Chesapeake, Virginia

1775Battle of Great Bridge: Patriot forces defeated the British, one of the first significant American victories that drove the British from Virginia.

1963City Created: South Norfolk merged with Norfolk County to form Chesapeake, preventing annexation by Norfolk.

1805Dismal Swamp Canal: One of the oldest canals still operating in the U.S., connecting Chesapeake Bay to North Carolina.

2000Suburban Growth: Families sought affordable housing and schools in the southward-expanding Hampton Roads region.

1974Great Dismal Swamp Refuge: Over 112,000 acres of swamp protected as one of the last great East Coast wilderness areas.

1860Civil War Waterways: Strategic canals saw military activity during the Civil War.

1990Greenbrier Development: The Greenbrier section became a major commercial center.

2020Battlefield Boulevard Growth: Development along Battlefield corridor continued reshaping the city.

1910Agricultural Heritage: Norfolk County was primarily truck farming.

2015Military Economic Impact: Proximity to Naval Station Norfolk made defense spending a major driver.