99-600: The Chesapeake – Leopard affair was a naval engagement off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia , on June 22, 1807, between the British fourth-rate HMS Leopard and the American frigate USS Chesapeake . The crew of Leopard pursued, attacked, and boarded the American frigate, looking for deserters from the Royal Navy . Chesapeake was caught unprepared and after a short battle involving broadsides received from Leopard ,
198-486: A white flag , in itself, is not an indication of surrender. Rather, hoisting a white flag indicates a request for a truce in order to communicate with the enemy . Under the Geneva Conventions , persons carrying or waving a white flag are still not to be fired upon, nor are they allowed to open fire. Nailing the colors to the mast is a traditional sign of defiance, indicating that the colors will never be struck, that
297-589: A broad pendant and English colours and ranged under my lee quarter—unable to resist I was compelled to strike the Flag of the United States." Captain David Porter , USN, of U.S. frigate Essex reported the capture of HM brig Alert on 13 August 1812 in these words: "He avoided the dreadful consequences that our broad side would in a few moments have produced by prudentially striking his colours." On 19 August 1812,
396-575: A city. On June 7, 1855, the 183-foot vessel Benjamin Franklin put into Hampton Roads for repairs. The ship had just sailed from the West Indies , where there had been an outbreak of yellow fever . The port health officer ordered the ship quarantined. After eleven days, a second inspection found no issues, so it was allowed to dock. A few days later, the first cases of yellow fever were discovered in Norfolk, and
495-447: A female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06. The age distribution was 24.0% under the age of 18, 18.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
594-447: A large internal market for slavery. The invention of the cotton gin in the late-eighteenth century had made profitable the cultivation of short-staple cotton in the uplands, which was widely practiced. The American Colonization Society proposed to " repatriate " free blacks and freed slaves to Africa by establishing the new colony of Liberia and paying for transportation. But most African Americans wanted to stay in their birthplace of
693-487: A long history tied to the Chesapeake Bay . The city's revitalization in recent decades has transformed neighborhoods such as Downtown , Ghent and Fairmount Park . Popular residential neighborhoods include Ghent, Colonial Place, Larchmont, North Shore, Edgewater, and Lafayette Shores. Narrative below is based on climate data from the 1991–2020 period. Norfolk has a humid subtropical climate and its USDA Hardiness Zone
792-404: A machinist died from the disease on July 8. By August, several people were dying per day, and a third of the city's population had fled in the hopes of escaping the epidemic. No one understood how the disease was transmitted. With both Norfolk and Portsmouth being infected, New York banned all traffic from those sites. Neighboring cities also banned residents from Norfolk. The epidemic spread through
891-527: A manufacturing plant located on the Elizabeth River that had produced the Model-T, sedans and station wagons before building F-150 pick-up trucks. Before it closed, the plant employed more than 2,600 people at the 2,800,000 sq ft (260,000 m ) facility. Striking the colors Striking the colors —meaning lowering the flag (the " colors ") that signifies a ship's or garrison's allegiance—is
990-593: A needless waste of lives, I order'd, though reluctantly, the Colours to be struck." The Journal of HMS Poictiers reports the capture of U.S. sloop of war Wasp on 18 October 1812 as follows: "Fired Several Shot at the chase, Observed [chase] hoist American Colours, ... Shortnd sail, the chase having Struck her colours." Captain William Bainbridge , USN, reported a battle of HM frigate Java with USS Constitution on 29 December 1812, "...Got very close to
1089-464: A policy of " massive resistance ". (At this time, most black citizens were still disfranchised under the state's turn-of-the-century constitution and discriminatory practices related to voter registration and elections.) The Virginia General Assembly prohibited state funding for integrated public schools. In 1958, United States district courts in Virginia ordered schools to open for the first time on
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#17328519720601188-662: A racially integrated basis. In response, Governor J. Lindsay Almond ordered the schools closed. The Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals declared the state law to be in conflict with the state constitution and ordered all public schools to be funded, whether integrated or not. About ten days later, Almond capitulated and asked the General Assembly to rescind several "massive resistance" laws. In February 1959, seventeen black children entered six previously segregated Norfolk public schools. Virginian-Pilot editor Lenoir Chambers editorialized against massive resistance and earned
1287-404: A round across her bow . This was followed immediately by Leopard firing broadsides into the American ship. Her guns unloaded and her decks cluttered with stores in preparation for a long cruise, Chesapeake managed to fire only a single gun in reply. The humiliated Barron struck his colors and surrendered. Three of Chesapeake ' s crew had been killed and 18 wounded, including Barron, by
