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51-445: Suffolk Transit is the provider of bus service within Suffolk, Virginia . Suffolk Transit provides six bus routes with limited service on Saturday and no service on Sunday. Paratransit services are also provided. The company operates minibuses with a capacity of 19 passengers. Suffolk, Virginia was served by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) until around late 2011, when HRT stopped serving

102-496: A city and separated from Nansemond County. However, it remained the seat of Nansemond County until 1972, when its former county became the independent city of Nansemond . In 1974, the independent cities of Suffolk and Nansemond merged under Suffolk's name and charter. Peanuts grown in the surrounding areas became a major agricultural industry for Suffolk. Notably, Planters' Peanuts was established in Suffolk beginning in 1912. Suffolk

153-445: A family was $ 47,342. Males had a median income of $ 35,852 versus $ 23,777 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,836. About 10.8% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over. As of 2005, the city's median income jumped to $ 60,484. A number of government-related, contractor high-tech jobs had developed with new businesses in

204-512: A major peanut processing center and railroad and highway transportation hub. It hosts a diverse combination of industrial, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and hospitality businesses, as well as active farming. In 2002, the new Louise Obici Memorial Hospital was completed and dedicated. It was acquired in 2005 by the Sentara Health System . Planters' Peanuts has been a major employer, now owned by Kraft Foods . Each fall since 1977,

255-571: A manner as these two areas. The changes resulted in the area having Virginia's cities with the largest land areas and the most farming, even over 30 years after the consolidations in some instances. The South Hampton Roads region includes five independent cities , three counties, and three incorporated towns with a total population of 1,191,937 people. There were also a number of political subdivisions which are now extinct, primarily due to growth and consolidation of local government (see section below). Exclusive of towns which became cities and still have

306-511: A state of emergency and directed state agencies to assist the recovery and cleanup efforts. Police officers and firefighters from across Hampton Roads were sent to Suffolk to help in a quarantine and cleanup of the damaged areas. On May 1, the state estimated property damages at $ 20 million. Video of the tornado. Suffolk Public Schools, the local public school system, operates 12 elementary schools , four middle schools , three high schools , and one alternative school. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

357-836: Is WHRO-TV 15. Suffolk residents also can receive independent stations, such as WSKY broadcasting on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and WGBS-LD broadcasting on channel 11 from Hampton . Suffolk is served by Charter Communications. The City of Suffolk Media & Community Relations Department operates Municipal Channel 8 on the local Charter Cable television system. Programming includes television coverage of many City activities and events, including live Government-access television (GATV) broadcasts of all regular City Council meetings, and special features including "On The Scene", "Suffolk Seniorcize", and "Suffolk Business Today". DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Suffolk. Suffolk

408-646: Is Isle of Wight County, where a county facility called Nike Park includes a bike trail approximately 2 1 ⁄ 2 miles in a loop. Suffolk was initially a port at the head of navigation of the Nansemond River . The Nansemond flows into the James River near its mouth and the ice-free harbor of Hampton Roads . The two railroads completed through Suffolk before the American Civil War were later joined by four more. These were eventually consolidated during

459-743: Is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit established to promote international relationships as directed by Suffolk City Council through its appointed Suffolk Sister Cities Commission. Its membership is open to all who are interested in fostering the goals of the organization. SSCI and its international youth association, SIYA, have won national awards for Youth and Education and for the Best Overall Program for cities with populations less than 100,000. Suffolk's boundaries include many rural areas and towns, as well central Suffolk itself. For historic districts throughout Suffolk, see National Register of Historic Places listings in Suffolk, Virginia . The climate in this area

510-829: Is a private college preparatory school located on Pruden Blvd. Paul D. Camp Community College has a campus in Suffolk. Suffolk's early growth depended on its waterfront location, with access to the waterways for power and transportation. Subsequent transportation infrastructure upgraded its connections with other markets. These continue to be major factors in the 21st century. The Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge includes dozens of miles of trails accessible via White Marsh Road at Washington Ditch and other entry sites. Additional bike trails can be found at Lone Star Lakes City Park off Godwin Blvd. This city park provides over 4 miles (6.4 km) of rock trails. There are many rural roads with light traffic available for road riding. Adjacent to Suffolk

561-410: Is called 'The Lighthouse'. Raytheon won a DoD contract to manufacture 'Miniature Air-Launched Decoy Jammers'(MALD-J), which it has been producing with Cobham Composite Products: 202 vehicles for a price of $ 81 million. The U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) facility, near the intersection of US 17 and Interstate 664, has resulted in a growth in defense contracting and high-tech jobs since 1999. Through

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612-529: Is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Suffolk has a humid subtropical climate , abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. South Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name. The land portion of Hampton Roads has been historically divided into two regions, South Hampton Roads on

