SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN COMMUNITY PROFILE This section of the Plan provides a general overview of the Southside of Hampton Roads region, including Isle of Wight County, the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and the towns of Smithfield and Windsor. This section consists of the following five subsections: GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENT POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND LAND USE EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT TRENDS GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENT The Southside Hampton Roads region is located in the southeastern Tidewater region of Virginia and is bounded by the state of North Carolina, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The area that comprises the jurisdictions in the region was part of eight shires, or counties established in 1634, and today the seven jurisdictions are located within the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). These jurisdictions are located along the Atlantic Ocean and between the two largest estuaries in the world Chesapeake Bay and the Albemarle Pamlico Sound. Numerous military installations, including U.S. Naval Base Norfolk, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Dam Neck U.S. Naval Base, Little Creek U.S. Navy Amphibious Base, Oceana Naval Air Station and U.S. Naval Fleet Training Station, Virginia Army National Guard Camp Pendleton and Fort Story Army Base dot the planning area and comprise a significant part of the local economy. The region is comprised of 1,443 square miles, including 1,061 square miles of land and 382 square miles of inland water. The general topography is best described as relatively flat with slightly rolling hills, and elevations ranging from sea level to several hundred feet above. A moderate climate prevails throughout the region with an approximate average July temperature of 78 degrees, and an average January temperature of 41 degrees. The region averages approximately 47 inches of rainfall per year (mostly in the spring and summer months), and another 8 inches of snowfall during the winter months. The City of Virginia Beach is the largest and fastest growing municipality, while the Town of Windsor is the smallest. The City of Norfolk, with a population of 234,403, including 94,416 housing units, is the most densely developed. Table 3.1 provides a summary of the population, housing and land area present within the Southside Hampton Roads region, as well population and housing densities per square mile. Figure 3.1 provides an orientation map for the Southside Hampton Roads region that illustrates the geographic location of each county and municipal jurisdiction within the planning area, as well as their neighboring jurisdictions. Figure 3.2 illustrates the multiple major water bodies in the region. The following information provides a brief overview of the history, geography and unique characteristics of the seven jurisdictions in the planning area. Isle of Wight County Isle of Wight County was established as Worrosquoyacke County in 1634, one of eight counties divided from the Virginia colony. The original boundaries of the county included Lawne s Creek to the north, the James River to the east, the head of Colonel Pitt's Creek to the south and undeveloped wooded area to the west. In 1656, Ragged Island and Nansemond County were incorporated into Isle of Wight County. A long dispute between the counties of Isle of Wight and Nansemond continued until 1674, when the General Assembly established the boundaries that exist today.
3:2 TABLE 3.1: SUMMARY OF POPULATION, HOUSING, LAND AREA AND DENSITY JURISDICTION Isle of Wight County POPULATION HOUSING UNITS AREA IN SQUARE MILES TOTAL AREA WATER AREA LAND AREA DENSITY PER SQUARE MILE OF LAND AREA POPULATION HOUSING UNITS 29,728 12,066 363 47 316 94 38 Norfolk 234,403 94,416 96 43 54 4,363 1,757 Portsmouth 100,565 41,605 47 13 33 3,033 1,255 Smithfield 6,324 2,552 10 1 10 664 268 Suffolk 63,677 24,704 429 29 400 159 62 Virginia Beach 425,257 162,277 497 249 248 1,713 654 Windsor 916 422 1 0 1 1,077 496 REGION TOTAL 860,870 338,042 1,443 382 1,061 811 318 VIRGINIA 7,078,515 2,904,192 42774 3180 39594 179 73 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Isle of Wight County is thirty-seven miles in length and maintains an average breadth of eleven miles. The county is comprised of approximately 363 square miles, of which 80 percent is land area. The area contains relatively flat, but rolling terrain with average elevation of approximately 80 feet above sea level. The land generally dips to the northeast from a plateau west of Bethel Church, and from that same plateau, the land dips to the northwest and west. Several swamps, ravines and creeks drain to the James River, the Blackwater River and the Nansemond River. Today, Isle of Wight's residents enjoy the rural nature of the County coupled with the quaint atmosphere of the two incorporated Towns, Smithfield and Windsor. While the local economy remains largely agriculturally-based, the area s scenic beauty, historic nature and proximity to other attractions in the Hampton Roads area greatly contribute to the tourist draw. In addition, the County is close enough to the transportation hubs and employments of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area to attract year round residents and businesses alike. City of Norfolk The City of Norfolk, located on the Elizabeth River, was founded in 1682 but wasn t incorporated as a city until 1845. Initially comprised of only 50 acres, the city has grown to a total of 96 square miles today. Norfolk is comprised of seven miles of Chesapeake Bay waterfront and a total of 144 miles of shoreline, including lakefront, rivers and the Bay. Naval Station Norfolk, which was established on the old Jamestown Exposition grounds in 1917, is the world s largest naval base. The city is also home to the North American Headquarters for the North American Treaty Organization (NATO). Norfolk is the most densely developed jurisdiction in the Southside Hampton Roads region at 4,363 people per square mile. Today, Norfolk is a city of more than 100 diverse neighborhoods. It is recognized as the cultural, educational, business and medical center of the Southside Hampton Roads region, and is currently undergoing a successful urban renewal, including new office, retail, entertainment and hotel construction downtown, new residential development along the rivers and bay front, and revitalization projects in many of its neighborhoods.