1386-544: A signal of distress, she then hoisted an ensign upside down. Since the loss of rigging hindered visibility, her senior surviving officer made another sign, "I was compelled ... to wave my Hat in acknowledgement of having struck[,] the Ensign having fallen with the Gaff into the Water." [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of
1485-416: A simple construction. In the early nineteenth century, Neoclassical architectural elements began to appear in the federal style row homes, such as ionic columns in the porticoes and classic motifs over doorways and windows. Many Federal-style row houses were modernized by placing a Greek-style porch at the front. Greek and Roman elements were integrated into public buildings such as the old City Hall,
1584-762: A suburb. Additionally, Norfolk is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area , which includes the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA, the Elizabeth City, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area , and the Kill Devil Hills, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area. The CSA is the 32nd largest in the nation with an estimated population in 2013 of 1,810,266. In addition to extensive riverfront property, Norfolk has miles of bayfront resort property and beaches in
1683-408: A universally recognized indication of surrender , particularly for ships at sea. For a ship, surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck. "Colours. A national flag (or a battle ensign ). The colours ... are hauled down as a token of submission." International law absolutely requires a ship of war to fly its ensign at the commencement of any hostile acts, i.e., before firing on
1782-644: Is 8a. Spring arrives in March with mild days and cool nights, and by late May, the temperature has warmed up considerably to herald warm summer days. Summers are consistently warm and humid, but the nearby Atlantic Ocean often exercises a slight cooling effect on daytime high temperatures, but a slight warming effect on nighttime low temperatures (compared to areas farther inland). As such, temperatures reach 90 °F (32 °C) or higher on an average 35 days annually, and 100 °F (37.8 °C) are uncommon, occurring in fewer than one-third of all years. On average, July
1881-660: Is a major military center, particularly for the United States Navy , and Norfolk serves as the home for Naval Station Norfolk , the world's largest naval installation. Located on Sewell's Point Peninsula , in the northwest corner of the city, the station is the headquarters of the United States Fleet Forces Command (formerly known as the Atlantic Fleet), which compromises over 62,000 active-duty personnel, 75 ships, and 132 aircraft. The base also serves as
1980-581: Is aboard HMS Shannon during the engagement. The Chesapeake – Leopard affair is mentioned in the Boston Jacky novel of the Bloody Jack adventures series by L.A. Meyer . Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( locally / ˈ n ɔːr f ʊ k / NOR -fuuk ) is an independent city in Virginia , United States. As of the 2020 census , Norfolk had a population of 238,005, making it
2079-648: Is attributable to increases in defense spending. After the military, the second largest and most important industry for Hampton Roads and Norfolk based on economic impact are the region's cargo ports. Headquartered in Norfolk, the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is a Commonwealth of Virginia owned entity that, in turn, owns and operates three major port facilities in Hampton Roads for break-bulk and container type cargo. In Norfolk, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) represents one of those three facilities and
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#17328519720602178-575: Is home to the world's largest and fastest container cranes. Together, the three terminals of the VPA handled a total of over 2 million TEUs and 475,000 tons of breakbulk cargo in 2006, making it the second busiest port on the east coast of North America by total cargo volume after the Port of New York and New Jersey. In addition to NIT, Norfolk is home to the Lambert's Point docks, the largest coal trans-shipment point in
2277-422: Is the warmest month, with a normal mean temperature of 81.1 °F (27.3 °C). On average, July and August are the wettest months, due to frequent summer thunderstorm activity. In August and September, rainfall remains high, due to rising frequency of tropical activity (hurricanes and tropical storms), which can bring high winds and heavy rains. These usually brush Norfolk and only occasionally make landfalls in
2376-628: The American Revolution but were insufficient to allow the Royal Governor of Virginia John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore to make Norfolk his new capital after fleeing Williamsburg in 1775. On New Year's Day, 1776, Lord Dunmore's fleet of three ships shelled the city of Norfolk for more than eight hours. The gunfire, combined with fires started by the British and spread by the Patriots, destroyed more than 800 buildings, constituting nearly two-thirds of
2475-621: The Battle of Fort Sumter , another vote occurred on April 17, where Blow voted for secession, the vote passed and Virginia seceded from the Union . In the spring of 1862, the Battle of Hampton Roads took place off the northwest shore of the city's Sewell's Point Peninsula , marking the first fight between two ironclads , the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia . The battle ended in a stalemate but changed
