fbpx
Wikipedia

Portsmouth, Virginia

February 15, 2024

Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia, United States. It lies across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915.[5] It is the 9th-most populous city in Virginia and is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.

Portsmouth
Independent city
Downtown Portsmouth on the Elizabeth River
Flag
Location of Portsmouth in Virginia
Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Coordinates: 36°50′04″N 76°20′30″W / 36.83444°N 76.34167°W / 36.83444; -76.34167
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyNone (Independent city)
Founded1752
Named forPortsmouth, England
Government
 • TypeMayor–council–manager[1]
 • MayorShannon Glover
Area
[2]
 • Total46.68 sq mi (120.91 km2)
 • Land33.30 sq mi (86.25 km2)
 • Water13.38 sq mi (34.66 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total97,840
 • Rank9th in Virginia
 • Density2,940.39/sq mi (1,135.29/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
23701-23709
Area code(s)757, 948
FIPS code51-64000[3]
GNIS feature ID1497102[4]
Websitewww.portsmouthva.gov

The Norfolk Naval Shipyard is a historic and active U.S. Navy facility located in Portsmouth.

History edit

 
Portsmouth Harbor in 1843; the Naval Hospital is visible in the background
 
The Yellow Fever Memorial in Laurel Hill Cemetery was built to honor the "Doctors, Druggists and Nurses" from Philadelphia who helped fight the epidemic in Portsmouth[6]
 
The Lightship Portsmouth is part of the Naval Shipyard Museum

In 1620, the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as a suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood, a shipbuilder, who petitioned King James I of England for a land grant. The surrounding area was soon settled as a plantation community.[7]

Portsmouth was founded by Colonel William Crawford, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.[8] It was established as a town in 1752 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and was named for Portsmouth, England.[7]

In 1767, Andrew Sprowle, a shipbuilder, founded the Gosport Shipyard adjacent to Portsmouth. The Gosport Shipyard at Portsmouth was owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia after the American Revolutionary War and was sold to the new United States federal government.[citation needed]

In 1855, the Portsmouth and Norfolk area suffered an epidemic of yellow fever which killed 1 of every three citizens. It became an independent city from Norfolk County in 1858.[6]

During the American Civil War, in 1861, Virginia joined the Confederate States of America. Fearing that the Confederacy would take control of the shipyard at Portsmouth, the shipyard commander ordered the burning of the shipyard. The Confederate forces did in fact take over the shipyard and did so without armed conflict through an elaborate ruse orchestrated by civilian railroad builder William Mahone (soon to become a famous Confederate officer). The Union forces withdrew to Fort Monroe across Hampton Roads, which was the only land in the area which remained under Union control.[citation needed]

In early 1862, the Confederate ironclad warship CSS Virginia was rebuilt using the burned-out hulk of USS Merrimack. Virginia engaged the Union ironclad USS Monitor in the famous Battle of Hampton Roads during the Union blockade of Hampton Roads. The Confederates burned the shipyard again when they left in May 1862.[citation needed]

Following the recapture of Norfolk and Portsmouth by the Union forces, the name of the shipyard was changed to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The name of the shipyard was derived from its location in Norfolk County. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard today is located entirely within the city limits of Portsmouth, Virginia. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard name has been retained to minimize any confusion with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which itself is actually located in Kittery, Maine, across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.[citation needed]

During and after World War II, the shipyard flourished, and suburban development surrounded both Norfolk and Portsmouth. Portsmouth continued as the county seat of Norfolk County until 1963 when the new city of Chesapeake was formed in a political consolidation with the city of South Norfolk. Portsmouth's other county neighbor, the former Nansemond County, also consolidated with a smaller city, forming the new city of Suffolk in 1974.[citation needed] One of the older cities of Hampton Roads, in the early 21st century, Portsmouth was undergoing moderate urban renewal in the downtown.[citation needed]

The APM "MAERSK" marine terminal for container ships opened in 2007 in the West Norfolk section.[citation needed]

Timeline edit

Historic sites edit

 
Built in 1846, the Portsmouth Courthouse is a historic landmark in the center of the Olde Towne Historic District.

Olde Towne edit

The Olde Towne Historic District features one of the largest collections of historically significant homes between Alexandria, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina.[31] The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built by slaves and free men and is the second-oldest building in Portsmouth and the city's oldest black church.[citation needed]

The city contains a number of other historic buildings, as well, including the Pass House, which was built in 1841 by Judge James Murdaugh and occupied by Union troops from 1862 to 1865. Federal forces required Portsmouth residents to obtain a written pass to travel across the Elizabeth River and beyond. These passes were issued from the English basement and thus the name "Pass House" was derived.[32][33]

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth edit

Formerly the Naval Hospital Portsmouth, the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is a United States Navy medical center adjacent to the Olde Towne Historic District and Park View Historic District. Founded in 1827, it is the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system with the motto "First and Finest."[34]

Seaboard Coastline Building edit

Located at 1 High Street in the Olde Towne Historic District, the Seaboard Coastline Building is a historic train station and former headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line railroad company.[citation needed]

The Hill House edit

A four-story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings. It is evident from the furnishings that the Hill family were avid collectors and lived graciously over a period of 150 years. The house remains in its original condition, with limited renovation through the years.[citation needed]

Cedar Grove Cemetery edit

Established in 1832, Cedar Grove Cemetery is the oldest city-owned cemetery in Portsmouth. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth, Virginia, the cemetery is noted for its funerary art and the civic, business, maritime, religious and military leaders who are buried there. Historical markers placed throughout the cemetery allow for self-guided tours. The cemetery is located between Effingham Street and Fort Lane in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Entrance is through the south gate to the cemetery, located on London Boulevard.[citation needed]

Geography edit

 
Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Norfolk, seen from space in July 1996. Portsmouth is in the center-right portion of the photo. North is at left.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Portsmouth has a total area of 47 square miles (120 km2), of which 34 square miles (88 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (28.0%) is water. The city is also bisected by the West Branch of the Elizabeth River which flows from neighboring Suffolk.[35]

Climate edit

Portsmouth's mild humid subtropical climate means outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round. The weather in Portsmouth is temperate and seasonal. Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings. The mean annual temperature is 65 °F (18 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 3 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. No measurable snow fell in 1999. The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. The highest recorded temperature was 105.0 °F in 1980. The lowest recorded temperature was -3.0 °F on January 21, 1985.[36]

Additionally, the geographic location of the city, with respect to the principal storm tracks, is especially favorable, as it is south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes, and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms.[37] Snow falls rarely, averaging 3 inches (76 mm) per season.[38]

Climate data for Norfolk International Airport, Virginia (1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1874–present[b])
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 84
(29) 		82
(28) 		92
(33) 		97
(36) 		100
(38) 		102
(39) 		105
(41) 		105
(41) 		100
(38) 		95
(35) 		86
(30) 		82
(28) 		105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 72.4
(22.4) 		74.3
(23.5) 		80.7
(27.1) 		86.9
(30.5) 		91.5
(33.1) 		95.7
(35.4) 		98.4
(36.9) 		95.3
(35.2) 		92.0
(33.3) 		86.0
(30.0) 		78.9
(26.1) 		73.4
(23.0) 		99.3
(37.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 50.7
(10.4) 		53.4
(11.9) 		60.1
(15.6) 		70.0
(21.1) 		77.4
(25.2) 		85.2
(29.6) 		89.4
(31.9) 		86.9
(30.5) 		81.4
(27.4) 		72.3
(22.4) 		62.1
(16.7) 		54.7
(12.6) 		70.3
(21.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 42.2
(5.7) 		44.2
(6.8) 		50.7
(10.4) 		60.1
(15.6) 		68.3
(20.2) 		76.7
(24.8) 		81.1
(27.3) 		79.2
(26.2) 		74.0
(23.3) 		63.7
(17.6) 		53.3
(11.8) 		46.1
(7.8) 		61.6
(16.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 33.6
(0.9) 		35.1
(1.7) 		41.3
(5.2) 		50.1
(10.1) 		59.1
(15.1) 		68.1
(20.1) 		72.8
(22.7) 		71.6
(22.0) 		66.6
(19.2) 		55.1
(12.8) 		44.4
(6.9) 		37.6
(3.1) 		52.9
(11.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 18.7
(−7.4) 		21.6
(−5.8) 		27.4
(−2.6) 		37.0
(2.8) 		46.9
(8.3) 		56.0
(13.3) 		64.7
(18.2) 		63.7
(17.6) 		55.5
(13.1) 		40.4
(4.7) 		29.8
(−1.2) 		23.9
(−4.5) 		16.8
(−8.4)
Record low °F (°C) −3
(−19) 		2
(−17) 		14
(−10) 		23
(−5) 		36
(2) 		45
(7) 		54
(12) 		49
(9) 		40
(4) 		27
(−3) 		17
(−8) 		5
(−15) 		−3
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.41
(87) 		2.90
(74) 		3.69
(94) 		3.37
(86) 		3.78
(96) 		4.43
(113) 		6.08
(154) 		5.88
(149) 		5.40
(137) 		3.86
(98) 		3.10
(79) 		3.28
(83) 		49.18
(1,249)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.2
(8.1) 		1.5
(3.8) 		0.4
(1.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.1
(2.8) 		6.2
(16)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.7 9.2 10.9 10.0 11.2 9.7 10.6 10.2 9.4 7.7 8.9 9.9 118.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.7 1.3 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 4.0
Average relative humidity (%) 66.3 65.6 64.6 62.8 68.8 70.6 73.3 75.2 74.4 72.1 68.5 67.0 69.1
Average dew point °F (°C) 27.9
(−2.3) 		28.9
(−1.7) 		35.8
(2.1) 		43.2
(6.2) 		54.5
(12.5) 		63.1
(17.3) 		68.2
(20.1) 		68.0
(20.0) 		62.4
(16.9) 		51.3
(10.7) 		41.7
(5.4) 		32.7
(0.4) 		48.1
(9.0)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 171.5 175.2 229.3 252.8 271.7 280.1 278.3 260.4 231.4 208.3 175.7 160.4 2,695.1
Percent possible sunshine 56 58 62 64 62 64 62 62 62 60 57 53 61
Average ultraviolet index 2 4 5 7 8 10 9 9 7 5 3 2 6
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[36][39][40]
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[41]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18406,477—
18508,62633.2%
18609,49610.1%
187010,59011.5%
188011,3907.6%
189013,26816.5%
190017,42731.3%
191033,19090.5%
192054,38763.9%
193045,704−16.0%
194050,74511.0%
195080,03957.7%
1960114,77343.4%
1970110,963−3.3%
1980104,577−5.8%
1990103,910−0.6%
2000100,565−3.2%
201095,535−5.0%
202097,9152.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[42]
1790-1960[43] 1900-1990[44]
1990-2000[45] 2010-2013[46]

