Chesapeake
Chesapeake's history dates back much
further than 1963 when Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk merged to create
Chesapeake. The city's landmarks and communities have a long, varied and interesting
history. The first English settlement began around 1620 along the banks of the Elizabeth
River. Norfolk County's founding dates back to 1636.
 In
the early months of the Revolutionary War, in December 1775, British Royal governor Lord
Dunmore moved his forces from Norfolk to Great Bridge where his army entrenched itself to
await the arrival of American forces. The two armies clashed on December 9, 1775, in the
historic Battle
of Great Bridge, just a few hundred yards from where the Chesapeake Municipal Center
complex stands today. In a brief but decisive battle, the Americans routed Lord Dunmore's
forces which fled to Norfolk and later abandoned that city.
In 1793, work began on the Dismal Swamp Canal, an idea first envisioned by George
Washington in 1763, when he visited the swamp. Because the canal was dug completely by
hand, progress was slow and expenses high. The canal finally opened in 1805, but
experienced hard times over the years. Completion of the Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal
in 1858 dealt a serious blow to the Dismal Swamp Canal. Now on the National Register of
Historic Places, the Dismal Swamp Canal is the oldest operating artificial waterway in the
country. Both canals are operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and form part of the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Call Wayne for Chesapeake
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The first local encounter of the Civil War
occurred at Sewell's Point in May 1861. Although no battles were fought in the Chesapeake
area, Union troops occupied and laid waste to much of the land. When the war ended,
Norfolk County took advantage of its abundant natural resources. Its coastal location,
miles of riverfront and deep water harbors and the fertile, level farmland allowed county
residents to recover quickly from the wartime destruction, moving without
hesitation into
the 20th Century.
While most of the area retained its rural
atmosphere through the early 1900s, the northern section near the growing City of Norfolk
began to develop as the suburb of South Norfolk. By 1900, South Norfolk had its own
waterworks, public schools and a post office. Two rail lines spurred rapid growth,
allowing South Norfolk to incorporate as an independent town in 1919 and a city of the
first class, independent of Norfolk County, in 1950.
The area that now comprises Chesapeake grew with
residential and commercial development of "community crossroads." These areas
are still commonly referred to today with community names such as Pleasant Grove, Great
Bridge, Oak Grove, Fentress, South Norfolk, Portlock, Deep Creek, Western Branch, Indian
River and Hickory.
During the1950s, both Norfolk County and South
Norfolk fell victim to annexation suits filed by neighboring cities. Between 1950 and
1960, the country lost nearly 50,000 residents and 30 square miles of land area. Under
these circumstances, both Norfolk County and South Norfolk officials found it difficult to
plan for the future.
In the fall of 1961, city and county officials
met to discuss the feasibility of a merger. After several weeks of negotiations, both
governing bodies approved a merger agreement on December 22, 1961. On February 13, 1962,
citizens of both communities turned out in near-record numbers for a special election and
approved the merger. Later that year, in June, the citizens voted again and selected the
name "Chesapeake" for the new city.
On January 2, 1963, the Chesapeake City Council,
with five members from South Norfolk and five from Norfolk County, met for the first time.
These men set the stage for Chesapeake's growth and development and determined how to
provide services for the new city's residents.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the young city began
to develop a comprehensive network of city services, including police and fire protection,
schools, libraries, parks and recreation, health, utilities, land use planning,
transportation network and more. Planning for the city's future was a key need.
Chesapeake's 353 square miles offered much opportunity for development.
Much of this development began to occur during the 1980s, both residential and industrial.
To help keep pace with this growth, community centers, schools, a new social services
building, City Hall and court building were constructed during this period. Voters
approved a $30 million road bond referendum in 1986, and in 1988 approved bonds for
additional school and library construction.
Increased economic development efforts also met
with much success in the 1980s. One of the area's first Japanese-owned companies,
Sumitomo, moved to Chesapeake in 1988. Sumitomo was soon followed by Mitsubishi Kasei,
which now operates three plants in Chesapeake.
Other companies, such as Household Finance
Corporation and QVC, continue to be attracted by Chesapeake's labor force, excellent
location and high quality of life.
Chesapeake's population has grown from approximately 78,000 in 1963 to 196,727 in 1998.
Today, Chesapeake is a unique blend of rural and urban centers, providing its citizens
with excellent schools, recreational and cultural facilities and strong municipal
leadership as the city continues to grow, meeting the challenges awaiting it in the 21st
century
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