Norfolk Real Estate Search & Norfolk Homes For Sale

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 237,764 as of the 2000 census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach.

Norfolk is located at the core of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. It is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metro area, officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA. The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. One of the oldest of the cities Hampton Roads, Norfolk is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region.

The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point. Norfolk Naval Base is the world's largest such base, and the world's largest military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has its defense headquarters here. The city also has the corporate headquarters of Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America's principal Class I railroads, and Maersk Line, Limited, who manages the world's largest fleet of US-flag vessels. As the city is bordered by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property. It is linked to its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes.

Norfolk Cityscape
When Norfolk was first settled, homes were made of wood and frame construction, similar to most medieval English-style homes. These homes had wide chimneys and thatch roofs. Some decades after the town was first laid out in 1682, the Georgian architectural style, which was popular in the South at the time, was used. Brick was considered more substantial construction; patterns were made by brick laid and Flemish bond. This style evolved to include projecting center pavilions, Palladian windows, balustraded roof decks, and two-story porticoes. By 1740, homes, warehouses, stores, workshops, and taverns began to dot Norfolk's streets.

Norfolk was burned down during the Revolutionary War. After the Revolution, Norfolk was rebuilt in Federal style, based on Roman ideals. Federal-style homes kept Georgian symmetry, though they had more refined decorations to look like New World homes. Federal homes had features such as narrow sidelights with an embracing fanlight around the doorway, giant porticoes, gable or flat roofs, and projecting bays on exterior walls. Rooms were oval, elliptical or octagonal. Few of these federal rowhouses remain standing today. A majority of buildings were made of wood and had simple construction.

In the early 19th century, Neoclassical architectural elements began to appear in the federal style row homes, such as iconic columns in the porticoes and classic motifs over doorways and windows. Many Federal-style row houses were modernized by placing a Greek-style porch at the front. Greek and Roman elements were integrated into public buildings such as the old City Hall, the old Norfolk Academy, and the Customs House.

Greek-style homes gave way to Gothic Revival in the 1830s, which emphasized pointed arches, steep gable roofs, towers and tracer-lead windows. The Freemason Baptist Church and St. Mary's Catholic Church are examples of Gothic Revival. Italianate elements emerged in the 1840s including cupolas, verandas, ornamental brickwork, or corner quoins. Norfolk still had simple wooden structures among its more ornate buildings.

High-rise buildings were first built in the late 19th century when structures such as the current Commodore Maury Hotel and the Royster Building were constructed to form the initial Norfolk skyline. Past styles were revived during the early years of the 20th century. Bungalows and apartment buildings became popular for those living in the city.

As the Great Depression wore on, Art Deco emerged as a popular building style, as evidenced by the Post Office building downtown. Art Deco consisted of streamlined concrete faced appearance with smooth stone or metal, with terracotta, and trimming consisting of glass and colored tiles.

Norfolk Education
Norfolk City Public Schools, the public school system, comprises 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 34 elementary schools, and 9 special-purpose/preschools. In 2005, Norfolk Public Schools won the $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Education award for having demonstrated, "the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps for poor and minority students". The city had previously been nominated in 2003 and 2004. There are also a number of private schools located in the city, the oldest of which, Norfolk Academy, was founded in 1728. Religious schools located in the City include St. Pius X Catholic School, Holy Trinity Parish School, Alliance Christian School, Christ the King School, St Patrick Catholic School, and Norfolk Christian Schools. City also hosts the Governor's School for the Arts which holds performances and classes at the Wells Theatre.

Norfolk is home to three public universities and one private. It also hosts a community college campus in downtown. Old Dominion University, founded as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary in 1930, became an independent institution in 1962 and now offers degrees in 68 undergraduate and 95 (60 masters/35 doctoral) graduate degree programs. Eastern Virginia Medical School, founded as a community medical school by the surrounding jurisdictions in 1973, is noted for its research into reproductive medicine and is located in the region's major medical complex in the Ghent district. Norfolk State University is the largest majority black university in Virginia and offers degrees in a wide variety of liberal arts. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private liberal arts college, and shares its eastern border with the neighboring city of Virginia Beach. Tidewater Community College offers two-year degrees and specialized training programs, and is located in downtown.

Fortis College offers degrees in a wide variety of career programs like Nursing, Medical and Dental Assisting, Court Reporting, and Massage Therapy.

Norfolk Public Library, Virginia's first public library, offer ten locations around the city and a bookmobile. The library also has a local history and genealogy room and contains government documents dating back to the 19th century. The libraries offer services such as computer classes, book reviews, tax forms, and online book clubs.

Norfolk VA Area Information

Norfolk VA Community Characteristics and Facts

Total Crime Risk: 245.0 (100 = National Average)
Population: 233,079
Population Growth Since 2000: -0.56%
Annual Max Avg. Temperature: 70 F
Annual Min Avg. Temperature: 48 F
Male Median Age: 27.8 years
Female Median Age: 33.4 years
Median Household Income: $44,928
Highest Education Level Attained: High School 30.83%, Bachelors 13.24%, Grad School 8.4%

Community Demographics

Norfolk VA Demographics Summary

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Demographic Information FAQ

Norfolk VA Crime Rate Indexes

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2010 Population Growth and Population Statistics	Norfolk, VA		Virginia
Total Population	233,079		7,927,751
Square Miles	53.73		39,594.07
Population Density	4,338.10		200.20
Population Change Since 1990	-10.80%		28.10%
Population Change Since 2000	-0.56%		12.00%
Forecasted Population Change by 2014	-2.08%		5.69%
Population Male	119,459	51.25%	3,914,038	49.37%
Population Female	113,620	48.75%	4,013,713	50.63%
Median Age	30.40		36.10

Norfolk VA Population Growth and Population Statistics

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Demographic Information FAQ

2010 Weather Summary	Norfolk, VA	Virginia
Weather Index	131	125
Annual Maximum Avg. Temperature	70.0 °F	68.0 °F
Annual Minimum Avg. Temperature	48.0 °F	46.0 °F
Annual Avg. Temperature	58.8 °F	57.1 °F
Annual Heating Degree Days (Tot Degrees < 65)	4,037	4,083
Annual Cooling Degree Days (Tot Degrees > 65)	1,373	1,257
Percent of Possible Sunshine	64	62
Mean Sky Cover (Sunrise to Sunset - Out of 10)	6	6
Mean Number of Days Clear (Out of 365 Days)	102	101
Mean Number of Days Rain (Out of 365 Days)	115	115
Mean Number of Days Snow (Out of 365 Days)	4	5
Avg. Annual Precipitation (Total Inches)	44.00"	42.00"
Avg. Annual Snowfall (Total Inches)	14.00"	17.00"