2574-430: The Battle of Lexington have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation as at present, and even that did not produce such unanimity." James Monroe , then a foreign minister acting under instructions from U.S. Secretary of State James Madison, demanded British disavowal of the deed, the restoration of the four seamen, the recall of Admiral Berkeley, the exclusion of British warships from U.S. territorial waters, and
2673-669: The Chesapeake Mill in Wickham , England. The fallout from the Chesapeake – Leopard affair features prominently in two novels of the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian . It is first mentioned in the fifth novel, Desolation Island , when the fictional Captain Jack Aubrey is given command of Leopard (which he privately refers to as the "horrible old Leopard ") a few years after
2772-625: The Gosport Navy Yard , then commanded by Stephen Decatur . Decatur received a letter from the British consul ordering him to turn over three men alleged to have deserted from HMS Melampus . The consul claimed the men had enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which was recruiting a crew for Chesapeake , then at the Washington Navy Yard outfitting for a voyage to the Mediterranean . Vice-Admiral Sir George Berkeley dispatched his flagship,
2871-578: The North American Station , blockading two French third-rate warships in Chesapeake Bay . A number of Royal Navy seamen had deserted from their ships and local American authorities gave them sanctuary. One of the deserters, a Londoner named Jenkin Ratford, joined the crew of USS Chesapeake . Ratford had made himself conspicuous to British officers by shouting at them on the streets of Norfolk, Virginia . Other deserters were reported to be at
2970-488: The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing . With new suburban developments beckoning, many white middle-class residents moved out of the city along new highway routes, and Norfolk's population declined, a pattern repeated in numerous cities during the postwar era independently of segregation issues. In the late-1960s and early-1970s, the advent of newer suburban shopping destinations along with freeways spelled demise for
3069-579: The Secretary of the Navy , that "when perceiving our opponent's Gaff & Colours down ... I ... embraced the earliest moment to stop our fire and prevent the further effusion of blood." On 29 July 1812, at the start of the War of 1812 , Lt. William M. Crane , USN, commanding officer of U.S. brig Nautilus , reported his capture by a British squadron in these words: "the chasing ship put her helm up hoisted
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3168-471: The Willoughby Spit and Ocean View communities. Being low-lying and largely surrounded by water, Norfolk is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change . In addition, the land on which it is built is slowly subsiding . Some areas already flood regularly at high tide, and the city commissioned a study in 2012 to investigate how to address the issue in the future: it reported
3267-404: The fourth-rate warship HMS Leopard , with written orders authorizing him to board and search the United States warship to recover any deserters. Berkeley ordered Leopard ' s captain to search for deserters from HMS Belleisle , HMS Bellona , HMS Triumph , HMS Chichester , HMS Halifax , and the cutter HMS Zenobia . Chesapeake was off
3366-485: The third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Beach and Chesapeake , and the 96th-most populous city in the nation . Norfolk holds a strategic position as the historical, urban, financial, and cultural center of the Hampton Roads region (sometimes called " Tidewater "), which has more than 1.8 million inhabitants and is the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S., with ten cities. Norfolk
3465-491: The "Towne of Lower Norfolk County" in 1680. In 1691, a final county subdivision took place when Lower Norfolk County split to form Norfolk County (included in present-day cities of Norfolk, Chesapeake , and parts of Portsmouth ) and Princess Anne County (present-day Virginia Beach ). Norfolk was incorporated in 1705. In 1730, a tobacco inspection site was located here. According to the Tobacco Inspection Act ,
3564-519: The 87th most dangerous city larger than 75,000 inhabitants. In 2010, 4,727 people of Filipino ancestry lived in Norfolk. Chinese immigration occurred after 1885, and in 1995 300 families were members of the Chinese Community Association. Since Norfolk serves as the commercial and cultural center for the unusual geographical region of Hampton Roads (and in its political structure of independent cities), it can be difficult to separate
3663-541: The British government into settling the matter. The United States Congress backed away from armed conflict when British envoys showed no contrition for the Chesapeake affair, delivering proclamations reaffirming impressment . Jefferson's political failure to coerce Great Britain led him toward economic warfare: the Embargo of 1807 . On June 22, 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars , several British naval vessels were on duty on
3762-611: The City of Norfolk), chiefly on Thoroughgood's recommendation. This area of Virginia became known as the place of entrepreneurs, including men of the Virginia Company of London . Norfolk developed in the late-seventeenth century as a "Half Moone" fort was constructed and 50 acres (200,000 m ) were acquired from local natives of the Powhatan Confederacy in exchange for 10,000 pounds of tobacco. The House of Burgesses established