3:3 City of Portsmouth The City of Portsmouth was founded as a town in 1752 on the shores of the Elizabeth River by Colonel William Crawford. In 1858, the town was separated from the county government and given status as an independent city. Portsmouth s location as an East Coast deepwater port and available business sites in proximity to the nation s largest shipyard has provided a significant impetus for economic growth in the area. Today Portsmouth is in the middle of the dynamic Norfolk-Virginia Beach metropolitan area and home to more than 100,000 people. In addition to the many medical, cultural and recreational facilities within the immediate community, Portsmouth s newly revitalized downtown is bustling with retail, restaurant and service-related businesses. The historic waterfront neighborhood of Olde Towne lines the Elizabeth River and is easily traversed by the famous downtown seawall, and the City of Norfolk is easily accessible by a quick 5-minute ferry ride across the river. Town of Smithfield The Town of Smithfield was incorporated in 1752 by Arthur Smith IV who parceled out his family farm into 72 lots and 4 streets in order to house British merchants and ship captains. The town is located on the banks of the Pagan River, which flows into the James River. Smithfield was a river town from its very beginning, and the livelihood of its residents and continued growth over the years has been influenced by the river. The town is comprised of approximately ten square miles. Nurtured by trade and commerce, Smithfield soon became a town of industry with four plants devoted to the art of curing the world famous "Smithfield Ham. Once a commercial center for shipping, Smithfield has evolved to host one of the area's largest meat-processing industries as well as the home to one of Hampton Roads' largest employers - Smithfield Foods, Inc. Smithfield has many of the charms associated with Hampton Roads communities, including many historic homes representing 18th & 19th Century architecture, a revitalized historic downtown, and all the character of a former colonial seaport. To preserve the historical charm, the Town of Smithfield and individual property owners took the steps to protect the integrity and history of their ancestors by enacting a Historic Preservation District Ordinance in 1979. Smithfield offers residents a small-town atmosphere, a good school system, affordable housing, a historic downtown, and a new state-of-the-art community/conference center. City of Virginia Beach The first settlement inside the city limits of Virginia Beach was made on Lynnhaven Bay in 1621, and the area first became incorporated as a town in 1908. In 1963, the Town of Virginia Beach merged with Princess Anne County to form the independent City of Virginia Beach. Today, Virginia Beach is the largest and fastest growing city in the state. The city consists of 249 square miles of inland water and 248 square miles of land. The topography is relatively flat with an average elevation of twelve feet above sea level. The area contains extensive brackish tidal areas, such as the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth River systems, and expansive freshwater tidal areas, such as the North Landing River and Back Bay systems. Due to a combination of the city s geographic position on the mid-atlantic coastline and the straddling two of ecologically significant estuaries, Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound, the area serves as the southern limit of many northern plant and animal species. The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1938 and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is an 8,000 acre fresh water refuge that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Back Bay on the west. The barrier islands feature large sand dunes, maritime forests, fresh water marshes, ponds, ocean beach, and large impoundments for wintering wildfowl.
