served by Interstate 264 and Interstate 664, which is part of the Hampton Roads Beltway. U.S. Route 17 and

U.S. Route 58 U.S. Route 58 (US 58) is an east–west U.S. Highway that runs for from U.S. Route 25E just northwest of Harrogate, Tennessee, to U.S. Route 60 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1996, when the Cumberland Gap Tunnel opened, US 58 ran only ...

pass through. The Elizabeth River is crossed via the Midtown Tunnel, the Downtown Tunnel and Berkley Bridge combination. Transportation within the city, as well as the other cities of Hampton Roads, is served by a regional bus service, Hampton Roads Transit.

Notable people

V. C. Andrews Cleo Virginia Andrews (June 6, 1923 – December 19, 1986), better known as V. C. Andrews or Virginia C. Andrews, was an American novelist. Profile Andrews's novels combine Gothic horror and family saga, revolving around family secrets and forb ...

(1923-1986), bestselling novelist *

James P. Berkeley James Phillips Berkeley (July 1, 1907 – February 13, 1995) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps who attained the rank of lieutenant general. He is most noted as Signal Officer of 5th Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima and ...

(1907-1985), USMC general and expert in

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* Marty Brennaman (1942-), long-time

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

radio broadcaster *

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the " Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for At ...

(1928-2006), R&B singer and actress *

Bebe Buell Beverle Lorence "Bebe" Buell (born July 14, 1953) is an American singer and model. She was ''Playboy'' magazine's November 1974 Playmate of the Month. Buell moved to New York in 1972 after signing a modeling contract with Eileen Ford, and garnere ...

(1953-), Playboy Playmate, fashion model, singer, mother of Liv Tyler *

John T. Casteen III John Thomas Casteen III (born December 11, 1943, in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an American educator. He served as president of the University of Connecticut from 1985 to 1990 and as Professor of English and president of the University of Virginia f ...

(1943-), President of the University of Virginia, born in Portsmouth * Deborah Coleman (1956–2018), blues musician *

Fanny Murdaugh Downing Fanny Murdaugh Downing (, Murdaugh; pen names, Viola and Frank Dashmore; October 19, 1831 - May 6, 1894) was a 19th-century American author and poet. She was the first resident novelist of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Downing's principal p ...

(1831-1894), author and poet *

Jamin Elliott Jamin Elliott (born October 5, 1979) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round in 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Delaware. With the New England Patriots, he won Super Bowl ...

(1979-), former NFL wide receiver with the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and Atlanta Falcons * Missy Elliott (1971-), recording artist, award-winning producer, singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and clothing line designer * Perry Ellis (1940-1986), fashion designer, founded a sportswear house in the mid-1970s * Dorian Finney-Smith (1993-), Professional basketball player for the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference Southwest Division. The ...

* Mordechai Gifter (1915-2001), among the foremost American religious leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the late 20th century * Melvin Gregg (1988-), American actor and model * Chandler Harper, (1914-2004), winner of the 1950 PGA golf championship * Ken Hatfield, classical guitarist *

(1926-2012), politician, first African-American mayor of any city in the Hampton Roads region (Portsmouth) * W. Nathaniel "Nat" Howell (1939-2020), State Dept. Foreign Service officer, former Ambassador to

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the no ...

; Professor emeritus, the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with College admission ...

* Chad Hugo (1974-), American record producer and songwriter * Ben Jones (1941-), actor "Cooter" on '' The Dukes of Hazzard''; U.S. Congressman, moved to Portsmouth as a child *

Jillian Kesner-Graver Jillian Kesner-Graver (August 9, 1949 – December 5, 2007), credited onscreen as Jillian Kesner, was an American actress and historian who worked with her husband, Gary Graver, to preserve the work and legacy of director Orson Welles. She was ...

(1949-2007), actress *

Jack T. Kirby Jack Temple Kirby (August 22, 1938 – August 6, 2009) was an American historian who wrote about the Southern United States and the persistent stereotyping of Southerners. He was awarded the Bancroft Prize for his 2006 book ''Mockingbird Song ...

(1938-2009), historian of the southern United States, awarded the

Bancroft Prize The Bancroft Prize is awarded each year by the trustees of Columbia University for books about diplomacy or the history of the Americas. It was established in 1948, with a bequest from Frederic Bancroft, in his memory and that of his brother, ...

for his 2006 book ''Mockingbird Song: Ecological Landscapes of the South'' *

Erik S. Kristensen Erik Samsel Kristensen (March 15, 1972 – June 28, 2005) was a Lieutenant commander of the United States Navy SEALs who was killed in action during Operation Red Wings. He and several other SEALs set off as part of a search and rescue mission, ...

(1972-2005), US Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander and highest decorated SEAL to be killed in

Operation Red Wings Operation Red Wings (often incorrectly referred to as ''Operation Redwing'' or ''Operation Red Wing''), informally referred to as the Battle of Abbas Ghar, was a joint military operation conducted by the United States in the Pech District ...

* Rita Lavelle (1947–), assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency * Nathan McCall (1955-), African-American author who grew up in the Cavalier Manor section of Portsmouth, Virginia * Pete Mikolajewski (1943-), football player * James Murphy (1967-),

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guitarist, member of the bands

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

Testament A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament. Testament or The Testament can also refer to: Books * ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book * ''Testament'', a thriller nov ...

, Obituary and Disincarnate *

Wendell Cushing Neville Wendell Cushing Neville (May 12, 1870 – July 8, 1930) was a major general of the United States Marine Corps. He was a Medal of Honor recipient and 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1929 and 1930. Military career Neville was born ...

(1870-1930), 14th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps *

Tommy Newsom Thomas Penn Newsom (February 25, 1929 – April 28, 2007) was a saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'', for which he later became assistant director. Newsom was frequently the band's substitute dir ...

(1929-2007), assistant bandleader for the Johnny Carson Band * Patton Oswalt (1969-), writer, stand-up comedian, and actor * John L. Porter (1813-1893), President of the first City Council, a naval constructor for United States Navy and the Confederate States Navy. * Dave Robertson (1889-1970), MLB outfielder 1912–22, played in World Series for

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisio ...

; born in Portsmouth * William Russ (1950-), actor * Dave Smith (1942-), poet, novelist * Wanda Sykes (1964-), writer, stand-up comedian, and actress *

Ted Thomas, Sr. Bishop Ted Gera Thomas Sr. (October 19, 1935 – June 24, 2020) was an American cleric with the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) who was consecrated to be the senior bishop of the Historic First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Virginia, one of the l ...

(1935-2020),

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement

African-American preacher, pastor of New Community Temple

Church of God in Christ The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is a Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi-ethnic religious organization, it has a predominantly ...

* Mike Watt (1957-), bassist, singer and songwriter * Nicole Wray(1979-), R&B singer and songwriter

Sister cities

, United Kingdom *

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

, New Zealand * Orizaba,

Veracruz Veracruz (), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), is one of the 31 states which, along with Me ...

, Mexico *

Eldoret Eldoret is a principal town in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. The town was referred to by white settlers as Farm 64, 64 and colloquially by locals as 'Sisibo'. As per the 2019 Kenya Populatio ...

, Kenya * Goree Island, Senegal

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * circa 1916- * * * *

External links

City of Portsmouth municipal website

Portsmouth city directories
19th-20th c. (via Norfolk Public Library) *
Items related to Portsmouth, Virginia
various dates (via Digital Public Library of America) {{authority control Cities in Virginia 1752 establishments in Virginia Populated places in Hampton Roads Black Belt (U.S. region) Majority-minority counties and independent cities in Virginia