3861-554: The Northern Hemisphere, with an annual capacity of approximately 48,000,000 tons. Bituminous coal is primarily sourced from the Appalachian mountains in western Virginia, West Virginia , and Kentucky . The coal is loaded onto trains and sent to the port where it is unloaded onto large breakbulk cargo ships and destined for New England, Europe, and Asia. Between 1925 and 2007, Ford Motor Company operated Norfolk Assembly ,
3960-774: The Peninsula , Portsmouth , and Virginia Beach . In 1952, the Downtown Tunnel opened to connect Norfolk with the city of Portsmouth. The highways also stimulated the development of new housing suburbs, leading to the population spreading out. Additional bridges and tunnels included the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel in 1957, the Midtown Tunnel in 1962, and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway ( Interstate 264 and State Route 44 ) in 1967. In 1991,
4059-475: The Post Office building downtown. Art Deco consisted of streamlined concrete faced appearance with smooth stone or metal, with terracotta , and trimming consisting of glass and colored tiles . Norfolk has a variety of historic neighborhoods, notably Freemason and West Freemason. Some neighborhoods, such as Berkley , were formerly cities and towns. Others, including Willoughby Spit and Ocean View , have
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4158-500: The Revolutionary War's burning, Norfolk and its citizens struggled to rebuild. In 1804, another serious fire along the city's waterfront destroyed some 300 buildings and the city suffered a serious economic setback. In the War of 1812 between America and Great Britain, Norfolk saw action between American militia led by Richard Lawson and the British navy. On July 13, 1813. A British landing party of 8 marines and 16 sailors landed at
4257-451: The Tidewater, where it had been the primary commodity crop for generations. Virginia made some attempts to phase out slavery and manumissions increased in the two decades following the war. Thomas Jefferson Randolph gained passage of an 1832 resolution for gradual abolition in the state. However, by that time the increased demand from the settlement of the lower South states had created
4356-511: The U.S. frigate Constitution chased HM frigate Guerriere . "... it being now dark we could not see whether she had any colours, flying or not...[so I sent an officer under] a flag [of truce] to see whether she had surrendered or not." Captain James Richard Dacres , RN, of Guerriere reported the surrender of his ship, "When calling my few remaining officers together, they were all of opinion that any further resistance would be
4455-506: The US Navy's Norfolk Naval Shipyard is just across the Downtown Tunnel in Portsmouth . Most contracts fulfilled by these shipyards are issued by the Navy, though some private commercial repair also takes place. Over 35% of Gross Regional Product (which includes the entire Norfolk-Newport News-Virginia Beach MSA), is attributable to defense spending, and that 75% of all regional growth since 2001
4554-540: The US prepared to enter World War I , the Naval Air Station Hampton Roads had been constructed on the former exposition grounds. In the first half of the twentieth century, the city of Norfolk expanded its borders through annexation. In 1906, the city annexed the incorporated town of Berkley , making the city cross the Elizabeth River . In 1923, the city expanded to include Sewell's Point, Willoughby Spit ,
4653-486: The United States and achieve freedom and rights there. For a period, many emigrants to Liberia from Virginia and North Carolina embarked from the port of Norfolk. Joseph Jenkins Roberts , a free person of color native to Norfolk, emigrated via the American Colonization Society and later was elected as the first president of Liberia , establishing a powerful family. In 1845, Norfolk was incorporated as
4752-481: The United States but brought to Massachusetts, (possibly enslaved ) when he was six years old by mariner William Howland, from Buenos Aires . The brig Columbine brought the first dispatches to Halifax in early July. Leopard followed with her prisoners for trial. Jenkin Ratford, the sole British citizen, was sentenced to death and was hanged from the yardarm of Halifax on August 31, 1807. The three American deserters received sentences of 500 lashes each, but
4851-447: The abolition of impressments from vessels under the United States flag. The event raised tensions between the two countries and, while possibly not a direct cause, was one of the events leading up to the War of 1812 . Many Americans demanded war because of the attack, but President Jefferson turned to diplomacy and economic pressure in the form of the ill-fated Embargo Act of 1807 . The Federal government began to be concerned about
4950-526: The area; the highest-risk period is mid-August to the end of September. Fall is marked by mild to warm days and cooler nights. Winter is usually mild in Norfolk, with average winter days featuring lows near or slightly above freezing and highs in the upper-40s to mid-50s (8 to 13 °C). On average, the coldest month of the year is January, with a normal mean temperature of 42.2 °F (5.7 °C), Snow occurs sporadically, with an average winter accumulation of 6.2 in (15.7 cm). Norfolk's record high