2020 census edit

Portsmouth, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000[47] Pop 2010[48] Pop 2020[49] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 45,403 38,526 34,912 45.15% 40.33% 35.66%
Black or African American alone (NH) 50,569 50,327 51,586 50.28% 52.68% 52.68%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 449 379 355 0.45% 0.40% 0.36%
Asian alone (NH) 762 994 1,244 0.76% 1.04% 1.27%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 60 104 134 0.06% 0.11% 0.14%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 113 118 490 0.11% 0.12% 0.50%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,461 2,168 4,781 1.45% 2.27% 4.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,748 2,919 4,413 1.74% 3.06% 4.51%
Total 100,565 95,535 97,915 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census edit

 
Age distribution in Portsmouth

As of the 2010 census,[50] there were 95,535 people, 38,170 households, and 25,497 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,032.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,170.9/km2). There were 41,605 housing units at an average density of 1,254.7 units per square mile (484.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 53.3% African American, 41.6% White, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 38,170 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% have a female household with no husband present and 33.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,340, and the median income for a family was $53,769. Males had a median income of $39,871 versus $33,140 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,108. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.[51]

Arts and culture edit

Tourism edit

Portsmouth has a long history as a port town and city. The Olde Towne Business and Historical District is located in the downtown area, where a combination of preservation and redevelopment has been underway. An example is Hawthorn Hotel & Suites at The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel, which was renovated and reopened in 2005 after being closed for more than 10 years. It has been recognized by Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historical Preservation that identifies hotels that have maintained their historical integrity, architecture and ambiance and provides resources for their preservation.[52] The historic hotel was named for Governor Robert Dinwiddie, who was the administrative head of the Colony of Virginia during the time Portsmouth was founded in 1752. It was largely through his efforts that Virginia survived the French and Indian War relatively well.[53] (Dinwiddie County near Petersburg was also named for him).[citation needed]

Other points of interest include the Portsmouth City Park, featuring the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge[54] Portsmouth City Railroad with an operating Chance Rides C.P. Huntington locomotive named Pokey Smokey II. The original Pokey Smokey locomotive was built by Crown Metal Products and ran at the park for many years before being sold at auction. It now runs on the Mideast Railroad in Ederville in Carthage, North Carolina.[55][56]

In addition, the Railroad Museum of Virginia located at Harbor Center Way features vintage railroad artifacts, rolling stock, and an operating model train layout.[57]

Completed in 2023, the Rivers Casino Portsmouth boasts a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) casino floor with slots, table games, poker tables, and a sportsbook.

Sports edit

The Portsmouth Cavaliers were a basketball team founded in 2010 and played in the American Basketball Association for the 2011–12 season. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Cavaliers played their home games at the Chick-fil-A Fieldhouse on the campus of Portsmouth Catholic Regional School. The club spent one season in the American Professional Basketball League (APBL) before folding.[citation needed]

Each April since 1953, the city hosts the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, where college basketball seniors play in front of scouts from the NBA and top European leagues. Many top basketball stars played in the PIT before successful pro careers, including Jimmy Butler, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and John Stockton.

Government edit

United States presidential election results for Portsmouth, Virginia[58]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,755 28.61% 30,948 69.42% 879 1.97%
2016 12,795 29.58% 28,497 65.87% 1,969 4.55%
2012 12,858 28.00% 32,501 70.77% 563 1.23%
2008 13,984 29.97% 32,327 69.27% 354 0.76%
2004 15,212 38.48% 24,112 60.99% 210 0.53%
2000 12,628 35.62% 22,286 62.86% 541 1.53%
1996 10,686 30.18% 22,150 62.55% 2,573 7.27%
1992 12,575 33.45% 20,416 54.30% 4,608 12.26%
1988 16,087 44.61% 19,698 54.63% 274 0.76%
1984 18,940 46.42% 21,623 53.00% 238 0.58%
1980 13,660 38.00% 20,900 58.14% 1,389 3.86%
1976 12,872 35.51% 22,837 63.01% 537 1.48%
1972 20,090 58.49% 13,124 38.21% 1,136 3.31%
1968 9,402 25.15% 15,734 42.09% 12,245 32.76%
1964 8,420 34.31% 16,073 65.49% 51 0.21%
1960 6,900 40.64% 9,902 58.32% 178 1.05%
1956 5,390 47.13% 5,683 49.69% 363 3.17%
1952 3,621 36.74% 6,188 62.79% 46 0.47%
1948 2,056 27.86% 4,612 62.48% 713 9.66%
1944 1,129 16.42% 5,735 83.39% 13 0.19%
1940 675 11.73% 5,053 87.83% 25 0.43%
1936 861 13.23% 5,617 86.30% 31 0.48%
1932 1,840 34.76% 3,344 63.17% 110 2.08%
1928 3,474 57.32% 2,587 42.68% 0 0.00%
1924 604 17.70% 2,206 64.64% 603 17.67%
1920 1,061 24.40% 3,228 74.24% 59 1.36%
1916 376 20.76% 1,368 75.54% 67 3.70%
1912 64 3.31% 1,529 79.02% 342 17.67%
1908 407 25.92% 1,154 73.50% 9 0.57%
1904 247 17.31% 1,151 80.66% 29 2.03%
1900 566 24.27% 1,743 74.74% 23 0.99%
1896 769 34.89% 1,380 62.61% 55 2.50%
1892 1,052 37.41% 1,728 61.45% 32 1.14%
1888 1,107 43.07% 1,439 55.99% 24 0.93%
1884 1,344 50.60% 1,312 49.40% 0 0.00%
1880 1,024 44.64% 1,270 55.36% 0 0.00%

Portsmouth is governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The current mayor is Navy veteran and businessman Shannon Glover.[59] The City Hall Building, located at 801 Crawford Street, is the regular meeting place of the City Council of The City of Portsmouth, Virginia. The City Council is a legislative body served by six members, elected for four-year terms.[citation needed]

List of mayors of Portsmouth, Virginia
  • John S. White, 1852-1853[60][61]
  • Hezekiah Stoakes, 1854
  • D. D. Fiske, 1855
  • James G. Hodges, 1856-1857
  • George W. Grice, 1858-1860
  • John O. Lawrence, 1861
  • John Nash, 1862[61]
  • Daniel Collins, 1863-1865
  • James C. White, 1866
  • James E. Stoakes, 1868
  • E. W. Whipple, 1869
  • Philip G. Thomas, 1870-1871
  • A. S. Watts, 1872-1874
  • John O'Connor, 1876-1877
  • John Thompson Baird, 1878-1894
  • L.H. Davis, 1894-1896[61]
  • John Thompson Baird, circa 1896-1902
  • ?[62]
  • Jack P. Barnes, circa 1973
  • Richard Joseph Davis, 1974-1980
  • Julian E. Johansen, circa 1980-1983
  • James W. Holley III, 1984-1987
  • Gloria Webb, 1987-1996
  • James W. Holley III, 1996-2010
  • Kenneth I. Wright, 2010-2017
  • John Rowe, 2017–present[30]

Law enforcement edit

The Portsmouth Police Department has about 255 sworn law enforcement officers and 380 total employees.[63]

In May 2019, Police Chief Tonya Chapman resigned from her position.[64] She was replaced by Angela Greene who serves as interim chief.[65]

Ten Portsmouth policemen have died in the line of duty, the first in 1871. Four of these died from gunshot wounds.[66]

Crime edit

Crime in the city is much higher than elsewhere in Virginia or the United States generally.[67]

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Portsmouth Homicides, Number 18 8 22 18 17 15 17 14 12 11 12 9 27 14
Portsmouth Homicides, Rate 17.8 8 21.8 17.8 16.8 14.7 16.8 14.1 12.4 11.4 13.4 9.3 28.2 14.6
US Homicides, Rate 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.8 5.7 5.4 5.0 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.5 4.5 N/A N/A

Education edit

Primary and secondary schools edit

Portsmouth Public Schools operates public schools. There are three public high schools in Portsmouth, Virginia, located at three corners of the city. In the northwest section of the city, off Cedar Lane, is Churchland High School. In the downtown section of the city, between London Blvd and High Street, is I.C. Norcom High School. In the southwest section of Portsmouth, on Elmhurst Lane, is Manor High School.