3:4 Virginia Beach is best known as a major resort destination, with miles of beaches and dozens of hotels, motels, and restaurants. It is also home to several state parks, several long protected beach areas, four military bases, a number of large corporations, and two universities. Much of the land remained undeveloped until World War II when the Navy built Oceana Naval Air Station, followed by three more military bases, including Little Creek, Fort Story, and Dam Neck. Since the end of the war, Virginia Beach has experienced continued rapid growth and is the region s most populous jurisdiction at more than 425,000 people. Town of Windsor The Town of Windsor is located in the heart of Isle of Wight County. The town s original name was Corrowaugh and was established as a post office in 1852. Five years later, the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad company obtained the post office and built a depot called Windsor Station. In 1902, a town charter was granted by the General Assembly and it became the Town of Windsor, Virginia. In 1950 the Windsor Ruritan Club and the Town of Windsor built a "Community House" which has been a valuable asset to the community over the years. In the next three decades the town services improved and expanded. The streets were upgraded and paved, sidewalks extended, additional streetlights installed, drainage improved, and ditches piped and filled in. The privately owned water systems in the town limits were purchased by the town, upgraded, extended and an above ground water storage tower was erected. In 1971 the Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad was founded and continues to provide service to the town and surrounding community. In July 2001, the Town of Windsor annexed 2.82 square miles of Isle of Wight County. As a result, the total area increased from one square mile to 3.82 square miles and in population increased from approximately 900 to 2,347. Also in 2001, Isle of Wight County helped install a central sewer system in the town which opened up many areas for new homes and businesses. The Town of Windsor remains a small rural town amidst the region s larger, more populated cities which are easily accessible through two main roads bisecting the town, Route 460 and Route 258. City of Suffolk In 1742, the Town of Suffolk, which was originally part of the County of Nansemond, was established. The town was burned by the British in 1779 and damaged by other fires throughout the next century, but survived to eventually become incorporated as a city in 1910. In 1974, the City of Suffolk consolidated with the towns of Holland and Whaleyville, and the County of Nansemond. At that point it became the largest city (geographically) in Virginia and the 11th largest in the country, encompassing a total of nearly 430 square miles. This large area is made up of rich land with woods, lakes, rivers, and rolling terrain. The City of Suffolk is located along the Nansemond River, and is still largely recognized as the Peanut Capital of the world and as the home of Mr. Peanut. In 1912, an Italian immigrant named Amedeo Obici moved from Pennsylvania to Suffolk and opened Planters Nut and Chocolate Company. Today, Suffolk remains a major peanut processing center and transportation hub. POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS According to 2000 census records, the Southside Hampton Roads region has a population of 860,870 people. Table 3.2 shows total population, percent of children under the age of 18, percent of elderly population (age 65 and over), percent of white population and disability status for participating jurisdictions as compared with the state totals for Virginia. Among the seven jurisdictions in the planning area, the City of Virginia Beach has the highest population, followed by the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk. The percent of children under the age of eighteen and over the age of 65 in the seven jurisdictions is comparable to statewide averages. The City of Virginia Beach has the largest elderly population, even though the proportion of elderly is lower than other communities. More than 50 percent
3:5 of the total population in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth is non-white, and the percentage of disabled persons is higher in all seven jurisdictions than the statewide average of 17.5 percent. TABLE 3.2: POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS JURISDICTION TOTAL POPULATION UNDER 18 YEARS OLD 65 YEARS AND OVER WHITE POPULATION DISABILITY STATUS Isle of Wight County 29,728 25 12.2 71.1 20.1 Norfolk 234,403 24 10.9 48.4 23.5 Portsmouth 100,565 26 13.8 45.8 24.7 Smithfield 6,324 27 13.6 67.2 22.1 Suffolk 63,677 28 11.4 53.8 24.4 Virginia Beach 425,257 27 8.4 71.4 15.3 Windsor 916 24 12.4 89.7 19.9 REGION TOTAL 860,870 25.85 11.81 63.91 21.43 VIRGINIA 7,078,515 25 11.2 72.3 17.5 Source: U.S. Census Bureau Table 3.3 lists the population change experienced by participating jurisdictions (towns excluded) between 1970 and 2000, as well as population projections through 2030. While the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth have experienced a decrease in overall population, other jurisdictions have experienced a steady increase since 1970. Much of this trend may be attributed to suburbanization as residents move outward from the denser city centers. The City of Virginia Beach gained almost a quarter million people between 1970 and 2000 and is expected to continue steadily growing in population size. The experienced and projected changes in population are illustrated below in Figure 3.3. TABLE 3.3: POPULATION CHANGES AND PROJECTED CHANGES, 1970-2030 JURISDICTION 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Isle of Wight County 18,285 21,603 25,053 29,728 33,798 37,500 41,500 Norfolk 307,951 266,979 261,250 234,403 228,300 228,297 228,300 Portsmouth 110,963 104,577 103,910 100,565 97,398 95,900 94,400 Suffolk 45,024 47,621 52,143 63,677 77,801 87,801 97,799 Virginia Beach 172,106 262,199 393,089 425,257 444,802 460,900 477,000 