5049-521: The attack. However, Humphreys refused the surrender and sent a boarding party to Chesapeake to search for deserters. Scores of British nationals had signed on as crewmen of Chesapeake , but Humphreys seized only the four Royal Navy deserters: Daniel Martin, John Strachan and William Ware all from HMS Melampus , and Jenkin Ratford, formerly on HMS Halifax . Only Ratford was British-born. The others were American residents, but had been serving on British warships. Daniel Martin, for instance, claimed he
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#17328519720605148-426: The battle continued. In 1807, Chesapeake refused to allow inspection of his ship for deserters. Consequently, HMS Leopard opened fire. Ten minutes later Chesapeake struck her colors as a token of surrender. Her log recorded "Having ... haul'd down our Colours." Almost exactly six years later, when the United States had declared war on Great Britain, Chesapeake engaged Shannon outside Boston in
5247-487: The beaches of Norfolk to construct a well and gather water. Richard Lawson concealed his company of militia behind a benign looking sandhill. Richard Lawson and his militia sprang their ambush by opening fire from their concealment behind the Sandhills. The British landing party who suffered 3 marines killed surrendered. Richard Lawson who suffered none killed had his militia destroy the British boat, take all provisions, and take
5346-515: The brass cannon. The American militia under Lawson returned to town with their prisoners. During the 1820s, agrarian communities across the American South suffered a prolonged recession, which caused many families to migrate to other areas. Many moved west into the Piedmont , or further into Kentucky and Tennessee . This migration also followed the exhaustion of soil due to tobacco cultivation in
5445-602: The city via mosquitoes and poor sanitation, affecting every family and causing widespread panic. The number of infected reached 5,000 in September, and by the second week, 1,500 had died in Norfolk and Portsmouth. As the weather cooled, the outbreak began to wane, leaving a final tally of about 3,200 dead. It took the city some time to recover. On April 4, 1861, Norfolk city delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention , George Blow, voted against secession. Following
5544-460: The city was $ 17,372. About 15.5% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those ages 65 or over. For the year of 2007, Norfolk had a total crime index of 514.7 per 100,000 residents. This was above the national average of 320.9 that year. For 2007, the city experienced 48 homicides, for a murder rate of 21.1 per 100,000 residents. Total crime had decreased when compared to
5643-483: The city was 47.1% White , 43.1% African American , 0.5% Native American , 3.3% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 2.2% from other races , and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.6% of the population. Non-Hispanic Whites were 44.3% of the population in 2010, down from 68.5% in 1970. There were 86,210 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 18.8% had
5742-494: The city. Patriot forces destroyed the remaining buildings for strategic reasons the following month. Ultimately, Colonel Woodford drove Dunmore into exile, ending more than 168 years of British rule in Virginia. Only the walls of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church survived the bombardment and subsequent fires. A cannonball from the bombardment (fired by the Liverpool ) remains within the wall of Saint Paul's. Following recovery from
5841-578: The coast of Norfolk, Virginia, commanded by Commodore James Barron , when Leopard , under Captain Salusbury Pryce Humphreys , encountered and hailed her. Barron was not alarmed, and received Lieutenant John Meade on board, who presented Barron with the search warrant. After an inconclusive discussion, Meade returned to Leopard . Captain Humphreys, using a hailing trumpet, ordered the American ship to submit. When Chesapeake did not, Humphreys fired
5940-400: The colony in 1619, governor Sir George Yeardley divided the developed portion the colony into four incorporated jurisdictions, termed citties. The land on which Norfolk now sits fell under Elizabeth Cittie incorporation. In 1634 King Charles I reorganized the colony into a system of shires , and Elizabeth Cittie became Elizabeth City Shire . After persuading 105 people to settle in
6039-617: The colony, Adam Thoroughgood (who had immigrated to Virginia in 1622 from King's Lynn , Norfolk , England ) was granted a large land holding, through the head rights system, along the Lynnhaven River in 1636. When the South Hampton Roads portion of the shire was separated, Thoroughgood suggested the name of his birthplace for the newly formed New Norfolk County . One year later, it was divided into two counties, Upper Norfolk and Lower Norfolk (the latter now incorporated into
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#17328519720606138-415: The colors is conclusive evidence of a surrender having taken place in the case of a warship, but not in the case of a merchant ship. What would be perfidy in the case of a warship is not in the case of a merchant ship: A merchant ship may strike its colors as a ruse de guerre in an attempt to escape capture, since it does not engage the enemy in combat. In distinction to striking one's colors, hoisting
