Helpful Links

The City of Portsmouth: www.portsmouthva.gov

Portsmouth is a rare find. The city’s authentic, pedestrian-friendly downtown sits on the Elizabeth River at the center of Hampton Roads (a major metropolitan market), combining small-town charm with urban advantages. 

Founded in 1752, Portsmouth’s historic communities rub elbows with modern, contemporary ones. The city’s nearly 101,000 residents are as diverse and eclectic as the neighborhoods they call home. Waterfront neighborhoods adjoin traditional inland developments. 

An urban downtown mingles with quaint, charming areas. Young families and empty nesters live among singles and senior naval officers. Artistic types share the sidewalks with CEOs. Portsmouth’s locally inspired boutiques, one-of-a-kind merchants, quaint antique shops, hip art galleries, and unique fine dining complement a growing mix of national retailers opening throughout the city. 

With a net daily in-commute of 6,000 employees, Portsmouth is a hub for jobs. From federal government and ship repair to healthcare and software development, the variety of industry is as diverse as the neighborhoods. Some major players in the local economy include the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the U.S. Fifth District Coast Guard Command, Earl Industries, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center, and APM Terminals Virginia, one of the world’s largest shipping lines.

Finding its roots dating all the way back to 1608 when Captain John Smith and other colonists from Jamestown began to explore the Nansemond River, following the oyster beds, Suffolk became an incorporated town in Nansemond County in 1808.