Higher education edit

There are a number of institutions of higher education in and in close proximity to Portsmouth. The city is home to the Tri-Cities Higher Education Center of Old Dominion University (ODU), a public research university founded in 1930 whose main campus is located in Norfolk, Virginia.[68] Portsmouth is also home to the Fred W. Beazley Portsmouth Campus of Tidewater Community College, a two-year higher education institution founded in 1968 in South Hampton Roads with additional campuses located in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.[69] Angelos Bible College was established in 1984.

Media edit

Portsmouth's daily newspaper is the Virginian-Pilot with The Currents being the Portsmouth edition of the Sunday paper. Other papers include the New Journal and Guide, and Inside Business.[70] Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads area.[71] The Hampton Roads Times serves as an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties. Portsmouth is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area.[72]

Portsmouth 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.).[73] 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 stations are WHRO-TV 15, Hampton/Norfolk and WUND-TV 2, Edenton, NC. Portsmouth 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. Portsmouth is served by Cox Cable and Verizon FIOS. DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Portsmouth. WAVY-TV and WVBT-TV are both sister stations owned by Nexstar and have their office and studio located in the city.[citation needed]

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

 
Seaboard Terminal, which served passenger trains until 1968

From the earliest development, Portsmouth has been oriented to the water. In the 1830s, it was the first community in Hampton Roads to receive a new land transportation innovation, railroad service. The Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, extended to the rapids of the Roanoke River on its fall line near Weldon, North Carolina. It was to be 20 more years before its bigger neighbor, the city of Norfolk, also received a rail line, in 1858, when the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed.[citation needed] The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad operated passenger trains #36 and #5 to and from its North Portsmouth Station to Rocky Mount, North Carolina until 1954. In earlier years ACL ran trains including the Tar Heel all the way south to Wilmington, North Carolina.[74][75]

From Seaboard Terminal the Seaboard Air Line and then the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad operated #17 and #18 to and from Raleigh, North Carolina, where the train joined with those companies' Silver Comet. The SAL also operated a local all-coach train (#3-11 southbound/#6-10 northbound) to Atlanta from the terminal.[76][77] The 17/18 trains ended in 1968.[78]

Portsmouth is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF), now the region's major commercial airport. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits of neighboring Norfolk and Virginia Beach.[79] Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty-five destinations. ORF had 3,703,664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities.[80] Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAA LID: PHF) also provides commercial air service for the Hampton Roads area.[81] The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles (8.0 km) outside the city limits.[82]

In the 21st century, the city has access to lines of CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern and three short line railroads. Amtrak provides service to points along the Northeast Corridor from Newport News station across the Hampton Roads, and from Norfolk station across the Elizabeth River.

Portsmouth is served by Interstate 264 and Interstate 664, which is part of the Hampton Roads Beltway. U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 58 pass through. The Elizabeth River is crossed via the Midtown Tunnel, the Downtown Tunnel and Berkley Bridge combination.[citation needed]

Transportation within the city, as well as the other cities of Hampton Roads, is served by a regional bus service, Hampton Roads Transit.[83]

Notable people edit

See also: List of people from Hampton Roads, Virginia

Sister cities edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  2. ^ Official records for Norfolk kept January 1874 to December 1945 at the Weather Bureau Office in downtown, and at Norfolk Int'l since January 1946. For more information, see Threadex.

References edit

  1. ^ "City of Portsmouth - Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA". Olde Town Portsmouth, VA. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Portsmouth city, Portsmouth city, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Report of the Philadelphia Relief Committee. Philadelphia: Inquirer Printing Office. 1856. pp. 1–5. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  7. ^ a b City of Portsmouth, Virginia - History 2007-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Baker, Barnabas W.; Burgess, Dean. "William Craford (d. by April 15, 1762)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "Maps and Formation Information: Portsmouth". County and City Records. Richmond: Library of Virginia. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  10. ^ Ernie Gross (1990). This Day in American History. Neal-Schuman. ISBN 978-1-55570-046-1.
  11. ^ Federal Writers' Project 1941.
  12. ^ a b c d e Hellmann 2006.
  13. ^ a b "Portsmouth History". City of Portsmouth. Retrieved March 18, 2017. (Timeline)
  14. ^ a b Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990, U.S. Census Bureau, 1998
  15. ^ Forrest 1856.
  16. ^ Pollock 1886.
  17. ^ Stewart 1902.
  18. ^ . Charlottesville: Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  19. ^ Burns, Adam. "American Rails". Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e f John D. Eyre, “City-County Territorial Competition: The Portsmouth, Virginia Case”, Southeastern Geographer, Vol. 9, No. 2, An Issue Devoted to Political Geography (November, 1969), pp. 26-38
  21. ^ a b "Movie Theaters in Portsmouth, VA". CinemaTreasures.org. Los Angeles: Cinema Treasures LLC. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  22. ^ "Portsmouth, Virginia". Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. Jackson, Mississippi: Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  23. ^ McCall, Nathan J. (April 27, 1979). "Black libraries had rough beginning". Spartan Echo. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c American Association for State and Local History (2002). "Virginia: Portsmouth". Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada (15th ed.). Rowman Altamira. p. 830. ISBN 0759100020.
  25. ^ "Local History". Portsmouth Public Library. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  26. ^ "US Newspaper Directory". Chronicling America. Washington DC: Library of Congress. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  27. ^ "Virginia". Official Congressional Directory. 1991/1992- : S. Pub. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1993. hdl:2027/uc1.l0072691827 – via HathiTrust.
  28. ^ "Virginia". Official Congressional Directory. 1991/1992- : S. Pub. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 2002. hdl:2027/msu.31293021143627.
  29. ^ "Portsmouth city, Virginia". QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  30. ^ a b "City Council". City of Portsmouth. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  31. ^
  32. ^ Hoyer, Meghan (July 5, 2010). "What's in a name? | The Pass House in Portsmouth". Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "Walking Tour: An Exciting Stroll Through History". Welcome to Olde Towne. Olde Towne Business Association. n.d. During the Civil War, the basement of the house was used as an office for the provost-marshal. It was here that the Union occupation issued passes to cross the ferry to Norfolk. Citizens had to swear allegiance to the Union to be permitted to leave the city. This house is an excellent example of an English basement house.
  34. ^ "Med.navy.mil". Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. US Navy. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  35. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  36. ^ a b "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  37. ^ Information from NOAA.
  38. ^ "Quick Data View Norfolk." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 1971–2000.
  39. ^ "Station: NORFOLK INTL AP, VA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  40. ^ "WMO Climate Normals for NORFOLK/INTL, VA 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  41. ^ "Norfolk, Virginia, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  42. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  43. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  44. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  45. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  46. ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  47. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Carson city, California". United States Census Bureau.
  48. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Portsmouth city, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  49. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Portsmouth city, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  50. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  51. ^ Census.gov
  52. ^ Topic Galleries - dailypress.com October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ Robert Dinwiddie – Ohio History Central – A product of the Ohio Historical Society
  54. ^ Pokey Smokey locomotive
  55. ^ . Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  56. ^ Ederville - official website
  57. ^ "Railroad Museum of Virginia". www.railroadmuseumofvirginia.com. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  58. ^ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  59. ^ Regina Mobley, WAVY TV, February 4, 2020, "Projected new Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover: 'We have to heal our city'" https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/portsmouth/projected-new-portsmouth-mayor-shannon-glover-we-have-to-heal-our-city/
  60. ^ "Mayors of Portsmouth". Sketch Book of Portsmouth, Va: Its People and Its Trade. Portsmouth: Edward Pollock. 1886.
  61. ^ a b c William H. Stewart (1902). "Mayors of Portsmouth". History of Norfolk County, Virginia and Representative Citizens. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company.
  62. ^ City of Portsmouth, Virginia, Mayor's Annual Message: Together with Municipal Reports circa 1916-
  63. ^ "Portsmouth Police Department". Official Home Page. Portsmouth Police Department. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  64. ^ Washington Post. May 25, 2019. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  65. ^ Daugherty, Scott (April 23, 2019). "Interim Portsmouth police chief reverses city's stand on paying officer who shot a burglar". Virginia Pilot. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  66. ^ "Portsmouth Police Department". Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  67. ^ "Crime in the United States". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  68. ^ "About ODU - Old Dominion University". ODU. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  69. ^ "About Tidewater Community College". TCC. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  70. ^ . Hampton Roads Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  71. ^ Holmes, Gary. "Nielsen Reports 1.1% increase in U.S. Television Households for the 2006-2007 Season 2009-07-05 at the Wayback Machine." Nielsen Media Research. September 23, 2006. Retrieved on September 28, 2007.
  72. ^ "Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Table 10". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 86 (7). December 1953.
  73. ^ "Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Table 10 freight only". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 87 (7). December 1954.
  74. ^ "Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Tables 1, 27". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 82 (8). August 1949.
  75. ^ Seaboard Coast Line timetable, December 15, 1967, Tables 6, 20
  76. ^ Official Guide of the Railways, June 1968, Seaboard Coast Line section, freight only.
  77. ^ . Norfolk International Airport. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
  78. ^ (PDF). Norfolk International Airport. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
  79. ^ . Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
  80. ^ "Chesapeake Regional Airport". Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  81. ^ Hampton Roads Transit
  82. ^ Campbell, Edward D. C. Jr. (July 8, 2013). "V. C. Andrews (1923-1986)". Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Encyclopedia Virginia.
  83. ^ Gulla, Bob (2008). Icons of R&B and Soul, p. 72. Greenwood Publishing Group.
  84. ^ "49th TCC Commencement". Tidewater Community College. October 27, 2009.
  85. ^ "Deborah Francine Coleman (1956–2018)". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. April 18, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  86. ^ "Jamin Elliott, WR at NFL.com". National Football League.
  87. ^ "Missy Elliott Biography". The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks. December 2, 2020.
  88. ^ . The Biography.com website. A&E Television Networks. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  89. ^ Gerber, Alan Jay (January 19, 2012). "The Kosher Bookworm From Portsmouth Virginia to Telz The Legacy of Rabbi Mordechai Gifter". The Jewish Star.
  90. ^ Poulter, Amy (February 28, 2020). "He took his first acting class at ODU. On Friday, his first major movie, starring Ben Affleck, hits theaters". pilotonline.com.
  91. ^ Litsky, Frank (November 12, 2004). "Chandler Harper, Winner of 7 Professional Golf Tournaments, Dies at 90". The New York Times.
  92. ^ Forster, Dave; Harki, Gary (October 6, 2012). "Former Portsmouth Mayor James Holley dies at 85". The Virginian-Pilot.
  93. ^ Baker, Peter (February 4, 1991). "Va. City Lays Claim to War's 1st Hero". The Washington Post.
  94. ^ "Ben Jones: A Conversation". Georgia Public Broadcasting.
  95. ^ "Finishing Welles' film became her mission". Los Angeles Times. December 21, 2007.
  96. ^ Hevesi, Dennis. "Jack T. Kirby, Southern Historian, Dies at 70", The New York Times, August 13, 2009. Accessed August 14, 2009.
  97. ^ Washington, Nicholas L. (April 15, 2014). "Nathan McCall: 20 Years After 'Makes Me Wanna Holler'". Ebony.
  98. ^ "Pete Mikolajewski". Profootballarchives.com. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  99. ^ Bernstein, Adam (May 1, 2007). "Jazz Saxophonist Tommy Newsom; Played on 'Tonight Show'". The Washington Post.
  100. ^ "Patton Oswalt Biography". biography.com. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  101. ^ Kiehl, Stephen (February 5, 2006). "A wonderful year for Wanda Sykes". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  102. ^ Sutherland, Sam (March 24, 2007). "Mike Watt on What's Watt". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 18, 2019.