6237-619: The commander of Chesapeake , James Barron , surrendered his vessel to the British. Chesapeake had fired only one shot. Four crew members were removed from the American vessel and were tried for desertion, one of whom was subsequently hanged. Chesapeake was allowed to return home, where James Barron was court martialed and relieved of command. The Chesapeake – Leopard affair created an uproar among Americans. There were strident calls for war with Great Britain, but these quickly subsided. President Thomas Jefferson initially attempted to use this widespread bellicosity to diplomatically threaten
6336-552: The cost of dealing with a sea-level rise of one foot would be around $ 1,000,000,000. Since then, scientists at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in 2013 have estimated that if current trends hold, the sea in Norfolk will rise by 5 and 1/2 feet or more by the end of this century. When Norfolk was first settled, homes were made of wood and frame construction, similar to most medieval English-style homes. These homes had wide chimneys and thatch roofs . Some decades after
6435-568: The counties of Gloucester , Isle of Wight , James City , Mathews , and York , as well as the North Carolina counties of Currituck and Gates . The city of Norfolk is recognized as the central business district, while the Virginia Beach oceanside resort district and Williamsburg are primarily centers of tourism. Virginia Beach is the most populated city within the MSA though it functions more as
6534-423: The country in the case of a war with Great Britain, despite the expensive and controversial frigate-building program . A court-martial blamed Barron and suspended him from service for five years as punishment. In 1820, Commodore Barron challenged and mortally wounded Commodore Stephen Decatur in a duel over remarks Decatur had made about Barron's conduct in 1807 (Barron was also wounded). Decatur had served on
6633-491: The course of naval warfare; from then on, warships were fortified with metal. In May 1862, Norfolk Mayor William Lamb surrendered the city to Union General John E. Wool and his forces. They held the city under martial law for the duration of the Civil War. Thousands of slaves from the region escaped to Union lines to gain freedom; they quickly set up schools in Norfolk to start learning how to read and write, years before
6732-619: The court-martial that found Barron guilty of being unprepared and barred him from command for five years. Chesapeake herself was captured during the War of 1812, when on June 1, 1813, after a series of naval engagements with the Royal Navy, the British frigate HMS Shannon captured Chesapeake in a single-ship action near Boston. The Royal Navy commissioned Chesapeake , but put her up for sale at Portsmouth in July 1819. Her timbers are now part of
6831-480: The economic characteristics of Norfolk from that of the region as a whole. The waterways which almost completely surround the Hampton Roads region play an important part in the local economy. As a strategic location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay , its protected deep-water channels serve as a major trade artery for the import and export of goods from across the Mid-Atlantic , Mid-West , and internationally. In addition to commercial activities, Hampton Roads
6930-489: The economy. The largest naval base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk , is located in Norfolk along with one of NATO 's two Strategic Command headquarters . Additionally, Norfolk is an important contributor to the Port of Virginia . It is home to Maersk Line, Limited , which manages the world's largest fleet of US-flag vessels . This low-lying coastal infrastructure is very vulnerable to sea level rise , with water levels expected to rise by more than 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) by
7029-399: The end of the 21st century. The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point, where many railroad lines started. It is linked to its neighbors by an extensive network of interstate highways , bridges , tunnels , and three bridge-tunnel complexes. In the late sixteenth century, the area that is now Norfolk was inhabited by the Chesepian people, who referred to
7128-793: The end of the war. 1907 brought both the Virginian Railway and the Jamestown Exposition to Sewell's Point . The large Naval Review at the Exposition demonstrated the peninsula's favorable location and laid the groundwork for the world's largest naval base. Southern Democrats in Congress gained its location here. Commemorating the tricentennial anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the exposition featured many prominent officials, including President Theodore Roosevelt , members of Congress , and diplomats from twenty-one countries. By 1917, as
7227-605: The enemy in a very [effective] raking position, athwart his bows & was at the very instance of raking him, when he most prudently Struck his Flag." Lt. Henry D. Chads, RN, of Java , reported her surrender, "At 5:50 our Colours were lowered from the Stump of the Mizen Mast and we were taken possession a little after 6." U.S. sloop of war Hornet engaged HM brig sloop Peacock on 24 February 1813. Badly damaged and sinking, Peacock , signalled her surrender by lowering her ensign, As
7326-414: The enemy. During battle there is no purpose in striking the colors other than to indicate surrender. It was and is an offense to continue to fight after striking one's colors, and an offense to continue to fire on an enemy after she has struck her colors, unless she indicates by some other action, such as continuing to fire or seeking to escape, that she has not truly surrendered. For this reason, striking
