Hampton Roads Information

Hampton Roads is located in southeastern Virginia where the James, Elizabeth, and Nansemond Rivers join the Chesapeake Bay. With 1.5 million people, Hampton Roads is the nation's 39th most populous Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Abundant waterways and its ice-free port gave rise to shipbuilding and cargo handling facilities in the Hampton Roads area; it has the East Coast's second largest port. More than 130,000 armed forces employees account for 25% of the local economy. White sandy beaches and colonial historical sites attract more than 2.5 million visitors each year. The climate is pleasant, although occasional hurricanes (e.g., Isabel, 2003) and other storms can disrupt operations and endanger life and property.

Why is it called "Hampton ROADS?" and other Hampton Roads trivia

Water is key to the Hampton Roads community. The Chesapeake Bay offers boating and sports fishing, as well as commercial fishing and aquaculture. Planning concerns include wetlands protection, managing commercial aquatic species for livelihoods, and watershed action plans to reduce river pollution and restore the Bay.

• Virginia Association of Counties Hampton Roads Planning District CommissionHampton Roads metropolitan statistics
• Counties/cities that comprise Hampton Roads

Related Information

The following websites were developed for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Physical Oceanography Department and The College of William and Mary Geology Department, respectively:

1. Hurricane Isabel
2. Virginia physiographic map

The following websites were developed for the Geography of Virginia class at George Mason University:

1. The growth of Hampton Roads
2. What makes Hampton Roads unique?
3. Will Norfolk Drown?

 

Penn State University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Rhode Island, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science are collaborating with the U.S. EPA and private and public stakeholders of the mid- and upper-Atlantic region. Support for CARA is provided by the Global Change Research Program, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Cooperative Agreement R-83053301).