663-526: Is currently considered part of the Norfolk Navy Base. Chesapeake is also home to U.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress, an auxiliary landing facility for NAS Oceana. The decision to call the region "Hampton Roads" was a political one. The area was referred to as "Tidewater" for many years by the local residents. The local baseball team was called the Tidewater Tides for years but is now called

714-598: Is customary among Virginia's independent cities . Since the Byrd Road Act of 1932 created Virginia's Secondary Roads System, the state maintains the roads in most counties and towns. An exception was made by the General Assembly when the former Nansemond County became an independent city and consolidated Suffolk in the 1970s. The state maintained the primary and secondary routes in Suffolk until July 1, 2006. The Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel connects Suffolk to

765-450: Is divided politically into seven boroughs , one corresponding to the former city of Suffolk and one corresponding to each of the six magisterial districts of the former Nansemond County . The boroughs are Chuckatuck , Cypress, Holy Neck, Nansemond , Sleepy Hole, Suffolk, and Whaleyville . In 1981, the county of Suffolk in England became Suffolk's first sister city as a result of

816-649: Is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area. Suffolk is also served by several television stations. The Hampton Roads designated market area (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.). The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 ( CBS ), WAVY 10 ( NBC ), WVEC-TV 13 ( ABC ), WGNT 27 ( CW ), WTVZ 33 ( MyNetworkTV ), WVBT 43 ( FOX ), and WPXV 49 ( ION Television ). The Public Broadcasting Service station

867-575: Is the Norfolk Navy Base , the central hub of the United States Navy 's Atlantic Fleet . The base was founded in 1917, and is now the largest naval facility in the world. Virginia Beach is home to the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Station Oceana (NAS Oceana) and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek (NAB Little Creek). NAS Oceana is the largest employer in Virginia Beach, and both bases there, like

918-666: Is the second-largest (after the Charlotte metro area ) between Washington, D.C. , and Atlanta, Georgia . South Hampton Roads is home to several United States military bases . Norfolk Naval Shipyard is located in Portsmouth, as are the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth , two historic and important facilities, as well as several smaller facilities. The shipyard was founded as the Gosport Shipyard on November 1, 1767, and has

969-498: The 14th-largest in the country . Suffolk is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. This also includes the independent cities of Chesapeake , Hampton , Newport News , Norfolk , Portsmouth , and Virginia Beach , and smaller cities, counties, and towns of Hampton Roads. With miles of waterfront property on the Nansemond and James rivers, present-day Suffolk was formed in 1974 after consolidating with Nansemond County and

1020-695: The Kings Highway Bridge (circa 1928) across the Nansemond River on State Route 125 . VDOT closed it in 2005 for safety reasons. About 3,300 motorists a day used the bridge that connected Chuckatuck and Driver . The closure forced detours of as much as 19 miles (31 km). The cost of a new bridge for the King's Highway crossing is estimated at $ 48 million, far more than could be recovered through collection of tolls at that location. In 2007, VDOT announced that it would contract for demolition and removal of

1071-545: The Norfolk Tides . When they first came to Tidewater, they adopted the local name to draw more fans. In Colonial times, and even in the first 150 years of the United States, much like Virginia as a whole, South Hampton Roads was in an almost constant state of change in terms of local government, largely due to growth, as counties were divided and towns were formed as the population grew. Some towns grew to become cities. Under

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1122-597: The Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad and the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad were built through Suffolk, early predecessors of 21st-century Class 1 railroads operated by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern , respectively. Other railroads and later major highways followed after the war. Suffolk became an incorporated town in 1808. Suffolk became a stop on the Atlantic and Danville Railway in 1890. In 1910, it incorporated as

1173-627: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 429 square miles (1,110 km ), of which 400 square miles (1,000 km ) is land and 29 square miles (75 km ) (6.7%) is water. It is the largest city in Virginia by land area and second largest by total area. Part of the Great Dismal Swamp is located in Suffolk. As of the census of 2010, there were 84,585 people, 23,283 households, and 17,718 families residing in

1224-527: The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation . Suffolk is served by U.S. Highways 17 , 13 , 58 , 258 , and 460 . Interstate 664 , part of the Hampton Roads Beltway , crosses through the northeastern edge of the city. State Route 10 is also a major highway in the area. In 2006, Suffolk assumed control of its road system from the Virginia Department of Transportation , which

1275-455: The City of Suffolk hosts Suffolk Festivals Incorporated's annual Peanut Fest. Other large employers in the City of Suffolk include Unilever , Lipton Tea , Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group , Wal-Mart , Target , QVC , and two major modeling and simulation companies, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon . Lockheed Martin built its "Center for Innovation" around a lighthouse in Suffolk, for which the campus