7425-508: The fortunes of downtown's Granby Street commercial corridor, located just a few blocks inland from the waterfront. The opening of malls and large shopping centers drew off retail business from Granby Street. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been based in Norfolk since 1996. Norfolk's city leaders began a long push to revive its urban core . While Granby Street underwent decline, Norfolk city leaders focused on
7524-558: The headquarters to NATO 's Allied Command Transformation . The region also plays an important role in defense contracting, with particular emphasis in the shipbuilding and ship repair businesses for the city of Norfolk. Major private shipyards located in Norfolk or the Hampton Roads area include: Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Newport News) in Newport News, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair , General Dynamics NASSCO Norfolk, and Colonna's Shipyard Inc., while
7623-431: The incident. Though the United States and Great Britain are at peace at the time, and neither he nor any member of his crew had any direct involvement with the affair, he is met with mistrust and hostility from American whalers due to their negative association with the ship. The subsequent capture of Chesapeake during the War of 1812 features prominently in the sixth Aubrey–Maturin novel, The Fortune of War , as Aubrey
7722-621: The inspection was "At Norfolk Town, upon the fort land, in the County of Norfolk; and Kemp's Landing , in Princess Anne, under one inspection." In 1736 George II granted it a royal charter as a borough. It was an important port for exporting goods to the British Isles and beyond. Mercantile ties with the British Empire bolstered Norfolk's base of Loyalist support during the early part of
7821-583: The junction of the Elizabeth River and the Chesapeake Bay . The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area (officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA ) is the 37th largest in the United States, with an estimated population of 1,716,624 in 2014. The area includes the Virginia cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach , Chesapeake , Hampton , Newport News , Poquoson , Portsmouth , Suffolk , Williamsburg , and
7920-448: The lack of war material. Their concerns led to the establishment of a tariff protecting the manufacturers of gunpowder, which helped ensure the fortunes of the DuPont company. The incident had significant repercussions for the U.S. Navy. The public was shocked that Chesapeake had not been able to put up any resistance and surrendered so quickly, questioning the ability of the Navy to defend
8019-651: The land as "K'che-sepi-ack." According to historical accounts from William Strachy, the Chesepian settlements were destroyed by the Powhatan shortly before the establishment of Jamestown in 1607. Norfolk's lands were some of the first to draw settlers from the Virginia Colony , although Norfolk would not be incorporated as a town until the 1700s. When the establishment of the House of Burgesses introduced representative government to
8118-538: The late nineteenth century when structures such as the current Commodore Maury Hotel and the Royster Building were constructed to form the initial Norfolk skyline. Past styles were revived during the early years of the twentieth century. Bungalows and apartment buildings became popular for those living in the city. As the Great Depression wore on, Art Deco emerged as a popular building style, as evidenced by
8217-586: The new Downtown Tunnel / Berkley Bridge complex opened a new system of multiple lanes of highway and interchanges connecting Downtown Norfolk and Interstate 464 with the Downtown Tunnel tubes. In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated public schools were unconstitutional , as the public system was supported by all taxpayers. It ordered integration , but Virginia pursued
8316-588: The old Norfolk Academy, and the Customs House. Greek-style homes gave way to Gothic Revival in the 1830s, which emphasized pointed arches , steep gable roofs, towers and tracer-lead windows. The Freemason Baptist Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church are examples of Gothic Revival. Italianate elements emerged in the 1840s including cupolas , verandas , ornamental brickwork , or corner quoins . Norfolk still had simple wooden structures among its more ornate buildings. High-rise buildings were first built in
8415-522: The only equal match of that war. Following a brief exchange of gunfire, 21 of the British crew boarded and took control of Chesapeake . Since most of the American crew had fled belowdecks, the British sailors pulled down Chesapeake ' s flag themselves. In 1811, while the United States and Great Britain were at peace with each other, U.S. frigate President engaged HM sloop of war Little Belt . John Rodgers , Captain of President reported to
8514-429: The outbreak of the War of 1812. The incident outraged American public opinion, and many felt the country's "sense of honor" had been violated. Americans of every political stripe spoke of the need to uphold national honor, and to reject the dismissal of the United States by Britain as a third-class nonentity. Americans talked incessantly about the need for force in response. President Thomas Jefferson noted: "Never since
8613-430: The park was named the finest facility in minor league baseball by Baseball America . Norfolk's efforts to revitalize its downtown have attracted acclaim from economic development and urban planning circles throughout the country. Downtown's rising fortunes helped to expand the city's revenues and allowed the city to direct attention to other neighborhoods. The city is located at the southeastern corner of Virginia at
