SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

COMMUNITY PROFILE

2011 UPDATE

The section was edited to revise and update economic data and to incorporate the limited data available from the 2010 U.S. Census. Figures 3.3 and 3.5 were updated using current data, and additional detail was added to the City of Norfolk section describing the Port of Virginia and its recently expanded capabilities.

INTRODUCTION

This community profile provides a general overview of the Southside Hampton Roads region, including Isle of Wight County, the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and the towns of Smithfield and Windsor. This section consists of the following five subsections:

 GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENT  POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS  HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND LAND USE  EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY  DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Southside Hampton Roads region is located in the “Tidewater” region of Southeast Virginia and is bounded by the state of North Carolina to the south, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The area that comprises the jurisdictions in the region was part of eight shires, or counties established in 1634, and today the seven jurisdictions are located within the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). These jurisdictions are located along the Atlantic Ocean and between the two largest estuaries in the world – Chesapeake Bay and the Albemarle–Pamlico Sound. Numerous military installations, including U.S. Naval Base Norfolk, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Dam Neck U.S. Naval Base, Little Creek U.S. Navy Amphibious Base, Oceana Naval Air Station and U.S. Naval Fleet Training Station, Virginia Army National Guard Camp Pendleton and Fort Story Army Base, dot the planning area and comprise a significant part of the local economy.

The region is comprised of 1,443 square miles, including 1,061 square miles of land and 382 square miles of inland water. The general topography is relatively flat with slightly rolling hills, and elevations ranging from sea level to several hundred feet above. A moderate climate prevails throughout the region with an average July temperature of 78 degrees, and an average January temperature of 41 degrees. The region averages approximately 47 inches of rainfall per year (mostly in the spring and summer months), and another 8 inches of snowfall during the winter months.

The City of Virginia Beach is the largest municipality, while the Town of Windsor is the smallest. The City of Norfolk, with a population of 242,803, including 95,018 housing units, is the most densely developed. Table 3.1 provides a summary of the population, housing and land area present within the Southside Hampton Roads region, as well population and housing densities per square mile. Figure 3.1 provides an orientation map for the Southside Hampton Roads region that illustrates the geographic location of each

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dredge to 55 feet when needed. NIT has 5 berths, 14 container cranes, 3 finger piers, covered and container storage, and now 89,300 feet of direct rail access, which will soon connect directly to the Commonwealth Railway Project.

FIGURE 3.5: EMPLOYMENT DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT BY SECTOR, 2010

Source: Virginia Economic Development Partnership, 3rd Quarter, 2010

Isle of Wight County and the incorporated towns of Smithfield and Windsor are located near major industries, such as paper products, lumber, meat processing, information systems, farm and seafood products, building materials, logging tractors, manufacturing and equipment assembly. Isle of Wight County is home to Smithfield Foods, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company and the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. Subsidiaries include Smithfield Packing Company and Gwaltney of Smithfield. Smithfield Foods and its subsidiaries employ approximately 4,500 people, and experienced a 53 person reduction in labor force in March 2011. As shown in Figure 3.5, approximately 30 percent of the Isle of Wight County population is employed in manufacturing industries.

The City of Suffolk has experienced rapid population growth since 1970. The city is becoming a center of industrial and advanced technology. The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center and the U.S. Joint Forces Command are part of northern Suffolk’s high-tech corridor; however, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced in August 2010 that he would recommend the command be eliminated and its essential functions assigned to other organizations over the following months. Over $132 million in new capital investments were made in Suffolk in 2001, including major office and industrial projects such as the Ferguson and Target distribution centers. Suffolk is home to some of the country’s most progressive high-tech firms producing advanced computer simulations to help business, government, and the Department of Defense predict and plan the future. New and expanding technology companies include Raytheon, MITRE Corporation, and Alion, who all support evolving modeling and simulation technologies.

The majority of the City of Portsmouth population works in the government and service industries, ship repair, marine engineering and health care due to the City’s location adjacent to the shipyard. Thirty-nine percent of the total labor force is employed by city, state and federal government.

