Overview

Introduction to Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake is a city in southeastern Virginia, situated about 11 miles south of Norfolk and about 12 miles north of the North Carolina border. It is also surrounded by Virginia Beach (to the east) and Suffolk (to the west). The city is serviced by Interstates I-64 and I-464 (connecting it to Norfolk); as well as U.S. Routes 13, 17, 58, and 460; and Virginia State Highway 168. Chesapeake Regional Airport is the city's general aviation facility, with Norfolk International Airport located nearby for commercial passenger service.

The City of Chesapeake was formed in 1963 when Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk merged. The actual history of Chesapeake goes back much further...to the early 1600s when the area was first settled. The historic Battle of Great Bridge took place in what is now Chesapeake in 1775, marking an early Revolutionary War victory for American troops over the forces of British Royal governor Lord Dunmore. In 1793, work began on the Dismal Swamp Canal, which opened in 1805, but later experienced hard times and is today part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. By 1920 South Norfolk had developed to the point where it was incorporated as a city, but by the 1950s, had fallen victim (along with Norfolk County) to annexation suits filed by neighboring cities. Finding it difficult to plan for the future, the two municipalities consolidated as the new city of Chesapeake in 1963. The city has continued to experience growth since that time, and today stands as a unique blend of rural and urban centers, with miles of waterfront industrial, commercial and residential property.

Chesapeake Area Attractions

Few locations offer as wide a variety of things to see and places to visit as the Hampton Roads metro area, and Chesapeake sits at the hub of the activity. The city is only 15 minutes from Norfolk, 20 minutes from the oceanfront, and 40 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg. Chesapeake has plenty of attractions in its own right, some of which are listed here:

  • Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway: the historic waterway linking the Chesapeake Bay to North Carolina’s sounds.
  • Chesapeake Arboretum: Headquartered in an eighteenth century farmhouse with 48 acres of native plants and trees and trail systems which meander through a mature hardwood forest.
  • Chesapeake City Park: A 75-acre site which hosts the annual Chesapeake Jubilee and Symphony Under the Stars and also houses the Chesapeake Skate Park.
  • Chesapeake Planetarium: The first planetarium built by a public school system in the state of Virginia.
  • Chesapeake Veteran’s Memorial: Commemorates the service and sacrifice of Chesapeake citizens who have served or are serving in the military.
  • Deep Creek Lock Park: Heavily wooded with a pedestrian bridge and foot trails.
  • Dismal Swamp Canal Trail: An 8.5 mile long multipurpose trail which accommodates horse owners, bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and boat owners.
  • Great Bridge Lock Park: A 19-acre venue featuring a two-lane boat ramp, picnic shelters, a foot trail, a large play area, and extensive fishing and crabbing areas.
  • Portlock Galleries at SoNo: A renovated contemporary art gallery which hosts local and traveling exhibits.

Virginia is the most populous U.S. state which does not host a major professional sports league franchise. However, the Chesapeake area is within short driving distance from the host venues of some quality minor-league professional teams. The Norfolk Tides, a Class Triple-A farm team for the Baltimore Orioles, play their International League home games at Harbor Park located only 15 minutes away in the city of Norfolk. Also in Norfolk are the Norfolk Admirals, a minor-league pro ice hockey team which competes in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Admirals are affiliated with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. Nearby Hampton is the home of the Hampton Roads Piranhas, a soccer team belonging to the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL).

Demographics

People

Total Population237,820
Male Share of the Population48.9%
Female Share of the Population51.1%
Senior Citizens12.5%
Employed Population 16+115,605
Age of the Population37

Families

% of people married52.4%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher30.9%
Median Earnings25+$44,158
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$22,037
Median Earnings With High School Degree$32,391

Wealth

Median Family Income$86,016
% Above Poverty Level91%
% Below Poverty Level9%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time26 minutes
% Working from Home4%
% Walking and Biking to Work1.4%
% Using Public Transportation0.5%

Housing

People Living Alone21%
Median Gross Rent$1,235
Median House Value$265,600

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)39.3%
German9.1%
Irish8.5%
English8.4%
Italian4.1%
Polish1.9%
Scottish1.6%
French Except Basque1.6%
African1.2%
West Indian0.8%
Welsh0.6%
Norwegian0.6%
Dutch0.6%
Canadian0.4%
Swedish0.4%
Russian0.4%
Hungarian0.3%
Jamaican0.3%
Arab0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Portuguese0.2%
Greek0.2%
Czech0.2%
Danishn0.2%
Lebanese0.1%
Barbadian0.1%
Haitian0.1%
Ukrainian0.1%
Trinidad Tobago0.1%
Slovak0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Lithuanian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Finnish0.1%
Somali0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
Swiss0.1%
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Chesapeake Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyChesapeake city, Chesapeake City
Standard Zip Codes23320, 23322, 23325, 23321, 23323, 23324
P.O. Box Zip Codes23327, 23328
Company Zip Codes23326
Phone Area Codes757
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude36.75
Approximate Longitude-76.22