Bibliography edit

  • William S. Forrest (1853). Historical and Descriptive Sketches of Norfolk and Vicinity, Including Portsmouth. Philadelphia: Lindsay and Blakiston.
  • Richard Edwards, ed. (1855), "Portsmouth", Statistical Gazetteer of the State of Virginia, Richmond{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • William S. Forrest (1856). Great Pestilence in Virginia...Yellow Fever in Norfolk and Portsmouth in 1855. New York: Derby & Jackson.
  • Sketch Book of Portsmouth, Va: Its People and Its Trade. Portsmouth: Edward Pollock. 1886.
  • George E. Waring, Jr.; U.S. Department of the Interior, Census Office (1887), "Virginia: Portsmouth", Report on the Social Statistics of Cities: Southern and the Western States, Washington DC: Government Printing Office, pp. 75–78
  • Robert W. Lamb, ed. (1888). Our Twin Cities of the Nineteenth Century (Norfolk and Portsmouth). Barcroft.
  • "Portsmouth", Rand, McNally & Co.'s Handy Guide to the Southeastern States, Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co., 1899 – via Internet Archive
  • William H. Stewart (1902). History of Norfolk County, Virginia and Representative Citizens. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company.
  • Illustrated Standard Guide to Norfolk and Portsmouth, Norfolk, Va.: Standard Lithographing and Publishing Co., 1907, OL 24365413M
  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Portsmouth (Virginia)" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 133.
  • City of Portsmouth, Virginia, Mayor's Annual Message: Together with Municipal Reports circa 1916-
  • Federal Writers' Project (1941), "Portsmouth", Virginia: a Guide to the Old Dominion, American Guide Series, Oxford University Press, pp. 252+, ISBN 9780403021956 – via Google Books
  • Ory Mazar Nergal, ed. (1980), "Portsmouth, VA", Encyclopedia of American Cities, New York: E.P. Dutton, OL 4120668M
  • Cassandra Newby-Alexander; et al. (2003). Portsmouth, Virginia. Black America. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia.
  • Paul T. Hellmann (2006). "Virginia: Portsmouth". Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1159–1160. ISBN 1-135-94859-3.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portsmouth, Virginia.
 
Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Portsmouth, Virginia.
  • City of Portsmouth municipal website
  • Portsmouth city directories, 19th-20th c. (via Norfolk Public Library)
  • "City of Portsmouth". County and City Records. Richmond: Library of Virginia.
  • Items related to Portsmouth, Virginia, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)

