Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk (locally NOR-fək) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, Norfolk had a population of 238,005, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, of which are also part of the same metropolitan area, known as Hampton Roads. Norfolk is the 96th-most populous city in the United States. The city holds a strategic position as the historical, urban, financial, and cultural center of the Hampton Roads metro area (sometimes called "Tidewater"), which has more than 1.8 million inhabitants and is the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Norfolk was incorporated as a town in 1682, borough in 1736, and city in 1845. Bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay, the city shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront areas, including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. The largest naval base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk, is located in Norfolk along with one of NATO's two Strategic Command headquarters. Additionally, Norfolk is an important contributor to the Port of Virginia. It is home to Maersk Line, Limited, which manages the world's largest fleet of US-flag vessels. This low-lying coastal infrastructure is very vulnerable to sea level rise, with water levels expected to rise by more than 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) by the end of the 21st century. The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point, where many railroad lines started. It is linked to its neighbors by a network of interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and three bridge-tunnel complexes.

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