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Chesapeake, Virginia

"Great Bridge City"
Virginia's second-most-populous city stretches from suburbs to the Great Dismal Swamp — where urban and rural coexist.
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Founded 1963 | Population 257,632 | Peak 257,632 (2024) | County Independent City

Top 10 Most Important Events for Chesapeake, Virginia

1
1775 Battle of Great Bridge: Patriot forces defeated the British, one of the first significant American victories that drove the British from Virginia.
2
1963 City Created: South Norfolk merged with Norfolk County to form Chesapeake, preventing annexation by Norfolk.
3
1805 Dismal Swamp Canal: One of the oldest canals still operating in the U.S., connecting Chesapeake Bay to North Carolina.
4
2000 Suburban Growth: Families sought affordable housing and schools in the southward-expanding Hampton Roads region.
5
1974 Great Dismal Swamp Refuge: Over 112,000 acres of swamp protected as one of the last great East Coast wilderness areas.
6
1860 Civil War Waterways: Strategic canals saw military activity during the Civil War.
7
1990 Greenbrier Development: The Greenbrier section became a major commercial center.
8
2020 Battlefield Boulevard Growth: Development along Battlefield corridor continued reshaping the city.
9
1910 Agricultural Heritage: Norfolk County was primarily truck farming.
10
2015 Military Economic Impact: Proximity to Naval Station Norfolk made defense spending a major driver.
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Population Over Time

0 64,408 128,816 193,224 257,632 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Latest News in Chesapeake

Feb 20, 2026
Dad And Son Charged With 216 Counts Of Incest, Pay The Price
A father and son in West Virginia has been charged with over 216 counts of incest, sexual assault and sexual abuse that involved t…
Feb 2, 2016
Pennsylvania Mom Speaks Out After Sons Confederate Flag Shit Gets Him Sent
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — In a small Pennsylvania town back in early February 2016, a mother’s frustration boiled over when her te…
Jan 27, 2016
Virginia First State Functionally End Veteran Homelessness
Richmond, Virginia – On January 27, 2016, Virginia made history as the first state in the nation to functionally end veteran hom…
May 14, 2015
Former Dem Sen Webb I Wont Vote Hillary Clinton Video
Washington, D.C. – In a surprising turn during the 2016 presidential buildup, former Democratic Senator Jim Webb announced o…

Complete Historical Timeline

1775 Government
Battle of Great Bridge
1805 Transport
Dismal Swamp Canal opens
1963 Government
Chesapeake created by merger
1974 Government
Great Dismal Swamp Refuge established
1990 Business
Greenbrier commercial development
2000 Government
Suburban boom
2024 Government
Population surpasses 257,000

Did You Know?

1
The Great Dismal Swamp was a refuge for escaped enslaved people for centuries, with maroon communities deep in the swamp.
2
The Battle of Great Bridge was called 'the Bunker Hill of the South.'.
3
Chesapeake spans 353 square miles, stretching from dense suburbs to pristine wilderness.

Famous People from Chesapeake, Virginia

GH
Grant Holloway
Athletics Competitor · Born Nov 19, 1997 · Age 28
AM
Alonzo Mourning
Basketball Player · Born Feb 8, 1970 · Age 56
MC
Michael Copon
Actor, Singer · Born Nov 13, 1982 · Age 43
JP
Jay Pharoah
Actor, Comedian · Born Oct 14, 1987 · Age 38
MS
Mike Scott
Basketball Player · Born Jul 16, 1988 · Age 37

Other Cities in Virginia

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Virginia Beach
Pop. 452,375
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Pop. 238,005
R
Richmond
Pop. 226,610
NN
Newport News
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A
Alexandria
Pop. 159,081
H
Hampton
Pop. 137,148
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