February 15, 2024
portsmouth, virginia, portsmouth, independent, city, southeast, virginia, united, states, lies, across, elizabeth, river, from, norfolk, 2020, census, population, most, populous, city, virginia, part, hampton, roads, metropolitan, area, portsmouthindependent, . Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia United States It lies across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk As of the 2020 census the population was 97 915 5 It is the 9th most populous city in Virginia and is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area PortsmouthIndependent cityDowntown Portsmouth on the Elizabeth RiverFlagLocation of Portsmouth in VirginiaPortsmouthShow map of VirginiaPortsmouthShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 36 50 04 N 76 20 30 W 36 83444 N 76 34167 W 36 83444 76 34167CountryUnited StatesStateVirginiaCountyNone Independent city Founded1752Named forPortsmouth EnglandGovernment TypeMayor council manager 1 MayorShannon GloverArea 2 Total46 68 sq mi 120 91 km2 Land33 30 sq mi 86 25 km2 Water13 38 sq mi 34 66 km2 Elevation20 ft 6 m Population 2020 Total97 840 Rank9th in Virginia Density2 940 39 sq mi 1 135 29 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP Codes23701 23709Area code s 757 948FIPS code51 64000 3 GNIS feature ID1497102 4 Websitewww portsmouthva govThe Norfolk Naval Shipyard is a historic and active U S Navy facility located in Portsmouth Contents 1 History 1 1 Timeline 2 Historic sites 2 1 Olde Towne 2 2 Naval Medical Center Portsmouth 2 3 Seaboard Coastline Building 2 4 The Hill House 2 5 Cedar Grove Cemetery 3 Geography 3 1 Climate 4 Demographics 4 1 2020 census 4 2 2010 census 5 Arts and culture 5 1 Tourism 6 Sports 7 Government 7 1 Law enforcement 8 Crime 9 Education 9 1 Primary and secondary schools 9 2 Higher education 10 Media 11 Infrastructure 11 1 Transportation 12 Notable people 13 Sister cities 14 See also 15 Notes 16 References 17 Bibliography 18 External linksHistory edit nbsp Portsmouth Harbor in 1843 the Naval Hospital is visible in the background nbsp The Yellow Fever Memorial in Laurel Hill Cemetery was built to honor the Doctors Druggists and Nurses from Philadelphia who helped fight the epidemic in Portsmouth 6 nbsp The Lightship Portsmouth is part of the Naval Shipyard MuseumIn 1620 the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as a suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood a shipbuilder who petitioned King James I of England for a land grant The surrounding area was soon settled as a plantation community 7 Portsmouth was founded by Colonel William Crawford a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses 8 It was established as a town in 1752 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and was named for Portsmouth England 7 In 1767 Andrew Sprowle a shipbuilder founded the Gosport Shipyard adjacent to Portsmouth The Gosport Shipyard at Portsmouth was owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia after the American Revolutionary War and was sold to the new United States federal government citation needed In 1855 the Portsmouth and Norfolk area suffered an epidemic of yellow fever which killed 1 of every three citizens It became an independent city from Norfolk County in 1858 6 During the American Civil War in 1861 Virginia joined the Confederate States of America Fearing that the Confederacy would take control of the shipyard at Portsmouth the shipyard commander ordered the burning of the shipyard The Confederate forces did in fact take over the shipyard and did so without armed conflict through an elaborate ruse orchestrated by civilian railroad builder William Mahone soon to become a famous Confederate officer The Union forces withdrew to Fort Monroe across Hampton Roads which was the only land in the area which remained under Union control citation needed In early 1862 the Confederate ironclad warship CSS Virginia was rebuilt using the burned out hulk of USS Merrimack Virginia engaged the Union ironclad USS Monitor in the famous Battle of Hampton Roads during the Union blockade of Hampton Roads The Confederates burned the shipyard again when they left in May 1862 citation needed Following the recapture of Norfolk and Portsmouth by the Union forces the name of the shipyard was changed to Norfolk Naval Shipyard The name of the shipyard was derived from its location in Norfolk County The Norfolk Naval Shipyard today is located entirely within the city limits of Portsmouth Virginia The Norfolk Naval Shipyard name has been retained to minimize any confusion with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard which itself is actually located in Kittery Maine across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth New Hampshire citation needed During and after World War II the shipyard flourished and suburban development surrounded both Norfolk and Portsmouth Portsmouth continued as the county seat of Norfolk County until 1963 when the new city of Chesapeake was formed in a political consolidation with the city of South Norfolk Portsmouth s other county neighbor the former Nansemond County also consolidated with a smaller city forming the new city of Suffolk in 1974 citation needed One of the older cities of Hampton Roads in the early 21st century Portsmouth was undergoing moderate urban renewal in the downtown citation needed The APM MAERSK marine terminal for container ships opened in 2007 in the West Norfolk section citation needed Timeline edit This article is in list format but may read better as prose You can help by converting this article if appropriate Editing help is available February 2023 1752 Portsmouth founded by politician William Crawford named after Portsmouth England 9 1779 Portsmouth sacked by British forces during the American Revolutionary War 10 1812 Dismal Swamp Canal opens 11 1821 Fire 12 1822 Norfolk Portsmouth steam ferry begins operating 12 1824 October 25 Lafayette visits Portsmouth 13 1836 Town of Portsmouth incorporated 9 1837 Portsmouth amp Roanoke Railroad begins operating 12 1840 Population 6 477 14 1846 Norfolk County Courthouse built 12 1850 Population 8 626 14 1855 Yellow fever outbreak 15 1858 City of Portsmouth incorporated as an independent city separated from Norfolk County 9 1865 Zion Baptist Church founded 16 17 1867 Virginia Baptist State Convention organized during a meeting in Portsmouth 18 1870 Population 10 590 1890 Became a stop on the Atlantic and Danville Railway 19 1894 Annexation of portions of Norfolk County North of the city 20 1900 Lyceum Theatre in business 21 1910 Population 33 190 1909 Annexation of portions of Norfolk County West of the city 20 1914 Portsmouth Public Library opens 1919 Expansion via the annexation of parts of Norfolk County that included the port zone Pinner s Point along the Elizbeth River to the north and residential areas to the West 20 1922 Chevra Thilim Synagogue built 22 1939 Lyric Theatre in business 21 1945 Portsmouth Public Community Library founded with Bertha Edwards as the founding librarian 23 1948 The fourth annexation since becoming an independent city pushing the city boundary westward to Western Branch 20 1949 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum established 24 1950 Population 80 039 1952 Downtown Tunnel opens 1955 Portsmouth Historical Association founded 24 1957 WAVY TV begins broadcasting 13 1960 Population 114 773 Portsmouth annexes additional portions of Norfolk County including ten square miles and 36 000 residents 20 1963 Public Library s Local History Room established 25 1966 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum established 12 1968 Further annexation of Norfolk County including ten square miles of land 14 square miles of water area and 11 000 residents all within the northern one third of Western Branch Borough 20 1974 Richard Joseph Davis becomes mayor 1981 Portsmouth Times newspaper begins publication 26 1984 James W Holley III becomes mayor 1993 Bobby Scott becomes U S representative for Virginia s 3rd congressional district 27 1998 Museum of Military History established 24 2001 Randy Forbes becomes U S representative for Virginia s 4th congressional district 28 2010 Population 95 535 29 2017 John L Rowe Jr becomes mayor 30 2023 Rivers Casino Portsmouth the first permanent Casino in Virginia History opens in Portsmouth on Victory Blvd January 23 2023Historic sites edit nbsp Built in 1846 the Portsmouth Courthouse is a historic landmark in the center of the Olde Towne Historic District Olde Towne edit The Olde Towne Historic District features one of the largest collections of historically significant homes between Alexandria Virginia and Charleston South Carolina 31 The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built by slaves and free men and is the second oldest building in Portsmouth and the city s oldest black church citation needed The city contains a number of other historic buildings as well including the Pass House which was built in 1841 by Judge James Murdaugh and occupied by Union troops from 1862 to 1865 Federal forces required Portsmouth residents to obtain a written pass to travel across the Elizabeth River and beyond These passes were issued from the English basement and thus the name Pass House was derived 32 33 Naval Medical Center Portsmouth edit Formerly the Naval Hospital Portsmouth the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is a United States Navy medical center adjacent to the Olde Towne Historic District and Park View Historic District Founded in 1827 it is the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system with the motto First and Finest 34 Seaboard Coastline Building edit Located at 1 High Street in the Olde Towne Historic District the Seaboard Coastline Building is a historic train station and former headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line railroad company citation needed The Hill House edit A four story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings It is evident from the furnishings that the Hill family were avid collectors and lived graciously over a period of 150 years The house remains in its original condition with limited renovation through the years citation needed Cedar Grove Cemetery edit Established in 1832 Cedar Grove Cemetery is the oldest city owned cemetery in Portsmouth Listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth Virginia the cemetery is noted for its funerary art and the civic business maritime religious and military leaders who are buried there Historical markers placed throughout the cemetery allow for self guided tours The cemetery is located between Effingham Street and Fort Lane in Olde Towne Portsmouth Entrance is through the south gate to the cemetery located on London Boulevard citation needed Geography edit nbsp Newport News Hampton Portsmouth and Norfolk seen from space in July 1996 Portsmouth is in the center right portion of the photo North is at left According to the U S Census Bureau Portsmouth has a total area of 47 square miles 120 km2 of which 34 square miles 88 km2 is land and 13 square miles 34 km2 28 0 is water The city is also bisected by the West Branch of the Elizabeth River which flows from neighboring