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Chesapeake Real Estate and Homes
General Info
Chesapeake was named “The Most Livable Large City in the South” by Money magazine. One visit to this dynamic locale will show how it earned the honor.
Chesapeake is one of the state’s top manufacturing cities, and the city’s pro-business government is reflected in its enterprise zones, foreign trade zones and favorable tax structure. The retail hub of the Hampton Roads area, Chesapeake also was ranked one of America’s top five cities for starting a small business.
For those more interested in starting a family, the city has been recognized by the FBI as one of the safest U.S. cities of its size. Chesapeake also has a favorable student-teacher ratio and a unique policy of “guaranteeing” that its public high school graduates are suitable for employers.
A family friendly community, Chesapeake boasts many parks and campgrounds, as well as areas for boating, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. The city’s proximity to Virginia Beach and historic sites such as Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg makes it a popular vacation destination. Chesapeake’s historical heritage dates back to 1607, when English ships first sailed through the harbor. The Hampton Roads area was prominent during the Civil War, and today it's home to the world’s largest naval base.
Chesapeake covers 229,640 acres. The city has 12 major industrial and commercial areas; more than 180 manufacturers, including oil and chemical companies; and hundreds of farms. This dynamic mix of service, industry and agriculture is the backbone of Chesapeake’s economy. Chesapeake also has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of scientists and engineers. More than 60 foreign-based companies from 15 different countries have offices in Chesapeake, which truly embraces the concept of the “global village.” These combined factors make Chesapeake and the entire Hampton Roads area one of the hottest high-tech sectors in the nation.
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Location
- 15 minutes from downtown Norfolk
- 20 minutes from Norfolk International Airport
- 30 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean
- Convenient to most military installations
- Nearby major attractions include:
- Colonial Williamsburg
- Busch Gardens
- Yorktown
- Jamestown
- Nags Head, N.C.
Recreation & Parks
Chesapeake has an extensive parks and recreation network. City Park, which encompasses 75 acres of trees and open space, is site of an annual horseshoe tournament and the city’s first Dog Park. Another popular recreational area is the Great Bridge Lock Park, which hosts an annual re-enactment of the Battle of Great Bridge, the first Revolutionary War battle fought on Virginia soil. The city has many parks and play areas for children (such as City Park’s Fun Forest), and walkers and bikers will enjoy year-round access to Chesapeake’s network of trails. For those who prefer the water, the city also has many aquatic trails accessible by canoe or kayak.
Highlights
- Ranked the safest city in Virginia by the FBI
- Ranked fourth safest city (based on population) in the nation
- Ranked one of the top 10 "Best Cities for Women" in Ladies' Home Journal magazine
- Highlighted in “50 Fabulous Places To Raise a Family”
- One of the fastest-growing cities in Virginia
- Part of Hampton Roads community -- population 1.5 million
- Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge -- 54,133 acres
- Northwest River Park -- 763 acres
- One of the first East Coast cities to use reverse osmosis water treatment for both ground and surface water
Education
Chesapeake takes great pride in its educational system. The city is home to an excellent school system as well as several community and four-year colleges, a medical school, and two law schools. Chesapeake has a student-teacher ratio of 19.1 to 1, and more teachers with master’s degrees work here than anywhere else in the state. The Chesapeake school system also has a unique policy where it “guarantees” that its public high school graduates are suitable for employers. If a company hires a graduate who is unable to perform his or her duties due to a deficiency in reading, writing or math skills, the school system will retrain the worker at no cost to the employer.
History
The city of Chesapeake was incorporated just four decades ago, but the area's history stretches back to 1607, when English ships established the first permanent settlement at Jamestown (located at the western edge of modern-day Hampton Roads). Chesapeake’s Dismal Swamp Canal was first envisioned by George Washington in 1763 and is now on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Hampton Roads area saw a great deal of action during the Civil War, and the port's Battle of the Ironclads changed naval warfare forever. Chesapeake’s strategic site on the bay made it a vital part in the forging of American history, and that ideal location makes it just as important and accessible today.