REGION TOTAL 656,299 704,959 837,435 855,630 884,109 912,418 941,029 Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Population COMMUNITY PROFILE 3:6 FIGURE 3.3: POPULATION CHANGES AND PROJECTED CHANGES, 1970-2030 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 Isle of Wight County Norfolk Portsmouth Suffolk Virginia Beach 0 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Year Source: U.S. Census Bureau HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND LAND USE According to the 2000 Census, there are a total of approximately 338,013 housing units in the Southside Hampton Roads region with more than 90 percent of the units classified as occupied. Approximately 48 percent of housing units in the region are located in the City of Virginia Beach. All of the houses in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth are within designated urban areas, while all of the houses in the Town of Windsor are located non-urban areas. The average age of housing units in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth is notably older than houses in other areas (the median year of construction is 1959 and 1961, respectively), and the two cities also have the highest percentage of structures built before 1970. Table 3.4 summarizes data on housing characteristics for each jurisdiction within the Southside Hampton Roads region, and more specific information is provided in Section 5: Vulnerability Assessment. TABLE 3.4: HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS JURISDICTION TOTAL HOUSING UNITS AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE URBAN AREA OCCUPIED UNITS STRUCTURES BUILT BEFORE 1970 MEDIAN YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT Isle of Wight County 12,066 2.61 33.77 93.81 32.41 1980 Norfolk 94,416 2.45 100.00 91.31 68.24 1959 Portsmouth 41,605 2.51 100.00 91.74 65.83 1961 Smithfield 2,521 2.55 99.01 96.71 33.68 1978 Suffolk 24,704 2.69 70.98 94.25 40.44 1975 Virginia Beach 162,277 2.7 98.47 95.18 25.31 1980 Windsor 424 2.35 0.00 91.75 47.17 1971 REGION TOTAL 338,013 2.55 71.75 93.54 44.73 1972 Source: U.S. Census Bureau
3:7 The Southside Hampton Roads region provides an integrated network of transportation facilities and infrastructure that includes many interstates (I-64, I-264, I-464, I-564, I-664) and highways (U.S. 13, 17, 58, 60, 258, 460 and State Route 164), along with hundreds of secondary roadways and bridges throughout the area. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which opened in 1964, connects Virginia's Eastern Shore with the Virginia mainland at Virginia Beach and remains one of the world s modern engineering wonders. Freight rail service is provided through CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Corporation, while the nearest passenger rail is available through Amtrak at the Newport News station. Convenient commercial air service is available through Norfolk International Airport which offers over 260 flights per day, including direct non-stops to 25 airports of which 17 are major hubs. The area also serves as one of the nation s most critical and fastest growing ports. Over 95 percent of the world's shipping lines call on the Port of Norfolk and Portsmouth linking Virginia and the U.S. to more than 250 ports in over 100 countries around the world. With its four marine terminals, the Port of Hampton Roads is the second largest volume port on the East Coast in terms of general cargo (break-bulk and containerized cargo), and the leading U.S. port in total tonnage. In addition to transportation facilities, the Southside Hampton Roads region provides a significant amount of critical facilities and infrastructure that include hospitals, schools, police stations, fire stations, energy facilities, water and wastewater facilities and hazardous material facilities (further discussed in Section 5: Vulnerability Assessment and Appendix F). The large scale military presence provides its own significant facilities and infrastructure base, though these are located on federal land and outside the planning area. Electric service is supplied throughout the region by Dominion Virginia Power, and natural gas is provided by Colombia Gas and Virginia Natural Gas. Superior Telecom provides 11 completely independent networks supported by over 650,000 miles of fiber optics. Land use varies significantly throughout the Southside Hampton Roads region, with residential development clustered in higher densities near city centers and along the beach areas of the City of Virginia Beach. While the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach are rather heavily developed, the majority of Suffolk and Isle of Wight County is considered rural and agricultural lands. Table 3.5 provides best available information on existing land classifications for each jurisdiction according to the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey 1. This data was acquired through the Geospatial and Statistical Data Center at the University of Virginia Library, and is based on 1992 Landsat thematic mapper imagery and supplemental data. Figure 3.4 illustrates this data in a series of images for each jurisdiction. The cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach are the most developed jurisdictions in terms of land use and land cover. According to the NLCD data, more than 70 percent of existing land in Norfolk is classified as residential, commercial or industrial, followed by Portsmouth (60 percent) and Virginia Beach (24 percent). Nearly 35 percent of land cover in Virginia Beach is classified as open water or wetlands, which accounts for the relatively low percentage of developed land. Conversely, the existing land cover for Isle of Wight County and the City of Suffolk are dominated by mostly agricultural lands (row crops), wetlands and forests. Developed areas in these two jurisdictions are concentrated in the incorporated towns of Smithfield and Windsor in Isle of Wight County, and near the north and central portions of Suffolk. 1 Data not available for the towns of Smithfield and Windsor.
