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Portsmouth, Virginia

Located in Independent City, Virginia, Portsmouth was founded in 1752. Norfolk Naval Shipyard is actually in Portsmouth, not Norfolk. The CSS Virginia (formerly Merrimac) was rebuilt here as the first Confederate ironclad.
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Founded 1752 | Population 97,000 | Peak 97,000 (2024) | County Independent City

Top 10 Most Important Events for Portsmouth, Virginia

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1752 Founded: Colonial port city across from Norfolk.
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1799 Norfolk Naval Shipyard: Oldest and largest U.S. naval shipyard (despite name, it's in Portsmouth).
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1861 Merrimac/Virginia: CSS Virginia (ironclad) built at shipyard.
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2010 Olde Towne Revival: Historic district revitalization.
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Latest News in Portsmouth

Jan 1, 1970
SPLC Indicted on Fraud Charges: Justice Department Alleges Civil Rights Group Funded Informants Inside Hate Organizations It Publicly Denounced
The Southern Poverty Law Center, long celebrated as a leading watchdog against white supremacist and extremist groups, was hit wit…
Jan 1, 1970
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…
Jan 1, 1970
Permitless Concealed Carry Bill Will Become Law West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia – On May 12, 2016, a controversial bill allowing residents to carry concealed firearms without a permi…
Jan 1, 1970
West Virginia House Delegates Passes Contested Voter Id Requirements
Charleston, West Virginia – On May 11, 2016, the West Virginia House of Delegates gave the green light to a controversial bill t…
Jan 1, 1970
Coroner Virginia Tv Journalists Shot Both Head and Body
Virginia — On March 14, 2016, a coroner’s report shed light on the brutal details of a shooting that had shocked the natio…
Jan 1, 1970
Hillary Clinton Confident Shell Lock Democratic Nomination
Washington, March 1, 2016 – Hillary Clinton was riding high on a wave of primary wins as Super Tuesday wrapped up, boldly declar…

Complete Historical Timeline

1752 Culture
Founded
1799 Government
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
1861 Disaster
Merrimac/Virginia
2010 Business
Olde Towne Revival

Did You Know?

1
Norfolk Naval Shipyard is actually in Portsmouth, not Norfolk.
2
The CSS Virginia (formerly Merrimac) was rebuilt here as the first Confederate ironclad.
3
Oldest continuously operating naval shipyard in the United States.
4
Portsmouth is located in Independent City, Virginia.
5
Portsmouth was founded in 1752.

Famous People from Portsmouth, Virginia

ME
Missy Elliott
Actor, Singer · Born Jul 1, 1971 · Age 54
PO
Patton Oswalt
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Jan 27, 1969 · Age 57
LM
LaShawn Merritt
Sprinter, Athletics Competitor · Born Jun 27, 1986 · Age 39
WS
Wanda Sykes
Screenwriter, Writer · Born Mar 7, 1964 · Age 61
RP
Radia Perlman
Computer Scientist, Mathematician · Born Dec 18, 1951 · Age 74

Other Cities in Virginia

View all Virginia cities →
VB
Virginia Beach
Pop. 452,375
C
Chesapeake
Pop. 257,632
N
Norfolk
Pop. 238,005
R
Richmond
Pop. 226,610
NN
Newport News
Pop. 181,558
A
Alexandria
Pop. 159,081
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