Independent city · VA
Virginia Beach
Primary city: Virginia Beach · belongs to no county
Current view District Freeway Arterial Local streets (zoom in) Atlantic
This week
Severe weather could affect Friday night football. A record store continued to do well after 57 years in business.
AI summary drawn only from this week’s local headlines below.
Local news
Civic calendar
Public meeting calendars
- Virginia Beach City Council — meetings ↗Council meeting dates, agendas, and the document archive.
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools — School Board meetings ↗Upcoming school board meeting dates and agendas.
Elections
- Virginia Beach Voter Registrar and Elections ↗Election dates, registration, and your polling place.
- Virginia Department of Elections ↗Statewide election dates and official results.
Heritage
Founding · 1607
In 1607, English settlers first stepped ashore at Cape Henry before sailing on to found Jamestown. They set up a cross to mark the spot, which is remembered there today.
National Park Service — Cape Henry Memorialprimary / gov
Economy
For a long time the area lived on farming, then it grew into a popular seaside resort. Naval Air Station Oceana and other bases now anchor much of its economy.
National Park Service — Cape Henry Memorialprimary / gov
Statehood
Virginia was one of the original 13 states. It ratified the U.S. Constitution on June 25, 1788, the 10th state to do so.
U.S. National Archives — The Constitutionprimary / gov
Notable figures
Notable figures30
Founding settlers 1
Adam Thoroughgood
Founding settler of the area (1600s); namesake of the Thoroughgood House.
Olympic medalists 1
Angela Hucles
American soccer player — Olympic gold medalist (two-time).
Athletes 7
J. R. Reid
American basketball player.
Corey Ashe
American soccer player.
Chris Taylor
American baseball player (born 1990).
Wade Barrett
American soccer player.
Devon Hall
American basketball player.
EJ Manuel
American football player (born 1990).
John Fox
American football player and coach (born 1955).
Politicians 2
Aaron Rouse
American football player and politician (born 1984).
Kelly Convirs-Fowler
American politician.
Business founders 2
Todd Boehly
American businessman and investor.
Kendra Todd
American businesswoman.
Actors 8
Walker Scobell
American actor.
Jason Winston George
American actor and model (born 1972).
William Gregory Lee
American actor.
Malachi Barton
American actor and singer.
Jamia Simone Nash
American actress and singer.
Kelli Barrett
American actress.
J. Evan Bonifant
American actor.
Kent Rogers
American actor (1923–1944).
Musicians 5
Pharrell Williams
American record producer and songwriter.
Danja
American record producer and songwriter from Virginia.
Jake Clemons
American musician.
Matthew E. White
American singer-songwriter and music producer.
Benjamin Booker
American musician.
Companies started here 4
Star Trak EntertainmentNavy ExchangeLiberty Tax ServiceStarChase
Historic sites on the National Register
Historic sites20
Adam Keeling House
House in Virginia Beach, Virginia.National Register listing ↗Adam Thoroughgood House
Historic house in Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗- Briarwood ↗
Cape Henry Light
Lighthouse in Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗Cavalier Hotel
Historic hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.A.National Register listing ↗Dr. John Miller-Masury House
Historic house in Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗- Ferry Plantation House ↗
Green Hill
Historic plantation house located at Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗Jefferson Manor Motel Apartments
Historic motel in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.National Register listing ↗Oceana Neighborhood Historic District
Historic district in Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗Old Cape Henry Lighthouse
Lighthouse in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗Pembroke Manor
Historic house in Virginia, United States.National Register listing ↗
and 8 more listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Worth exploring
Parks and public lands5
National
Cape Henry Memorial
Part of Colonial National Historical Park, marking the 1607 first landing.Official page ↗Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
A federal refuge of marsh and beach along the coast south of the city.Official page ↗
State
First Landing State Park
The most visited state park in Virginia, near where the first settlers came ashore.Official page ↗False Cape State Park
A remote beach park reached only on foot or bike through the wildlife refuge.Official page ↗
Local
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation
The city parks and trails, including Mount Trashmore, a park built on a covered landfill.Official page ↗
Historical markers
Words to know
ratify
To officially agree to something and make it law.
promontory
A high piece of land that reaches out into the sea, like Cape Henry.
colony
A settlement that is ruled by a country far away.
Local government
Local government
City council
No structured government feed is wired for this area yet. The city council posts records through a document system with no public feed; its meetings are linked under Local outlets.
Law enforcement
- Virginia Beach Police Department ↗News releases from the city police department.
- Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office ↗News from the sheriff, who runs the courts and the city jail.
School board
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools — School Board ↗Meeting dates, agendas, and minutes for the school board.
Schools
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools ↗The single school division that serves the whole city.About 65,500 students enrolled (2022, NCES).
Local outlets
- WAVY (NBC 10) ↗news
- WTKR (News 3) ↗news
- Virginia Mercury (statewide) ↗news · statewide
- Virginia Beach City Council — VirginiaBeachTV ↗council video