Suffolk 35 Climate edit Portsmouth s mild humid subtropical climate means outdoor activities can be enjoyed year round The weather in Portsmouth is temperate and seasonal Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings The mean annual temperature is 65 F 18 C with an average annual snowfall of 3 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches No measurable snow fell in 1999 The wettest seasons are the spring and summer although rainfall is fairly constant all year round The highest recorded temperature was 105 0 F in 1980 The lowest recorded temperature was 3 0 F on January 21 1985 36 Additionally the geographic location of the city with respect to the principal storm tracks is especially favorable as it is south of the average path of storms originating in the higher latitudes and north of the usual tracks of hurricanes and other major tropical storms 37 Snow falls rarely averaging 3 inches 76 mm per season 38 vteClimate data for Norfolk International Airport Virginia 1991 2020 normals a extremes 1874 present b Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 84 29 82 28 92 33 97 36 100 38 102 39 105 41 105 41 100 38 95 35 86 30 82 28 105 41 Mean maximum F C 72 4 22 4 74 3 23 5 80 7 27 1 86 9 30 5 91 5 33 1 95 7 35 4 98 4 36 9 95 3 35 2 92 0 33 3 86 0 30 0 78 9 26 1 73 4 23 0 99 3 37 4 Mean daily maximum F C 50 7 10 4 53 4 11 9 60 1 15 6 70 0 21 1 77 4 25 2 85 2 29 6 89 4 31 9 86 9 30 5 81 4 27 4 72 3 22 4 62 1 16 7 54 7 12 6 70 3 21 3 Daily mean F C 42 2 5 7 44 2 6 8 50 7 10 4 60 1 15 6 68 3 20 2 76 7 24 8 81 1 27 3 79 2 26 2 74 0 23 3 63 7 17 6 53 3 11 8 46 1 7 8 61 6 16 4 Mean daily minimum F C 33 6 0 9 35 1 1 7 41 3 5 2 50 1 10 1 59 1 15 1 68 1 20 1 72 8 22 7 71 6 22 0 66 6 19 2 55 1 12 8 44 4 6 9 37 6 3 1 52 9 11 6 Mean minimum F C 18 7 7 4 21 6 5 8 27 4 2 6 37 0 2 8 46 9 8 3 56 0 13 3 64 7 18 2 63 7 17 6 55 5 13 1 40 4 4 7 29 8 1 2 23 9 4 5 16 8 8 4 Record low F C 3 19 2 17 14 10 23 5 36 2 45 7 54 12 49 9 40 4 27 3 17 8 5 15 3 19 Average precipitation inches mm 3 41 87 2 90 74 3 69 94 3 37 86 3 78 96 4 43 113 6 08 154 5 88 149 5 40 137 3 86 98 3 10 79 3 28 83 49 18 1 249 Average snowfall inches cm 3 2 8 1 1 5 3 8 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 8 6 2 16 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 10 7 9 2 10 9 10 0 11 2 9 7 10 6 10 2 9 4 7 7 8 9 9 9 118 4Average snowy days 0 1 in 1 7 1 3 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 0Average relative humidity 66 3 65 6 64 6 62 8 68 8 70 6 73 3 75 2 74 4 72 1 68 5 67 0 69 1Average dew point F C 27 9 2 3 28 9 1 7 35 8 2 1 43 2 6 2 54 5 12 5 63 1 17 3 68 2 20 1 68 0 20 0 62 4 16 9 51 3 10 7 41 7 5 4 32 7 0 4 48 1 9 0 Mean monthly sunshine hours 171 5 175 2 229 3 252 8 271 7 280 1 278 3 260 4 231 4 208 3 175 7 160 4 2 695 1Percent possible sunshine 56 58 62 64 62 64 62 62 62 60 57 53 61Average ultraviolet index 2 4 5 7 8 10 9 9 7 5 3 2 6Source 1 NOAA relative humidity and sun 1961 1990 36 39 40 Source 2 Weather Atlas UV 41 Demographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 18406 477 18508 62633 2 18609 49610 1 187010 59011 5 188011 3907 6 189013 26816 5 190017 42731 3 191033 19090 5 192054 38763 9 193045 704 16 0 194050 74511 0 195080 03957 7 1960114 77343 4 1970110 963 3 3 1980104 577 5 8 1990103 910 0 6 2000100 565 3 2 201095 535 5 0 202097 9152 5 U S Decennial Census 42 1790 1960 43 1900 1990 44 1990 2000 45 2010 2013 46 2020 census edit Portsmouth Virginia Racial and ethnic composition NH Non Hispanic Note the US Census treats Hispanic Latino as an ethnic category This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category Hispanics Latinos may be of any race Race Ethnicity Pop 2000 47 Pop 2010 48 Pop 2020 49 2000 2010 2020White alone NH 45 403 38 526 34 912 45 15 40 33 35 66 Black or African American alone NH 50 569 50 327 51 586 50 28 52 68 52 68 Native American or Alaska Native alone NH 449 379 355 0 45 0 40 0 36 Asian alone NH 762 994 1 244 0 76 1 04 1 27 Pacific Islander alone NH 60 104 134 0 06 0 11 0 14 Some Other Race alone NH 113 118 490 0 11 0 12 0 50 Mixed Race Multi Racial NH 1 461 2 168 4 781 1 45 2 27 4 88 Hispanic or Latino any race 1 748 2 919 4 413 1 74 3 06 4 51 Total 100 565 95 535 97 915 100 00 100 00 100 00 2010 census edit nbsp Age distribution in PortsmouthAs of the 2010 census 50 there were 95 535 people 38 170 households and 25 497 families residing in the city The population density was 3 032 7 inhabitants per square mile 1 170 9 km2 There were 41 605 housing units at an average density of 1 254 7 units per square mile 484 4 units km2 The racial makeup of the city was 53 3 African American 41 6 White 0 4 Native American 1 1 Asian 0 1 Pacific Islander 1 0 from other races and 2 6 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3 1 of the population There were 38 170 households out of which 30 6 had children under the age of 18 living with them 41 1 were married couples living together 10 9 have a female household with no husband present and 33 2 were non families 27 5 of all households were made up of individuals and 10 8 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 51 and the average family size was 3 05 In the city the population was spread out with 25 7 under the age of 18 11 1 from 18 to 24 29 1 from 25 to 44 20 3 from 45 to 64 and 13 8 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 34 years For every 100 females there were 93 5 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90 6 males The median income for a household in the city was 46 340 and the median income for a family was 53 769 Males had a median income of 39 871 versus 33 140 for females The per capita income for the city was 23 108 About 13 5 of families and 16 7 of the population were below the poverty line including 27 1 of those under age 18 and 10 8 of those age 65 or over 51 Arts and culture editTourism edit Portsmouth has a long history as a port town and city The Olde Towne Business and Historical District is located in the downtown area where a combination of preservation and redevelopment has been underway An example is Hawthorn Hotel amp Suites at The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel which was renovated and reopened in 2005 after being closed for more than 10 years It has been recognized by Historic Hotels of America a program of the National Trust for Historical Preservation that identifies hotels that have maintained their historical integrity architecture and ambiance and provides resources for their preservation 52 The historic hotel was named for Governor Robert Dinwiddie who was the administrative head of the Colony of Virginia during the time Portsmouth was founded in 1752 It was largely through his efforts that Virginia survived the French and Indian War relatively well 53 Dinwiddie County near Petersburg was also named for him citation needed Other points of interest include the Portsmouth City Park featuring the 2 ft 610 mm narrow gauge 54 Portsmouth City Railroad with an operating Chance Rides C P Huntington locomotive named Pokey Smokey II The original Pokey Smokey locomotive was built by Crown Metal Products and ran at the park for many years before being sold at auction It now runs on the Mideast Railroad in Ederville in Carthage North Carolina 55 56 In addition the Railroad Museum of Virginia located at Harbor Center Way features vintage railroad artifacts rolling stock and an operating model train layout 57 Completed in 2023 the Rivers Casino Portsmouth boasts a 50 000 square foot 4 600 m2 casino floor with slots table games poker tables and a sportsbook Sports editThe Portsmouth Cavaliers were a basketball team founded in 2010 and played in the American Basketball Association for the 2011 12 season Based in Portsmouth Virginia the Cavaliers played their home games at the Chick fil A Fieldhouse on the campus of Portsmouth Catholic Regional School The club spent one season in the American Professional Basketball League APBL before folding citation needed Each April since 1953 the city hosts the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where college basketball seniors play in front of scouts from the NBA and top European leagues Many top basketball stars played in the PIT before successful pro careers including Jimmy Butler Scottie Pippen Dennis Rodman and John Stockton Government editUnited States presidential election results for Portsmouth Virginia 58 Year Republican Democratic Third partyNo No No 2020 12 755 28 61 30 948 69 42 879 1 97 2016 12 795 29 58 28 497 65 87 1 969 4 55 2012 12 858 28 00 32 501 70 77 563 1 23 2008 13 984 29 97 32 327 69 27 354 0 76 2004 15 212 38 48 24 112 60 99 210 0 53 2000 12 628 35 62 22 286 62 86 541 1 53 1996 10 686 30 18 22 150 62 55 2 573 7 27 1992 12 575 33 45 20 416 54 30 4 608 12 26 1988 16 087 44 61 19 698 54 63 274 0 76 1984 18 940 46 42 21 623 53 00 238 0 58 1980 13 660 38 00 20 900 58 14 1 389 3 86 1976 12 872 35 51 22 837 63 01 537 1 48 1972 20 090 58 49 13 124 38 21 1 136 3 31 1968 9 402 25 15 15 734 42 09 12 245 32 76 1964 8 420 34 31 16 073 65 49 51 0 21 1960 6 900 40 64 9 902 58 32 178 1 05 1956 5 390 47 13 5 683 49 69 363 3 17 1952 3 621 36 74 6 188 62 79 46 0 47 1948 2 056 27 86 4 612 62 48 713 9 66 1944 1 129 16 42 5 735 83 39 13 0 19 1940 675 11 73 5 053 87 83 25 0 43 1936 861 13 23 5 617 86 30 31 0 48 1932 1 840 34 76 3 344 63 17 110 2 08 1928 3 474 57 32 2 587 42 68 0 0 00 1924 604 17 70 2 206 64 64 603 17 67 1920 1 061 24 40 3 228 74 24 59 1 36 1916 376 20 76 1 368 75 54 67 3 70 1912 64 3 31 1 529 79 02 342 17 67 1908 407 25 92 1 154 73 50 9 0 57 1904 247 17 31 1 151 80 66 29 2 03 1900 566 24 27 1 743 74 74 23 0 99 1896 769 34 89 1 380 62 61 55 2 50 1892 1 052 37 41 1 728 61 45 32 1 14 1888 1 107 43 07 1 439 55 99 24 0 93 1884 1 344 50 60 1 312 49 40 0 0 00 1880 1 024 44 64 1 270 55 36 0 0 00 Portsmouth is governed under the Council Manager form of government The current mayor is Navy veteran and businessman Shannon Glover 59 The City Hall Building located at 801 Crawford Street is the regular meeting place of the City Council of The City of Portsmouth Virginia The City Council is a legislative body served by six members elected for four year terms citation needed List of mayors of Portsmouth VirginiaJohn S White 1852 1853 60 61 Hezekiah Stoakes 1854 D D Fiske 1855 James G Hodges 1856 1857 George W Grice 1858 1860 John O Lawrence 1861 John Nash 1862 61 Daniel Collins 1863 1865 James C White 1866 James E Stoakes 1868 E W Whipple 1869 Philip G Thomas 1870 1871 A S Watts 1872 1874 John O Connor 1876 1877 John Thompson Baird 1878 1894 L H Davis 1894 1896 61 John Thompson Baird circa 1896 1902 62 Jack P Barnes circa 1973 Richard Joseph Davis 1974 1980 Julian E Johansen circa 1980 1983 James W Holley III 1984 1987 Gloria Webb 1987 1996 James W Holley III 1996 2010 Kenneth I Wright 2010 2017 John Rowe 2017 present 30 Law enforcement edit The Portsmouth Police Department has about 255 sworn law enforcement officers and 380 total employees 63 In May 2019 Police Chief Tonya Chapman resigned from her position 64 She was replaced by Angela Greene who serves as interim chief 65 Ten Portsmouth policemen have died in the line of duty the first in 1871 Four of these died from gunshot wounds 66 