Chesapeake Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationNORFOLK INTL AP
Distance11.9 miles
Jan Temp32 to 48 F
Apr Temp48 to 67 F
Jul Temp71 to 87 F
Oct Temp53 to 69 F
Annual Precip45.7 inches
StationSUFFOLK LAKE KILBY
Distance17.7 miles
Jan Temp30 to 49 F
Apr Temp47 to 70 F
Jul Temp69 to 88 F
Oct Temp50 to 71 F
Annual Precip48.7 inches
StationELIZABETH CITY
Distance29.6 miles
Jan Temp32 to 53 F
Apr Temp48 to 72 F
Jul Temp70 to 89 F
Oct Temp52 to 74 F
Annual Precip48.2 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Hampton135,583$66,761
Newport News180,145$63,378
Norfolk245,592$59,062
Portsmouth95,311$61,014
Suffolk89,160$82,946
Virginia Beach450,135$85,537

Chesapeake Public Libraries

Chesapeake Public Library
298 CEDAR ROAD
Chesapeake, Virginia
(757) 410-7101

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More Information for Librarians

Chesapeake Hospitals

The Surgery Center Of Chesapeake
844 Battlefield Boulevard North
(757) 312-6800
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
(Government - District/authority)
736 Battlefield Boulevard North
(757) 312-8120
Surgery Center Of Chesapeake
(Government - District/authority)
844 Battlefield Boulevard North
(757) 312-6800

Chesapeake Public Schools

B M Williams Primary
1100 Battlefield Blvd N
ZIP: 23320
(757) 547-0238
Primary
Total Enrollment 929
Crestwood Intermediate
1240 Great Bridge Blvd
ZIP: 23320
(757) 494-7565
Primary
Total Enrollment 779
Crestwood Middle
1420 Great Bridge Blvd
ZIP: 23320
(757) 494-7560
Middle
Total Enrollment 583
Greenbrier Int.
1701 River Birch Run N
ZIP: 23320
(757) 578-7080
Primary
Total Enrollment 674
Greenbrier Middle
1016 Greenbrier Pkwy
ZIP: 23320
(757) 548-5309
Middle
Total Enrollment 913
Greenbrier Primary
1551 Eden Way South
ZIP: 23320
(757) 436-3428
Primary
Total Enrollment 722
Oscar F Smith High
1994 Tiger Dr
ZIP: 23320
(757) 548-0696
High
Total Enrollment 2231
Southeastern Va Tr Ctr Ep
2100 Steppingstone Square
ZIP: 23320
(804) 424-8270
Other
Edwin W Chittum Elem
2008 Dock Landing Rd
ZIP: 23321
(757) 465-6300
Primary
Total Enrollment 788
Jolliff Middle
1021 Jolliff Rd.
ZIP: 23321
(757) 465-5246
Middle
Total Enrollment 716
Southwestern Elem
4410 Airline Blvd
ZIP: 23321
(757) 465-6310
Primary
Total Enrollment 535
Western Branch High
1968 Bruin Pl
ZIP: 23321
(757) 638-7900
High
Total Enrollment 2164
Western Branch Int
4013 Terry Dr
ZIP: 23321
(757) 638-7941
Primary
Total Enrollment 737
Western Branch Middle
4201 Hawksley Dr
ZIP: 23321
(757) 638-7920
Middle
Total Enrollment 808
Western Branch Primary
4122 Terry Dr
ZIP: 23321
(757) 638-7951
Primary
Total Enrollment 694
Butts Road Int
1571 Mt Pleasant Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 482-4566
Primary
Total Enrollment 719
Butts Road Primary
1000 Mt Pleasant Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 482-5820
Primary
Total Enrollment 569
Cedar Road Elem
1605 Cedar Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 547-0166
Primary
Total Enrollment 787
Chesapeake Ctr For Sci &tech
1617 Cedar Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 547-0134
Chesapeake Secep Center
369 Battlefield Blvd. South
ZIP: 23322
(757) 485-4735
Great Bridge High
301 West Hanbury Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 482-5191
High
Total Enrollment 1415
Great Bridge Int
253 West Hanbury Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 482-4405
Primary
Total Enrollment 658
Great Bridge Middle
441 Battlefield Blvd S
ZIP: 23322
(757) 482-5128
Middle
Total Enrollment 1283
Great Bridge Primary
408 Cedar Rd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 547-1135
Primary
Total Enrollment 554
Hickory Elem
109 Benefit Road
ZIP: 23322
(757) 421-7080
Primary
Total Enrollment 465
Hickory High
1996 Hawk Blvd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 421-4295
High
Total Enrollment 1766
Hickory Middle
1997 Hawk Blvd
ZIP: 23322
(757) 421-0468
Middle
Total Enrollment 1497
Southeastern Elem
1853 Battlefield Blvd S
ZIP: 23322
(757) 421-7676
Primary
Total Enrollment 739
Tidewater Juvenile Detention Home - Chesapeake
420 Albemarle Dr.
ZIP: 23322
(757) 382-6788
Camelot Elem
2901 Guenevere Dr
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5347
Primary
Total Enrollment 573
Deep Creek Central Elem
2448 Shipyard Rd
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5356
Primary
Total Enrollment 613
Deep Creek Elem
2809 Forehand Dr
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5333
Primary
Total Enrollment 754
Deep Creek High
2900 Margaret Booker Dr
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5302
High
Total Enrollment 1475
Deep Creek Middle
1955 Deal Dr
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5321
Middle
Total Enrollment 449
G A Treakle Elem
2500 Gilmerton Rd
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5361
Primary
Total Enrollment 526
Grassfield Elem
2248 Averill Dr.
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-8923
Primary
Total Enrollment 902
Grassfield High
2007 Grizzly Trail
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-4749
High
Total Enrollment 2094
Grassfield High School Governor's Stem Academy
2007 Grizzly Trail
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-4493
Hugo A Owens Middle
1997 Horseback Run
ZIP: 23323
(757) 558-5382
Middle
Total Enrollment 1116
George W Carver Int
2601 Broad St
ZIP: 23324
(757) 494-7505
Primary
Total Enrollment 592
Oscar Smith Middle
2500 Rodgers St
ZIP: 23324
(757) 494-7590
Middle
Total Enrollment 1023
Portlock Primary
1857 Varsity Dr
ZIP: 23324
(757) 494-7555
Primary
Total Enrollment 616
Rena B Wright Primary
600 Park Ave
ZIP: 23324
(757) 494-7585
Primary
Total Enrollment 327
Thurgood Marshall Elem
2706 Border Road
ZIP: 23324
(757) 494-7515
Primary
Total Enrollment 529
Truitt Intermediate
1100 Holly Ave
ZIP: 23324
(757) 494-8014
Primary
Total Enrollment 310
Chesapeake Alternative
605 Providence Road
ZIP: 23325
(757) 578-7046
Georgetown Primary
436 Providence Rd
ZIP: 23325
(757) 578-7060
Primary
Total Enrollment 847
Indian River High
1969 Braves Trl
ZIP: 23325
(757) 578-7000
High
Total Enrollment 1632
Indian River Middle
2300 Old Greenbrier Rd
ZIP: 23325
(757) 578-7030
Middle
Total Enrollment 788
Norfolk Highlands Primary
1115 Myrtle Ave
ZIP: 23325
(757) 578-7092
Primary
Total Enrollment 350
Sparrow Road Intermediate
1605 Sparrow Rd
ZIP: 23325
(757) 578-7050
Middle
Total Enrollment 466