1326-683: The Hampton Roads economy in general and (more specifically), on the future of related businesses located in the Harborview section of Suffolk. In August 2011 JFCOM was disestablished. But many critical JFCOM functions, such as joint training, joint exercises, and joint development were retained in the buildings vacated by JFCOM, under the auspices of the Joint Staff J7 Directorate, referred to as either "Pentagon South" or "Joint and Coalition Warfighting". By summer 2013, city officials expected

1377-607: The Naval Network Warfare Command, NNWC Global Network Operations Center Detachment, Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command and Navy Cyber Forces to occupy buildings vacated by JFCOM. These commands have been considered a boon to north Suffolk, bringing an estimated 1,000 additional employees, counting military, civilians and contractors, with an estimated annual payroll of $ 88.9 million. The buildup in these defense functions resulted in Suffolk's median income increasing markedly in this period. Suffolk's daily newspapers are

1428-731: The Norfolk Navy Base, are considered to be the largest of their respective kinds in the world. Furthermore, adjacent to Oceana is NAVSEA Dam Neck . Virginia Beach is also the home of Joint Expeditionary Base East , operated by the United States Navy , which is located at Cape Henry . St. Julien's Creek Annex is a U.S. Navy facility in Chesapeake on the Southern Branch Elizabeth River . It began operations in 1849 and occupies approximately 490 acres (200  ha ), including 407 acres (165 ha) of land, 14 acres (5.7 ha) of marsh, and 69 acres (28 ha) of surface water. It

1479-487: The Suffolk 2026 Comprehensive Plan, the city plans to bypass the crossroads community of Whaleyville in southwestern Suffolk City. US 13 (along with NC Highway 11 ) is a strategic highway corridor in North Carolina toward Greenville . The City of Suffolk operates Suffolk Transit , which provides local bus service. Two connections to Hampton Roads Transit buses are also available. In modern times, Suffolk remains

1530-515: The area due to low ridership and monetary concerns. Suffolk Transit was opened on January 1, 2012, operated by the company Virginia Regional Transit . The service originally had two routes with ten bus stops, which by 2023 had grown to six bus routes 180 bus stops. Ridership in the first year was 24,662. In 2022, Suffolk Transit received a grant from the Department of Transportation to purchase two electric buses and charging stations. Ridership in 2022

1581-535: The area. HRT also operates an express bus route in the area that goes to the Amazon warehouse. Suffolk Transit operates six routes: Suffolk, Virginia Suffolk ( locally / ˈ s ʌ f ʊ k / SUF -uuk ) is an independent city in Virginia , United States. As of 2020, the population was 94,324. It is the 10th-most populous city in Virginia , the largest city in Virginia by boundary land area as well as

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1632-419: The average family size was 3.09. The age distribution was 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 87.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 41,115, and the median income for

1683-806: The bridge. According to newspaper accounts, this was the first time in VDOT's history that it did not plan for a replacement facility. Virginia is reviewing proposals under a public-private partnership for a major realignment and upgrade of U.S. 460 from Suffolk west to Interstate 295 near Petersburg . In 1995, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Public-Private Transportation Act, allowing private entities to propose innovative solutions for designing, constructing, financing, and operating transportation improvements. The new roadway would be funded through collection of tolls . As part of

1734-530: The city's northern corridor, bringing in wealthier residents. Suffolk ranked a close second in median income to its neighbor Chesapeake in South Hampton Roads. The city was hit by an EF3 tornado which produced a large swath of extensive damage through the city and nearby communities during the late afternoon of April 28, 2008. After 4:00 PM EDT on April 28, a tornado touched down multiple times, causing damage and leaving more than 200 injured in Suffolk.

1785-425: The city. The population density was 159.2 inhabitants per square mile (61.5/km ). There were 24,704 housing units at an average density of 61.8 per square mile (23.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 50.1% White , 42.7% Black or African American , 0.3% Native American , 1.6% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.8% from other races , and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.9% of

1836-482: The country's first dry dock . The name was changed after the American Civil War . (Although it is located in Portsmouth, the name Norfolk was chosen to avoid confusion with another U.S. Navy shipyard at Portsmouth, New Hampshire which is about 50 miles (80 km) north of Boston, Massachusetts , at the southernmost tip of Maine .) Across the Elizabeth River , at Sewell's Point near the mouth of Hampton Roads

1887-426: The following decade, JFCOM employed a growing number of defense contractors until it reached over 3,000. By September 2010, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recommended to decommission JFCOM, as a matter of reallocating and rebalancing the U.S. Department of Defense budget, to better address changing needs and fiscal demands. The announcement led to speculation about the effects the loss of JFCOM would have on

