Virginia’s Quaint, Historic Seaport... Portsmouth, Virginia
Located on the Elizabeth River, directly across from Norfolk, Portsmouth is centrally located in the Hampton Roads district of Virginia. Portsmouth is a quaint town with historic charm. Portsmouth's location as an East Coast deep water port has influenced its history throughout its centuries of growth and making for lots of riverfront property. Founded as a town in 1752 by William Crawford, a wealthy merchant and ship owner, Portsmouth derived its name from the English naval port of the same name. And with its central location, it’s easy to get to — just a quick ferry ride from downtown Norfolk, a 20-minute drive from Virginia Beach, and less than an hour from Colonial Williamsburg.
Community Life
Prefer the city life? The Olde Towne section of Portsmouth, Virginia may be the perfect home for you. Amble along our famous Seawall. Stroll through three centuries of historic neighborhoods. Many of Portsmouth’s amenities are clustered within easy walking distance of each other, making it the perfect place to call home.
Lovers of history will also appreciate neighborhoods such as Port Norfolk and Cradock. Both areas feature a pleasing mixture of restored turn-of-the-century homes and newer real estate. Those who have their hearts set on a historic home but need to travel for work find Port Norfolk an especially attractive choice. And those who take interest in all things nautical will love Cradock.
Portsmouth, VA's modern economy continues to reflect its naval history. Today, the city's two largest employers are Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. The US Fifth District Coast Guard Command is located here as well. Many non-military manufacturing, repair, and shipping outfits call Portsmouth, Virginia (VA) home, including Earl Industries, CDI Marine, Maersk (APM), and Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT).
Attractions & Recreation
The Olde Towne Historic District of Portsmouth chronicles 300 years of history in one of the largest collections of antique homes in the south with its "Path of History," linking two of the nation's oldest Navy facilities—the Naval Medical Center and the Naval Shipyard.
Family attractions include the Children's Museum of Virginia—the state's largest interactive children's museum and home of the Lancaster Train Collection, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the Harbor Center, and the Naval Shipyard Museum contains a vast array of vessels from pleasure craft to carriers as well as an interesting collection of antique cannons.
For performance arts, the city boasts the Commodore Theatre, a luxuriously restored 1945 Art Deco-style motion picture theater with upholstered seating and crystal chandeliers, which shows first-run movies while serving light dinners. One of Portsmouth's annual events is the Todi Music Fest, the American counterpart to the Umbria Music Fest in Italy. The summer festival features lots of music and high quality entertainment.
Portsmouth's mild four-season climate means year-round outdoor recreation. The area sees average yearly high temperatures in the 60’s and average lows in the 50’s. From boating to championship golf, there are many activities that the city provides as recreation for its residents. With the deepest natural harbor and the Chesapeake Bay, boaters enjoy many on-the-water activities around Portsmouth. The Bide-A-Wee is a newly renovated 18-hole championship Curtis Strange signature golf course. The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve is Virginia's only urban wildlife reserve and the 142-acre park is a favored spot among birdwatchers and naturalists.
Education in Portsmouth
Within 50 miles of the city, there are about 20 colleges, universities and vocational schools. Other schools in the area include Tidewater Community College, Norfolk State University, and Hampton University. Portsmouth Public Schools operates 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, 3 education centers, 2 alternative schools and an adult education center. The school district enrolls over 15,000 students in 25 schools and teaches from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.