Vibrant Suffolk on the Move!!
As the largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, covering 430 square miles, Suffolk real estate is comprised of a wide variety of neighborhoods. Suffolk is located just 20 minutes from Norfolk, an hour from Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, 1.5 hours from the Outer Banks and Richmond, 2.5 hours from the central Virginia mountain region and Blue Ridge Parkway, and 3.5 hours from Washington, DC. There are two international airports within 45 minutes of Suffolk – Norfolk International Airport and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
History of Suffolk
Suffolk was founded by English colonists in 1742 as a port town on the Nansemond River which flows into the James River and the harbor of Hampton Roads. Suffolk's growth was always been fueled by its proximity to both land and sea. It is located in the western part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. By area, Suffolk is the largest city in Virginia. Consisting of mostly farmland, Suffolk’s population is 84,585.
Peanuts grown in the surrounding areas became a major industry for Suffolk. Planters' Peanuts was established in Suffolk beginning in 1912 and is the 'birthplace' of Mr. Peanut, the mascot of Planters' Peanuts.
Community of Suffolk, VA
Choose an urban lifestyle in downtown Suffolk, a suburban environment or a scenic waterfront home. Over half of Suffolk's real estate is still in a rural or agricultural setting.
However, few people outside of Virginia know that Suffolk is one of the fastest growing areas in the Hampton Roads community, with more and more people moving south, attracted by affordable real estate and other opportunities. Suffolk is a great place to raise a family, and an easy commute to outer lying areas like Franklin and Emporia.
The last two decades have brought Suffolk, Virginia (VA), new housing, extensive real estate development, and a host of changes. Yet outside the new polish, many areas within the vast city still retain the flavor of their past. Other areas have undergone dramatic cultural and lifestyle change. Northeastern Suffolk, VA has become well-known as a center of technological research. Its proximity to the highway network, thus nearby Hampton and Norfolk military facilities, makes this the perfect area of Suffolk, VA for high-tech labs, data security and management firms, and defense contractors.
Suffolk, VA residents enjoy a cultural feast year-round. There's the flavor of the traditional in farmer's markets in both northern and downtown areas. There's appreciation for history and its people, as reflected in the annual Nansemond Indian Tribal Pow Wow, guided tours of the Great Dismal Swamp, as well as the programs and exhibits of the Suffolk Museum. And for the whole family, there's food, entertainment, and fun in the annual Suffolk Peanut Festival, TGIF Summer Concert Series, and Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival.
Suffolk Schools
Like the real estate, the schools in Suffolk, VA also reflect a healthy mixture of technology and respect for Virginia tradition. The city's public schools go well beyond the basics: even at the high school level, teaching is enriched with vocational and technical curricula through partnership with Pruden Center for Industry and Technology.
Suffolk Public Schools – 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools
Independent/Private Schools – Nansemond Suffolk Academy, First Baptist School, Isle of Wight Academy, Stonebridge School, Portsmouth Christian School, and more
Colleges & Universities – Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Hampton University, College of William & Mary, Christopher Newport University, Tidewater Community College, Paul D. Camp Community College, and more