8712-482: The sentences were later commuted. The bloody encounter caused a storm of protest from the U.S. government, and the British government eventually offered to return the three American residents and to pay reparations for the damage to Chesapeake . After over 5 years spent in bonded service with the Royal Navy, the last two deserters were returned to Boston , Massachusetts by the schooner HMS Bream , one month after
8811-423: The ship will never surrender. On 23 September 1779, Capt. Richard Pearson of HMS Serapis , nailed the British ensign to the ensign staff with his own hands before going into battle against Continental Navy ship Bonhomme Richard . Later, after Bonhomme Richard' s ensign was shot away, Pearson asked Capt. John Paul Jones of Bonhomme Richard to confirm he had struck his colors. However, Jones denied it and
8910-660: The town of Campostella, and the Ocean View area. The city included the Navy Base and miles of beach property fronting on Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay . After a smaller annexation in 1959, and a 1988 land swap with Virginia Beach , the city assumed its current boundaries. The establishment of the Interstate Highway System following World War II brought new highways to the region. A series of bridges and tunnels, constructed during fifteen years, linked Norfolk with
9009-567: The town was first laid out in 1682, the Georgian architectural style , which was popular in the South at the time, was used. Brick was considered more substantial construction; patterns were made by brick laid and Flemish bond . This style evolved to include projecting center pavilions, Palladian windows, balustraded roof decks, and two-story porticoes . By 1740, homes, warehouses, stores, workshops, and taverns began to dot Norfolk's streets. Norfolk
9108-677: The waterfront and catalyze further downtown redevelopment. Waterside was redeveloped in 2017. Additionally, the waterfront area hosts the Nauticus maritime museum and science center , Hampton Roads Naval Museum , Half-Moone Cruise and Celebration Center , and the USS Wisconsin . Other facilities opened in the ensuing years, including the Harbor Park baseball stadium, home of the Norfolk Tides Triple-A minor league baseball team. In 1995,
9207-453: The waterfront and its collection of decaying piers and warehouses. Many obsolete shipping and warehousing facilities were demolished. In their place, planners created a new boulevard, Waterside Drive, along which many of the high-rise buildings in Norfolk's skyline have been erected. In 1983, the city and The Rouse Company developed the Waterside festival marketplace to attract people back to
9306-617: The year 2000, which the city had a total crime index of 546.3. The highest murder rate Norfolk has experienced for the 21st century was in 2005 when its rate was 24.5 per 100,000 residents. For the year 2007 per 100,000, Norfolk experienced 21.1 murders, 42.6 rapes, 399.3 robberies, 381.3 assaults, 743.3 burglaries, and 450.6 automobile thefts. According to the Congressional Quarterly Press '2008 City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America, Norfolk, Virginia, ranked as
9405-476: Was 105 °F (41 °C) on August 7, 1918, and July 24 and 25, 2010, and the record low was −3 °F (−19 °C) recorded on January 21, 1985 . As of the census of 2010, there were 242,803 people, 86,210 households, and 51,898 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,362.8 people per square mile (1,684.5 people/km ). There were 94,416 dwelling units at an average density of 1,757.3 per square mile (678.5/km ). The racial makeup of
9504-438: Was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 104.8 males. This large gender imbalance is due to the military presence in the city, most notably Naval Station Norfolk. The median income for a household in the city was $ 31,815, and the median income for a family was $ 36,891. Males had a median income of $ 25,848 versus $ 21,907 for females. The per capita income for
9603-464: Was born in Westport, Massachusetts ; he was described as age 24, 5 feet 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (166 cm) high with " woolly hair ", black eyes and dark yellow complexion and a small scar over his right eyebrow. Prior to serving on Chesapeake , Martin served on the merchant vessel Caledonia and was described as "a colored man ." Newspaper accounts of the time state Martin was not born in
9702-742: Was burned down during the Revolutionary War . After the Revolution , Norfolk was rebuilt in the Federal style, based on Roman ideals. Federal-style homes kept Georgian symmetry, though they had more refined decorations to look like New World homes. Federal homes had features such as narrow sidelights with an embracing fanlight around the doorway, giant porticoes, gable or flat roofs, and projecting bays on exterior walls. Rooms were oval, elliptical or octagonal. Few of these federal rowhouses remain standing today. A majority of buildings were made of wood and had
9801-471: Was incorporated in 1705. Bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay , the city shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. With coastline along multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property, including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. The coastal zones are important for
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