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