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EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY

Nearly two million people live in or within an hour's drive of the Southside Hampton Roads region, and because of the presence of several naval bases, a large proportion of the total population are employed in military and service related industries. The military bases not only contribute billions of dollars annually to the regional economy but also supply a skilled labor force. Over 15,000 trained and disciplined personnel leave the military installations each year, and many of these persons decide to stay in the area and look for local private sector employment. In addition, there are approximately 40,000 military spouses available to work. The region's tourism industry creates over 10,000 seasonal jobs during summer months. This group provides an additional source of workers to companies with personnel needs that peak at other times of the year. Lastly, over 86,000 students attend eight universities and four community colleges in the area. Most of these students are permanent residents available for part-time or full-time employment while in school and upon graduation.

Table 3.6 shows labor force data, unemployment rates and income and poverty information for each jurisdiction. Isle of Wight County and the City of Virginia Beach had the lowest unemployment rate in the region, while the City of Norfolk has the highest unemployment rate. The City of Virginia Beach had the highest per capita income, which is roughly equivalent to the state average. Also, the poverty level for Virginia Beach is significantly lower than the state average. The City of Norfolk has the highest poverty level.

TABLE 3.6: EMPLOYMENT, INCOME AND POVERTY

INDIVIDUALS UNEMPLOYMENT PER CAPITA CIVILIAN LABOR BELOW POVERTY JURISDICTION RATE (%) INCOME FORCE (2011) LEVEL (%) (2009 (2011) (2009) estimate)

Isle of Wight 18,999 6.7 $39,113 8.1 Norfolk 98,827 8.4 $36,838 17.0 Portsmouth 45,072 8.1 $33,637 15.2 Suffolk 40,840 7.1 $36,494 10.7 Virginia Beach 220,286 6.0 $44,999 6.9 VIRGINIA 4,192,863 6.3 $44,057 10.1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Bureau of Labor Statistics

The City of Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the state and the fastest growing city in the planning area. The city added an average of 100 new businesses per month in recent years and this phenomenal growth can be attributed to the city’s inter-modal location between Washington, D.C. and the Atlantic Ocean. In comparison to other cities, Virginia Beach has a higher employment rate in trade and service industries as shown in Figure 3.5.

The City of Norfolk is home to the world’s largest naval base and the North American Headquarters for NATO. The service industry is the largest employer in the city (41.3 percent), while 25.7 percent of the city’s labor force works in government. More investment is underway in Norfolk than at any time in its modern history, with over $1 billion in construction in 2010 spearheaded by a new 7.4-mile light rail line opening in 2011. Norfolk is home to a booming cruise port industry and, with 648 acres, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) is the Port of Virginia's largest terminal. NIT is home to fourteen of the biggest, most efficient cranes in the world, capable of handling the "ships of tomorrow". With a reach stretching 245 feet, the cranes will be able to offload ships loaded 27 containers wide with cargo. The main channel leading to the terminal is 50 feet deep and the Virginia Port Authority has authorization to

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FIGURE 3.4: LAND COVER / LAND USE

Norfolk

Isle of Wight County Portsmouth

Virginia Beach Suffolk

Low Intensity Residential Deciduous Forest High Intensity Residential Evergreen Forest Commercial/Industrial/Transportation Mixed Forest Quarries, Strip Mines, Gravel Pits Urban Recreational Grasses Bare Rock, Sand, Clay Woody Wetlands Transitional Open Water Pasture/Hay Emergent Herbaceous Wetlands Row Crops Source: U.S. Geological Survey

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maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey1. These data were acquired through the Geospatial and Statistical Data Center at the University of Virginia Library, and are based on 1992 Landsat thematic mapper imagery and supplemental data. Figure 3.4 illustrates the data in a series of images for each jurisdiction.

The cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach are the most developed jurisdictions in terms of land use and land cover. According to the NLCD data, more than 70 percent of existing land in Norfolk is classified as residential, commercial or industrial, followed by Portsmouth (60 percent) and Virginia Beach (24 percent). Nearly 35 percent of land cover in Virginia Beach is classified as open water or wetlands, which accounts for the relatively low percentage of developed land. Conversely, the existing land cover for Isle of Wight County and the City of Suffolk is dominated by mostly agricultural lands (row crops), wetlands and forests. Developed areas in these two jurisdictions are concentrated in the incorporated towns of Smithfield and Windsor in Isle of Wight County, and near the west, north and central portions of Suffolk.