Chesapeake Private Schools

Apple Tree Learning Center
1101 Volvo Pkwy
ZIP: 23320
Elementary
Total Enrollment 20
Atlantic Shores Christian School
1217 Centerville Tpke N
ZIP: 23320
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 594
Basics Primary School & Daycare
1509 River Birch Run N
ZIP: 23320
Elementary
Total Enrollment 9
Greenbrier Christian Academy
311 Kempsville Rd
ZIP: 23320
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 518
Greenbrier Enrichment Center & School
825 Greenbrier Pkwy
ZIP: 23320
Elementary
Total Enrollment 62
Icw Baptist Church School
1200 Kempsville Rd
ZIP: 23320
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 49
Montessori Academy Of Virginia
1468 Kempsville Rd
ZIP: 23320
Elementary
Total Enrollment 45
New Galilee Early Childhood Development Center
1013 Great Bridge Blvd
ZIP: 23320
Elementary
Total Enrollment 7
Tidewater Adventist Academy
1136 Centerville Tpke N
ZIP: 23320
Elementary
Total Enrollment 42
Stone Bridge School
1629 A Jolliff Rd
ZIP: 23321
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 269
A World Of Children
752 Cedar Rd
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 22
Cedar Road Christian Academy
916 Cedar Rd
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 63
Great Bridge Presbyterian Preschool
333 Cedar Rd
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 16
Great Bridge Preschool
201 Stadium Dr
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 22
Great Hope Baptist School
1401 Battlefield Blvd S
ZIP: 23322
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 97
Mount Lebanon Christian Academy
884 Bells Mill Rd
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 36
Mt Pleasant Christian School
1613 Mt Pleasant Rd
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 94
Promote Family Preschool & Childcare
304 Newberry Dr
ZIP: 23322
Elementary
Total Enrollment 6
Chesapeake Montessori School
2013 Scenic Pkwy
ZIP: 23323
Elementary
Total Enrollment 90
Faith Diamond Christian Academy
1023 Deep Creek Blvd
ZIP: 23323
Elementary
Total Enrollment 54
Cathedral Of Faith Christian School
2020 Portlock Rd
ZIP: 23324
Elementary
Total Enrollment 11
Chesapeake Christian Academy
1229 Hazel Ave
ZIP: 23325
Elementary
Total Enrollment 6
Cornerstone Christian School
1212 Willow Ave
ZIP: 23325
Elementary
Total Enrollment 66
Providence Christian School
501 Providence Rd
ZIP: 23325
Elementary
Total Enrollment 109
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