3:8 TABLE 3.5: LAND COVER / LAND USE LAND COVER TYPE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY NORFOLK PORTSMOUTH SUFFOLK VIRGINIA BEACH Pasture/Hay 12.1 1.3 9.4 3.9 Row Crops 25.3 3 22.9 17.1 Woody Wetlands 13 1.2 27.5 14.6 Open Water 1.8 11.6 10.5 3 11.4 Emerg/Herbaceous Wetlands Urban Recreational Grasses Low Intensity Residential High Intensity Residential Commercial/Indust rial/transportation Quarries, Strip Mines, Gravel Pits Bare Rock, Sand, Clay 2.3 2.1 5.4 3 8.8 8.2 2.8 4.1 1.6 37.1 21.2 2.5 12.9 4.2 18.5 0.5 6 0.9 29.9 20.2 1.9 5.4 Transitional 0.7 1.6 1.8 1.6 Deciduous Forest 15.5 1.8 2.7 11.4 7.7 Evergreen Forest 8.5 3.4 5.9 8.4 4.9 Mixed Forest 18 0.7 0.8 7.4 Source: U.S. Geological Survey 4.9 1.4
3:9 FIGURE 3.4: LAND COVER / LAND USE Norfolk Isle of Wight County Portsmouth Suffolk Low Intensity Residential High Intensity Residential Commercial/Industrial/Transportation Quarries, Strip Mines, Gravel Pits Bare Rock, Sand, Clay Transitional Pasture/Hay Row Crops Virginia Beach Deciduous Forest Evergreen Forest Mixed Forest Urban Recreational Grasses Woody Wetlands Open Water Emergent Herbaceous Wetlands Source: U.S. Geological Survey
3:10 EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY Nearly two million people live in or within an hour's drive of the Southside Hampton Roads region, and because of the presence of several naval bases, a large proportion of the total population are employed in military and service related industries. The military bases not only contribute billions of dollars annually to the regional economy but also supply a skilled labor force. Over 15,000 trained and disciplined personnel leave the military installations each year, and many of these persons decide to stay in the area and look for local private sector employment. In addition, there are approximately 40,000 military spouses available to work. The region's tourism industry creates over 10,000 seasonal jobs during summer months. This group provides an additional source of workers to companies with personnel needs that peak at other times of the year. Lastly, over 86,000 students attend eight universities and four community colleges in the area. Most of these students are permanent residents available for part-time or full-time employment while in school and upon graduation. Table 3.6 shows labor force data, unemployment rates and income and poverty information for each jurisdiction according to the 2000 Census (with the exception of unemployment rates which are shown for the year 2003). Isle of Wight County and the City of Virginia Beach had the lowest unemployment rate in the region (and less than the statewide average), while the City of Norfolk had the highest unemployment rate. The City of Virginia Beach had the highest median household income, approximately $2,000 more than the state average. Also, the poverty level for the city is lower than the state average. The City of Norfolk has the highest poverty level, in which almost one out of five people fall below poverty level. TABLE 3.6: EMPLOYMENT, INCOME AND POVERTY JURISDICTION LABOR FORCE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (2003) MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME PER CAPITA INCOME FAMILIES BELOW POVERTY LEVEL INDIVIDUALS BELOW POVERTY LEVEL Isle of Wight 14,851 3.4 $45,387 $20,235 6.6 8.3 Norfolk 123,360 6.5 $31,815 $17,372 15.5 19.4 Portsmouth 48,163 6.1 $33,742 $16,507 13.3 16.2 Smithfield 3,028 N/A $43,224 $19,301 11.8 12.0 Suffolk 30,345 4.5 $41,115 $18,836 10.8 13.2 Virginia Beach 220,878 3.7 $48,705 $22,365 5.1 6.5 Windsor 496 N/A $36,528 $20,999 5.9 8.8 VIRGINIA 3,694,663 4.0 $46,677 $23,975 7.0 9.6 Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Virginia Economic Development Partnership The City of Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the state and the fastest growing city in the planning area. The city added an average of 100 new businesses per month in recent years and this phenomenal growth can be attributed to the city s inter-modal location between Washington, D.C. and the Atlantic Ocean. In comparison to other cities, Virginia Beach has a higher employment rate in trade and service industries as shown in Figure 3.5. The City of Norfolk is home to the world s largest naval base and the North American Headquarters for NATO. The city is located within the region of one of the nation s fastest growing ports. The service industry is the largest employer in the city (38.8 percent), while 23 percent of the city s labor force works in government and nearly 15 percent is in the armed forces. Norfolk is home of a booming cruise port
