Virginia Beach, Virginia
51-82000
Virginia Beach is an independent city in the Hampton Roads region in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is situated on the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. With 438,000 inhabitants it is the largest city in Virginia and is 41st in the list of the largest cities in the United States. Along with Hampton, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Chesapeake and Norfolk Virginia Beach is the metropolitan district of Virginia Beach - Norfolk - Newport News (VA -NC MSA).
By the 37 km-long Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, one of the largest bridges tunnel constructions in the world, Virginia Beach is connected to the Delmarva Peninsula.
History
On April 26, 1607 landed here at Cape Henry, the colonists who founded Jamestown, the oldest English settlement in North America -resistant. Located on the same spot now being used by the U.S. military zone Fort Story and the First Landing State Park ( "First Landing "). On the grounds of Fort Story, the Cape Henry Memorial is, a monument to the first landing of English settlers in North America.
With increasing population, the city planning was revised in the 1960s, and there were other areas released (over 600 km ²) for construction. In 1966, the first mall was opened in the entire Hampton Roads area.
Population Development
¹ 1980 - 2010: census results
Climate
Virginia Beach is located in the temperate zone. The summer months of July and August can be very hot with temperatures at 40 degrees Celsius. During the winter months of January and February, the lowest temperatures are measured at the freezing point. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year and be between 8 to 15 cm per month.
Due to its location Virginia Beach remains mostly spared from the foothills of the north passing Blizzard or the south passing hurricanes. The last hurricane in the region - Ernesto in August / September 2006 - led, except to flooded roads, no major damage in Virginia Beach.
Tourism
Tourism is very pronounced in Virginia Beach, especially in summer, with few foreign tourists are found. Virginia Beach is especially known for its 45 km long sandy beach with a 5 km long beach promenade. In the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest pleasure beach in the the world ( the longest pleasure beach in the world ) is listed.
The development consists primarily of large hotel complexes, but the beach promenade offers some nice restaurants and bars and the main road behind the hotel front beach shops and amusements. The First Landing State Park is the most visited State Park Virginia. But several large malls, attractions like the Virginia Aquarium or the Cape Henry Lighthouse, as well as numerous hotels, restaurants and motels are at guests' disposal.
With the Naval Air Station Oceana Navy is one of the largest ( about 44 km ²) and most modern military airfields in the world located in Virginia Beach. The calm in the immediate area of Oceana is disturbed that permanently fighter jets patrolling at peak times at low altitude or begin to land.
Numerous other military installations, such as the largest naval base in Norfolk in the world, are located in the immediate vicinity. Five of the twelve aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy have their home port here. The base can be viewed both with harbor as well as bus tours on the military base itself.
Twinning
- Northern Ireland Bangor, Northern Ireland
- Japan Miyazaki, Japan
- Norway Moss, Norway
Sons and daughters of the town
- J. Evan Bonifant, actor
- Craig Brewer, film director and screenwriter
- Andre Cason, Athlete
- Gabrielle Douglas, gymnast
- John Fox, football player and coach
- Jason George, actor
- Percy Harvin, football player