| Hampton Roads is the world's largest naval | | | | a nautical term that means "a place less |
| facility. Regardless of where you live in | | | | sheltered than a harbor where ships may ride |
| Hampton Roads, you are only minutes from a | | | | at anchor." Today, Hampton Roads refers to |
| naval base. The Navy owns 36,000 acres of | | | | both the water and the land in the area. |
| land and more than 6,750 buildings in Hampton | | | | |
| Roads. There are approximately 108,000 Navy | | | | Hampton Roads is a natural tidal basin that |
| and Marine Corps personnel stationed in this | | | | is formed by the confluence of the Elizabeth |
| area and the Navy employees more than 41,000 | | | | and the James Rivers. The Port of Hampton |
| civilians. Between dependents, retirees and | | | | Roads is known as the world's greatest |
| employees, 318,000 people make up the Hampton | | | | natural harbor. The port is only 18 miles |
| Roads Navy community. This large military | | | | from the open Atlantic Ocean and one of the |
| presence adds about 11 billion dollars to the | | | | world's deepest, naturally ice-fee harbors. |
| local economy every year. | | | | |
| | | | Because Hampton Roads is a water area, many |
| In 1983, Hampton Roads became the official | | | | people choose to make there home here. |
| name for the region. The southeastern part of | | | | Boating, fishing, water sports or just living |
| the state is known as Hampton Roads and | | | | on the water are great reasons to live in |
| encompasses the towns of Norfolk, Virginia | | | | this area. |
| Beach, Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth on | | | | |
| the Southside. The peninsula has Newport News | | | | The region is served by two major airports, |
| and Hampton. | | | | several universities, including Old Dominion |
| | | | and the College of William and Mary, which is |
| Hampton Roads began its history in 1607 when | | | | ranked the second oldest university in the |
| the Discovery, Godspeed and the Susan | | | | United States. |
| Constant landed on the south shore of | | | | |
| Chesapeake Bay. Later that same year, | | | | The area has mild weather all year long, with |
| Jamestown was established by Captain John | | | | a long spring and a long fall, museums, art |
| Smith and became the first permanent English | | | | galleries, theaters, all the shopping you |
| settlement in the United States. | | | | would expect in a metropolitan area, |
| | | | restaurants, historical sites, and much more. |
| The term Hampton Roads is a reference that | | | | You will never want for something to do in |
| originated when the region was still a | | | | this area. |
| struggling British outpost. Roads is actually | | | | |