Crime editCrime in the city is much higher than elsewhere in Virginia or the United States generally 67 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Portsmouth Homicides Number 18 8 22 18 17 15 17 14 12 11 12 9 27 14Portsmouth Homicides Rate 17 8 8 21 8 17 8 16 8 14 7 16 8 14 1 12 4 11 4 13 4 9 3 28 2 14 6US Homicides Rate 5 7 5 5 5 6 5 8 5 7 5 4 5 0 4 8 4 7 4 7 4 5 4 5 N A N AEducation editPrimary and secondary schools edit Portsmouth Public Schools operates public schools There are three public high schools in Portsmouth Virginia located at three corners of the city In the northwest section of the city off Cedar Lane is Churchland High School In the downtown section of the city between London Blvd and High Street is I C Norcom High School In the southwest section of Portsmouth on Elmhurst Lane is Manor High School Higher education edit There are a number of institutions of higher education in and in close proximity to Portsmouth The city is home to the Tri Cities Higher Education Center of Old Dominion University ODU a public research university founded in 1930 whose main campus is located in Norfolk Virginia 68 Portsmouth is also home to the Fred W Beazley Portsmouth Campus of Tidewater Community College a two year higher education institution founded in 1968 in South Hampton Roads with additional campuses located in Chesapeake Norfolk and Virginia Beach 69 Angelos Bible College was established in 1984 Media editPortsmouth s daily newspaper is the Virginian Pilot with The Currents being the Portsmouth edition of the Sunday paper Other papers include the New Journal and Guide and Inside Business 70 Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi monthly regional magazine for Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads area 71 The Hampton Roads Times serves as an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties Portsmouth is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials with towers located around the Hampton Roads area 72 Portsmouth 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 73 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 stations are WHRO TV 15 Hampton Norfolk and WUND TV 2 Edenton NC Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth is served by Cox Cable and Verizon FIOS DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Portsmouth WAVY TV and WVBT TV are both sister stations owned by Nexstar and have their office and studio located in the city citation needed Infrastructure editTransportation edit nbsp Seaboard Terminal which served passenger trains until 1968From the earliest development Portsmouth has been oriented to the water In the 1830s it was the first community in Hampton Roads to receive a new land transportation innovation railroad service The Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad extended to the rapids of the Roanoke River on its fall line near Weldon North Carolina It was to be 20 more years before its bigger neighbor the city of Norfolk also received a rail line in 1858 when the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed citation needed The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad operated passenger trains 36 and 5 to and from its North Portsmouth Station to Rocky Mount North Carolina until 1954 In earlier years ACL ran trains including the Tar Heel all the way south to Wilmington North Carolina 74 75 From Seaboard Terminal the Seaboard Air Line and then the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad operated 17 and 18 to and from Raleigh North Carolina where the train joined with those companies Silver Comet The SAL also operated a local all coach train 3 11 southbound 6 10 northbound to Atlanta from the terminal 76 77 The 17 18 trains ended in 1968 78 Portsmouth is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport IATA ORF ICAO KORF FAA LID ORF now the region s major commercial airport The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay along the city limits of neighboring Norfolk and Virginia Beach 79 Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty five destinations ORF had 3 703 664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68 778 934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities 80 Newport News Williamsburg International Airport IATA PHF ICAO KPHF FAA LID PHF also provides commercial air service for the Hampton Roads area 81 The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located five miles 8 0 km outside the city limits 82 In the 21st century the city has access to lines of CSX Transportation Norfolk Southern and three short line railroads Amtrak provides service to points along the Northeast Corridor from Newport News station across the Hampton Roads and from Norfolk station across the Elizabeth River Portsmouth is served by Interstate 264 and Interstate 664 which is part of the Hampton Roads Beltway U S Route 17 and U S Route 58 pass through The Elizabeth River is crossed via the Midtown Tunnel the Downtown Tunnel and Berkley Bridge combination citation needed Transportation within the city as well as the other cities of Hampton Roads is served by a regional bus service Hampton Roads Transit 83 Notable people editSee also List of people from Hampton Roads Virginia V C Andrews 1923 1986 bestselling novelist 84 James P Berkeley 1907 1985 USMC general and expert in Military communications Marty Brennaman 1942 long time Cincinnati Reds radio broadcaster Ruth Brown 1928 2006 R amp B singer and actress 85 Bebe Buell 1953 Playboy Playmate fashion model singer mother of Liv Tyler citation needed John T Casteen III 1943 President of the University of Virginia born in Portsmouth 86 Deborah Coleman 1956 2018 blues musician 87 Fanny Murdaugh Downing 1831 1894 author and poet Jamin Elliott 1979 former NFL wide receiver with the Chicago Bears New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons 88 Missy Elliott 1971 recording artist award winning producer singer songwriter dancer actress and clothing line designer 89 Perry Ellis 1940 1986 fashion designer founded a sportswear house in the mid 1970s 90 Dorian Finney Smith 1993 Professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks citation needed Mordechai Gifter 1915 2001 among the foremost American religious leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the late 20th century 91 Melvin Gregg 1988 American actor and model 92 Chandler Harper 1914 2004 winner of the 1950 PGA golf championship 93 Ken Hatfield classical guitarist James W Holley III 1926 2012 politician first African American mayor of any city in the Hampton Roads region Portsmouth 94 W Nathaniel Nat Howell 1939 2020 State Dept Foreign Service officer former Ambassador to Kuwait Professor emeritus the University of Virginia 95 Chad Hugo 1974 American record producer and songwriter Ben Jones 1941 actor Cooter on The Dukes of Hazzard U S Congressman moved to Portsmouth as a child 96 Jillian Kesner Graver 1949 2007 actress 97 Jack T Kirby 1938 2009 historian of the southern United States awarded the Bancroft Prize for his 2006 book Mockingbird Song Ecological Landscapes of the South 98 Erik S Kristensen 1972 2005 US Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander and highest decorated SEAL to be killed in Operation Red Wings Rita Lavelle 1947 assistant administrator of the U S Environmental Protection Agency Nathan McCall 1955 African American author who grew up in the Cavalier Manor section of Portsmouth Virginia 99 Pete Mikolajewski 1943 football player 100 James Murphy 1967 metal guitarist member of the bands Death Testament Obituary and Disincarnate citation needed Wendell Cushing Neville 1870 1930 14th Commandant of the U S Marine Corps Tommy Newsom 1929 2007 assistant bandleader for the Johnny Carson Band 101 Patton Oswalt 1969 writer stand up comedian and actor 102 John L Porter 1813 1893 President of the first City Council a naval constructor for United States Navy and the Confederate States Navy Dave Robertson 1889 1970 MLB outfielder 1912 22 played in World Series for New York Giants born in Portsmouth William Russ 1950 actor Dave Smith 1942 poet novelist Wanda Sykes 1964 writer stand up comedian and actress 103 Ted Thomas Sr 1935 2020 Pentecostal African American preacher pastor of New Community Temple Church of God in Christ citation needed Mike Watt 1957 bassist singer and songwriter 104 Nicole Wray 1979 R amp B singer and songwriter citation needed Cleo Anthony 1981 American actor citation needed David N Hicks Sr b 1975 Leader in the property management industry Sister cities edit nbsp Portsmouth United Kingdom nbsp Dunedin New Zealand nbsp Orizaba Veracruz Mexico nbsp Eldoret Kenya nbsp Goree Island SenegalSee also edit nbsp Virginia portalNational Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth VirginiaNotes edit Mean monthly maxima and minima i e the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020 Official records for Norfolk kept January 1874 to December 1945 at the Weather Bureau Office in downtown and at Norfolk Int l since January 1946 For more information see Threadex References edit City of Portsmouth Olde Towne Portsmouth VA Olde Town Portsmouth VA Retrieved December 19 2019 2019 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved August 7 2020 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 US Board on Geographic Names United States Geological Survey October 25 2007 Retrieved January 31 2008 Portsmouth city Portsmouth city Virginia United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 26 2022 a b Report of the Philadelphia Relief Committee Philadelphia Inquirer Printing Office 1856 pp 1 5 Retrieved July 13 2020 a b City of Portsmouth Virginia History Archived 2007 06 04 at the Wayback Machine Baker Barnabas W Burgess Dean William Craford d by April 15 1762 Encyclopedia Virginia Retrieved June 22 2015 a b c Maps and Formation Information Portsmouth County and City Records Richmond Library of Virginia Retrieved March 18 2017 Ernie Gross 1990 This Day in American History Neal Schuman ISBN 978 1 55570 046 1 Federal Writers Project 1941 a b c d e Hellmann 2006 a b Portsmouth History City of Portsmouth Retrieved March 18 2017 Timeline a b Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States 1790 to 1990 U S Census Bureau 1998 Forrest 1856 Pollock 1886 Stewart 1902 Encyclopedia Virginia Charlottesville Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Archived from the original on May 3 2017 Retrieved March 17 2017 Burns Adam American Rails Retrieved June 18 2020 a b c d e f John D Eyre City County Territorial Competition The Portsmouth Virginia Case Southeastern Geographer Vol 9 No 2 An Issue Devoted to Political Geography November 1969 pp 26 38 a b Movie Theaters in Portsmouth VA CinemaTreasures org Los Angeles Cinema Treasures LLC Retrieved March 18 2017 Portsmouth Virginia Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities Jackson Mississippi Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life Retrieved March 18 2017 McCall Nathan J April 27 1979 Black libraries had rough beginning Spartan Echo p 14 Retrieved December 9 2023 a b c American Association for State and Local History 2002 Virginia Portsmouth Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada 