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