1938-493: The independent city of Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula from South Hampton Roads . It is part of the Hampton Roads Beltway , a circumferential interstate highway that links the seven largest cities of Hampton Roads . Completed in 1992, it provided a third major vehicle crossing of the Hampton Roads harbor area and cost $ 400 million to build. The city and VDOT have had disputes over ownership and responsibility for

1989-568: The local Suffolk News-Herald , the Virginian-Pilot from Norfolk and the Daily Press of Newport News. Other papers include the New Journal and Guide , and Inside Business . Coastal Virginia Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Suffolk and the Hampton Roads area. Hampton Roads Times serves as an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties. Suffolk

2040-545: The modern merger era of North American railroads which began around 1960. Suffolk was served by several passenger lines, concluding with Amtrak's Mountaineer , which ended in 1977. At least two former passenger stations are still standing, the Seaboard Coast Line station, now the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, and the Norfolk and Western Railway station at 100 Hollady Street. The N&W station

2091-586: The path of the storm passed north and west of the downtown area, striking near Sentara Obici Hospital and in the unincorporated town of Driver . The storm seriously damaged more than 120 homes and 12 businesses. The subdivisions of Burnett's Mill and Hillpoint Farms were severely damaged, as were several older historic structures in Driver. Near Driver, the large radio and television broadcast towers, which were located in an antenna farm serving most of Hampton Roads, were spared serious damage. Governor Tim Kaine declared

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2142-531: The personal interest in the Sister Cities concept by Virginia's Governor, Mills E. Godwin. A native of the city, Governor Godwin believed that Sister Cities would benefit the community culturally and educationally. Suffolk's second sister city relationship with Oderzo, Italy, began in 1995 because of one man, Amedeo Obici. Mr. Obici was a native of Oderzo and the founder of Planters Nut and Chocolate Company in Suffolk. Suffolk Sister Cities International, Inc. (SSCI)

2193-409: The population. There were 23,283 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and

2244-478: The same name in England. During the colonial era , Virginian colonists in the region cultivated tobacco with enslaved labor as a cash crop , before transitioning to mixed farming . Suffolk was designated as the county seat of Nansemond County in 1750. Early in its history, Suffolk became a land transportation gateway to the areas east of it in South Hampton Roads . Before the American Civil War , both

2295-426: The same name, no less than 2 shires, 6 counties, 1 town, and 2 entire cities no longer exist in the South Hampton Roads area. For search of genealogical, land, and other historical records, it may be necessary to find these old names. The following is a listing of these 11 extinct shire, counties, towns, and cities, with the approximate dates they existed: Generally surrounded by water, the South Hampton Roads region

2346-526: The south side and the Virginia Peninsula on the north side. (Locally, South Hampton Roads is commonly called "the Southside", which is not to be confused with " Southside Virginia ", which is a separate region of the south-central portion of Virginia located farther inland.) As of the 2020 Census , the Hampton Roads MSA is the ninth largest metropolitan area by size in the southeastern United States, and

2397-439: The state constitutional changes in 1871, extant and future cities in Virginia became independent cities of the counties they had formerly been located within. However, in the second half of the 20th century, an unprecedented wave of city-county-town local government consolidations took place in South Hampton Roads and on the Virginia Peninsula . Nowhere else in Virginia have rural areas and more dense cities been combined in such

2448-500: The towns of Holland and Whaleyville . The current mayor (as of 2021) is Mike Duman. Prior to colonization , the region was inhabited by the indigenous Nansemond people . The settlement of Suffolk was established in 1742 by Virginian colonists as a port town on the Nansemond River . It was originally named Constant's Warehouse (for John Constant, one of the first founders of the settlement) before being renamed after Royal Governor of Virginia Sir William Gooch 's home county of

2499-477: Was 108,658. The company has also been evaluating a commuter bus route to Windsor, Virginia pending funding and have a plan for a commuter bus route between the industrial park area in Suffolk and the Victory Crossing area in Portsmouth, Virginia . Suffolk Transit also plans to increase collaboration with other nearby bus operators, HRT and Williamsburg Area Transit Authority to increase access to transit in

2550-414: Was the 'birthplace' of Mr. Peanut , the mascot of Planters' Peanuts. For many years, the call-letters of local AM radio station WLPM stood for W orld's L argest P eanut M arket. (WLPM's license was cancelled in 1996 ) Suffolk is located at 36°44′29″N 76°36′36″W  /  36.741347°N 76.609881°W  / 36.741347; -76.609881 (36.741347, −76.609881). According to

2601-704: Was used by Amtrak (as "Holiday Street" ) until 1977 when the Mountaineer was replaced by a bus connection to the Hilltopper . Currently, Amtrak's Northeast Regional between Norfolk and Petersburg passes by the N&;W station without stopping. Today, Suffolk is served by three freight railroads. It is located on a potential branch line for the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor between Petersburg, Virginia and South Hampton Roads , being studied by

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