15th ed Rowman Altamira p 830 ISBN 0759100020 Local History Portsmouth Public Library Retrieved March 18 2017 US Newspaper Directory Chronicling America Washington DC Library of Congress Retrieved March 18 2017 Virginia Official Congressional Directory 1991 1992 S Pub Washington D C Government Printing Office 1993 hdl 2027 uc1 l0072691827 via HathiTrust Virginia Official Congressional Directory 1991 1992 S Pub Washington D C Government Printing Office 2002 hdl 2027 msu 31293021143627 Portsmouth city Virginia QuickFacts U S Census Bureau Retrieved March 18 2017 a b City Council City of Portsmouth Retrieved March 18 2017 Portsmouth Virginia Department of Economic Development Hoyer Meghan July 5 2010 What s in a name The Pass House in Portsmouth Virginian Pilot Norfolk Virginia Retrieved April 26 2020 Walking Tour An Exciting Stroll Through History Welcome to Olde Towne Olde Towne Business Association n d During the Civil War the basement of the house was used as an office for the provost marshal It was here that the Union occupation issued passes to cross the ferry to Norfolk Citizens had to swear allegiance to the Union to be permitted to leave the city This house is an excellent example of an English basement house Med navy mil Naval Medical Center Portsmouth US Navy Retrieved June 11 2016 US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau February 12 2011 Retrieved April 23 2011 a b NowData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved May 18 2021 Information from NOAA Quick Data View Norfolk National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1971 2000 Station NORFOLK INTL AP VA U S Climate Normals 2020 U S Monthly Climate Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved May 18 2021 WMO Climate Normals for NORFOLK INTL VA 1961 1990 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved July 29 2020 Norfolk Virginia USA Monthly weather forecast and Climate data Weather Atlas Retrieved July 3 2019 Census of Population and Housing from 1790 US Census Bureau Retrieved January 24 2022 Historical Census Browser University of Virginia Library Retrieved January 6 2014 Population of Counties by Decennial Census 1900 to 1990 United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 6 2014 Census 2000 PHC T 4 Ranking Tables for Counties 1990 and 2000 PDF United States Census Bureau Archived PDF from the original on October 9 2022 Retrieved January 6 2014 State amp County QuickFacts United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 17 2016 Retrieved January 6 2014 P004 Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race 2000 DEC Summary File 1 Carson city California United States Census Bureau P2 Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race 2010 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 Portsmouth city Virginia United States Census Bureau P2 Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race 2020 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 Portsmouth city Virginia United States Census Bureau U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved May 14 2011 Census gov Topic Galleries dailypress com Archived October 11 2007 at the Wayback Machine Robert Dinwiddie Ohio History Central A product of the Ohio Historical Society Pokey Smokey locomotive PilotOnline com Portsmouth s Pokey Smokey is sold to N C railroad contractor Archived from the original on February 3 2014 Retrieved February 20 2014 Ederville official website Railroad Museum of Virginia www railroadmuseumofvirginia com Retrieved September 17 2020 David Leip Dave Leip s Atlas of U S Presidential Elections Uselectionatlas org Retrieved December 8 2020 Regina Mobley WAVY TV February 4 2020 Projected new Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover We have to heal our city https www wavy com news local news portsmouth projected new portsmouth mayor shannon glover we have to heal our city Mayors of Portsmouth Sketch Book of Portsmouth Va Its People and Its Trade Portsmouth Edward Pollock 1886 a b c William H Stewart 1902 Mayors of Portsmouth History of Norfolk County Virginia and Representative Citizens Chicago Biographical Publishing Company City of Portsmouth Virginia Mayor s Annual Message Together with Municipal Reports circa 1916 Portsmouth Police Department Official Home Page Portsmouth Police Department Retrieved May 31 2019 Former Portsmouth police chief says she was forced out for Washington Post May 25 2019 Archived from the original on May 31 2019 Retrieved May 31 2019 Daugherty Scott April 23 2019 Interim Portsmouth police chief reverses city s stand on paying officer who shot a burglar Virginia Pilot Retrieved May 31 2019 Portsmouth Police Department Officer Down Memorial Page Retrieved May 31 2019 Crime in the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation Retrieved May 31 2019 About ODU Old Dominion University ODU Retrieved November 13 2012 About Tidewater Community College TCC Retrieved November 13 2012 Hampton Roads News Links abyznewslinks com Retrieved August 6 2007 Hampton Roads Magazine Hampton Roads Magazine Archived from the original on September 28 2007 Retrieved August 6 2007 Hampton Roads Radio Links ontheradio net Archived from the original on August 5 2007 Retrieved August 6 2007 Holmes Gary Nielsen Reports 1 1 increase in U S Television Households for the 2006 2007 Season Archived 2009 07 05 at the Wayback Machine Nielsen Media Research September 23 2006 Retrieved on September 28 2007 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Table 10 Official Guide of the Railways National Railway Publication Company 86 7 December 1953 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Table 10 freight only Official Guide of the Railways National Railway Publication Company 87 7 December 1954 Seaboard Air Line Railroad Tables 1 27 Official Guide of the Railways National Railway Publication Company 82 8 August 1949 Seaboard Coast Line timetable December 15 1967 Tables 6 20 Official Guide of the Railways June 1968 Seaboard Coast Line section freight only Norfolk International Airport Mission and History Norfolk International Airport Archived from the original on September 28 2007 Retrieved October 2 2007 Norfolk International Airport Statistics PDF Norfolk International Airport Archived from the original PDF on October 25 2007 Retrieved October 2 2007 Newport News Williamsburg International Airport Newport News Williamsburg International Airport Archived from the original on December 4 2000 Retrieved February 25 2008 Chesapeake Regional Airport Retrieved January 12 2008 Hampton Roads Transit Campbell Edward D C Jr July 8 2013 V C Andrews 1923 1986 Dictionary of Virginia Biography Encyclopedia Virginia Gulla Bob 2008 Icons of R amp B and Soul p 72 Greenwood Publishing Group 49th TCC Commencement Tidewater Community College October 27 2009 Deborah Francine Coleman 1956 2018 The Virginian Pilot Norfolk Virginia April 18 2018 Retrieved March 19 2022 Jamin Elliott WR at NFL com National Football League Missy Elliott Biography The Biography com website A amp E Television Networks December 2 2020 Perry Ellis Biography The Biography com website A amp E Television Networks Archived from the original on February 22 2019 Retrieved February 3 2016 Gerber Alan Jay January 19 2012 The Kosher Bookworm From Portsmouth Virginia to Telz The Legacy of Rabbi Mordechai Gifter The Jewish Star Poulter Amy February 28 2020 He took his first acting class at ODU On Friday his first major movie starring Ben Affleck hits theaters pilotonline com Litsky Frank November 12 2004 Chandler Harper Winner of 7 Professional Golf Tournaments Dies at 90 The New York Times Forster Dave Harki Gary October 6 2012 Former Portsmouth Mayor James Holley dies at 85 The Virginian Pilot Baker Peter February 4 1991 Va City Lays Claim to War s 1st Hero The Washington Post Ben Jones A Conversation Georgia Public Broadcasting Finishing Welles film became her mission Los Angeles Times December 21 2007 Hevesi Dennis Jack T Kirby Southern Historian Dies at 70 The New York Times August 13 2009 Accessed August 14 2009 Washington Nicholas L April 15 2014 Nathan McCall 20 Years After Makes Me Wanna Holler Ebony Pete Mikolajewski Profootballarchives com Retrieved October 30 2015 Bernstein Adam May 1 2007 Jazz Saxophonist Tommy Newsom Played on Tonight Show The Washington Post Patton Oswalt Biography biography com A amp E Television Networks Retrieved February 16 2017 Kiehl Stephen February 5 2006 A wonderful year for Wanda Sykes The Baltimore Sun Retrieved May 26 2019 Sutherland Sam March 24 2007 Mike Watt on What s Watt Exclaim Retrieved March 18 2019 Bibliography editWilliam S Forrest 1853 Historical and Descriptive Sketches of Norfolk and Vicinity Including Portsmouth Philadelphia Lindsay and Blakiston Richard Edwards ed 1855 Portsmouth Statistical Gazetteer of the State of Virginia Richmond a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint location missing publisher link William S Forrest 1856 Great Pestilence in Virginia Yellow Fever in Norfolk and Portsmouth in 1855 New York Derby amp Jackson Sketch Book of Portsmouth Va Its People and Its Trade Portsmouth Edward Pollock 1886 George E Waring Jr U S Department of the Interior Census Office 1887 Virginia Portsmouth Report on the Social Statistics of Cities Southern and the Western States Washington DC Government Printing Office pp 75 78 Robert W Lamb ed 1888 Our Twin Cities of the Nineteenth Century Norfolk and Portsmouth Barcroft Portsmouth Rand McNally amp Co s Handy Guide to the Southeastern States Chicago Rand McNally amp Co 1899 via Internet Archive William H Stewart 1902 History of Norfolk County Virginia and Representative Citizens Chicago Biographical Publishing Company Illustrated Standard Guide to Norfolk and Portsmouth Norfolk Va Standard Lithographing and Publishing Co 1907 OL 24365413M Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Portsmouth Virginia Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 22 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 133 City of Portsmouth Virginia Mayor s Annual Message Together with Municipal Reports circa 1916 Federal Writers Project 1941 Portsmouth Virginia a Guide to the Old Dominion American Guide Series Oxford University Press pp 252 ISBN 9780403021956 via Google Books Ory Mazar Nergal ed 1980 Portsmouth VA Encyclopedia of American Cities New York E P Dutton OL 4120668M Cassandra Newby Alexander et al 2003 Portsmouth Virginia Black America Charleston South Carolina Arcadia Paul T Hellmann 2006 Virginia Portsmouth Historical Gazetteer of the United States Taylor amp Francis pp 1159 1160 ISBN 1 135 94859 3 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portsmouth Virginia nbsp Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article about Portsmouth Virginia City of Portsmouth municipal website Portsmouth city directories 19th 20th c via Norfolk Public Library City of Portsmouth County and City Records Richmond Library of Virginia Items related to Portsmouth Virginia various dates via Digital Public Library of America Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Portsmouth Virginia amp oldid 1207665683, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.