Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia
Independent city
Skyline of Downtown Norfolk USS Wisconsin Basilica of Saint Mary Chrysler Museum of Art Old Dominion University Naval Station Norfolk MacArthur Memorial
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Crescas (Latin for, "Thou shalt grow.")
Interactive map of Norfolk
Norfolk Location within the state of Virginia Show map of Virginia Norfolk Location within the United States Show map of the United States Norfolk Location within North America Show map of North America
Coordinates: 36°50′49″N 76°17′07″W / 36.84694°N 76.28528°W / 36.84694; -76.28528
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	None (independent city)
Founded	1682
Incorporated	1736
Government
• Mayor	Kenny Alexander (D)
Area [1]
• Independent city	96.40 sq mi (249.68 km2)
• Land	53.27 sq mi (137.98 km2)
• Water	43.13 sq mi (111.70 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2.1 m)
Population  (2020)
• Independent city	238,005
• Rank	95th in the United States 3rd in Virginia
• Density	4,468/sq mi (1,725/km2)
• Urban	1,047,869
• Metro	1,725,246 (37th)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	23501–23515, 23517–23521, 23523, 23529, 23541, 23551
Area code(s)	757, 948
FIPS code	51-57000[2]
GNIS feature ID	1497051[3]
Primary Airport	Norfolk International Airport
Light Rail	The Tide
Public transportation	Hampton Roads Transit
Website	www.norfolk.gov

Norfolk (/ˈnɔːrfʊk/ ^ⓘ NOR-fuuk, locally /ˈnɔːfɪk/ NAW-fik) is an independent city in Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Norfolk had a population of 238,005, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, and the 95th-most populous city in the nation.^[4] Norfolk holds a strategic position as the historical, urban, financial, and cultural center of the Hampton Roads region (sometimes called "Tidewater"), which has more than 1.8 million inhabitants and is the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S., with ten cities.^[5]

Norfolk was incorporated in 1705. 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. With coastline along multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property, including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. The coastal zones are important for the economy. 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 an extensive network of interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and three bridge-tunnel complexes.