Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia, sited at the confluence of the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay. Founded in 1682 as a colonial seaport, it grew into a major center for trade and shipbuilding, and by the 2020 census it counted 238,005 residents, the third most populous city in both Virginia and the Hampton Roads region. The establishment of Naval Station Norfolk in 1917 anchored twentieth century growth in the city, and the base remains among the largest naval installations in the world; Norfolk also hosts the NATO Strategic Command headquarters. Today the city serves as the historical, urban, financial and cultural center of Hampton Roads, with cultural institutions including the Nauticus maritime museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art along an extensive riverfront and bayfront.