Virginia Beach Suffolk Portsmouth Norfolk Isle of Wight COMMUNITY PROFILE 3:11 industry and by 2010 the Norfolk International Terminal will complete a 300-acre expansion, making it the largest inter-model center in the U.S. FIGURE 3.4: EMPLOYMENT DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT BY SECTOR, 2003 100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 Government Services Financial Information Manufacturing Transportation / Utilities Trade Construction Natural Resources and Mining Source: Virginia Economic Development Partnership, 2005 Isle of Wight County and its communities, including the towns of Smithfield and Windsor, are located near major industries such as those that produce agricultural, paper and lumber products and building materials, meat processing plants, as well as information systems and manufacturing and equipment assembly plants. Isle of Wight County is home to Smithfield Foods, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company and the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. Subsidiaries include Smithfield Packing Company and Gwaltney of Smithfield. The Smithfield Foods and its subsidiaries employ approximately 4,500 people. As shown in Figure 3.5, more than 47 percent of the Isle of Wight County population is employed in manufacturing industries. The City of Suffolk has experienced rapid population growth since 1970. The city is becoming a center of industrial and advanced technology. The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center and the U.S. Joint Forces Command are part of northern Suffolk s high-tech corridor. Over $132 million in new capital investments were made in Suffolk in 2001, including major office and industrial projects such as the Ferguson and Target distribution centers. Suffolk maintains the highest percent employment in transportation and utility industries in the region. The majority of the City of Portsmouth population works in the service industry, the federal government, ship repair, marine engineering and health care due to its location adjacent to the shipyard. Thirty-six percent of the total labor force is employed by city, state and federal government.
3:12 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS As discussed earlier in this section, the Southside Hampton Roads region is expected to continue growing steadily with a projected population of nearly 1 million people in the planning area by the year 2030. Most of this residential growth is expected to take place in the large, more spread out cities of Virginia Beach and Suffolk. The more densely concentrated and developed cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth are expected to continue seeing declines in population during this period, thereby suggesting that development trends across the region will differ greatly from one jurisdiction to the next. Details on zoning and comprehensive plans (including future land use plans) can be obtained by contact each jurisdiction directly.
3:13 DATA SOURCES The following primary data sources were among those used to collect the information presented in this section. City of Virginia Beach (http://www.vbgov.com/default/) City of Portsmouth (http://www.portsmouthva.gov/) City of Suffolk (http://www.suffolk.va.us/citygovt/index.html) City of Norfolk (http://www.norfolk.gov) Town of Smithfield (http://www.co.smithfield.va.us/history.html) Town of Windsor (http://www.windsor-va.gov/history.html) A Brief History of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. 1608 1907, by Col. E. M. Morrison (http://www.iwchs.com/iwchistory.html) Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (www.hrpdc.org/) Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance (http://www.hreda.com/index.asp) Virginia State/Local Cooperative Population Estimates (http://www3.ccps.virginia.edu/demographics/slcpe/default.shtml) Virginia Economic Development Partnership (http://virginiascan.yesvirginia.org/data_center/community_profiles/default.aspx) Virginia Employment Commission (http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/) Geospatial and Statistical Data Center, University of Virginia Library (http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/index.html) Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/) U.S. Geological Survey (http://www.usgs.gov/) ego.com Travel information-virginia Beach History (http://www.ego.net/us/va/vb/history/index.htm)