TABLE 3.5: LAND COVER / LAND USE

ISLE OF VIRGINIA LAND COVER WIGHT NORFOLK PORTSMOUTH SUFFOLK BEACH TYPE COUNTY (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

Pasture/Hay 12.1 1.3 9.4 3.9

Row Crops 25.3 3 22.9 17.1

Woody Wetlands 13 1.2 27.5 14.6

Open Water 1.8 11.6 10.5 3 11.4 Emerg/Herbaceous 2.3 2.1 5.4 3 8.8 Wetlands Urban Recreational 8.2 2.8 4.1 Grasses Low Intensity 1.6 37.1 21.2 2.5 12.9 Residential High Intensity 4.2 18.5 0.5 6 Residential Commercial/Indust 0.9 29.9 20.2 1.9 5.4 rial/Transportation Quarries, Strip 4.9 Mines, Gravel Pits Bare Rock, Sand, 1.4 Clay Transitional 0.7 1.6 1.8 1.6

Deciduous Forest 15.5 1.8 2.7 11.4 7.7

Evergreen Forest 8.5 3.4 5.9 8.4 4.9

Mixed Forest 18 0.7 0.8 7.4 Source: U.S. Geological Survey

1 Data not available for the towns of Smithfield and Windsor.

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TABLE 3.4: HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS URBAN STRUCTURES MEDIAN AVERAGE TOTAL AREA BUILT YEAR HOUSEHOLD OCCUPIED JURISDICTION HOUSING (%) BEFORE 1970 STRUCTURE SIZE UNITS (%) UNITS (2000 (%) BUILT (2000 Census) Census) (2000 Census) (2000 Census) Isle of Wight 14,633 2.61 33.77 94 32.41 1980 County Norfolk 95,018 2.45 100.00 95 68.24 1959

Portsmouth 40,806 2.51 100.00 91. 65.83 1961

Smithfield 3,323 2.55 99.01 94 33.68 1978

Suffolk 33,035 2.69 70.98 93 40.44 1975

Virginia Beach 177,879 2.7 98.47 93 25.31 1980

Windsor 1,059 2.35 0.00 96 47.17 1971

REGION TOTAL 365,753 2.55 71.75 92 44.73 1972 Source: 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census Bureau

The Southside Hampton Roads region provides an integrated network of transportation facilities and infrastructure that includes many interstates (I-64, I-264, I-464, I-564, I-664) and highways (U.S. 13, 17, 58, 60, 258, 460 and State Route 164), along with hundreds of secondary roadways and bridges throughout the area. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which opened in 1964, connects Virginia's Eastern Shore with Virginia Beach and remains one of the world’s modern engineering wonders. Freight rail service is provided by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern, and the nearest passenger rail is available through Amtrak at the Newport News station on the Peninsula. Convenient commercial air service is available through Norfolk International Airport which offers over 260 flights per day, including direct non-stops to 25 airports of which 17 are major hubs. The area also serves as one of the nation’s most critical and fastest growing ports. Over 95 percent of the world's shipping lines call on the Port of Norfolk and Portsmouth linking Virginia and the U.S. to more than 250 ports in over 100 countries around the world. With its four marine terminals, the Port of Hampton Roads is the second largest volume port on the East Coast in terms of general cargo (break-bulk and containerized cargo), and the leading U.S. port in total tonnage.

In addition to transportation facilities, Southside Hampton Roads provides a significant amount of critical facilities and infrastructure that include hospitals, schools, police stations, fire stations, energy facilities, water and wastewater facilities and hazardous material facilities (further discussed in Section 5: Vulnerability Assessment and Appendix F). The large military presence provides its own significant facilities and infrastructure base, though these are located on federal land and outside the planning area. Electrical service is supplied throughout the region by Dominion Virginia Power, and natural gas is provided by Columbia Gas and Virginia Natural Gas. Verizon and Verizon Wireless serve more than 3 million accounts in Virginia and are primary service providers in the region. Cox Communications is a primary service provider for cable television, phone and internet service.

Land use varies significantly throughout Southside Hampton Roads, with residential development clustered in higher densities near city centers and along the beach areas of Virginia Beach. While the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach are heavily developed, the majority of Suffolk and Isle of Wight County is considered rural and agricultural land. Table 3.5 provides graphical information on existing land classifications for each jurisdiction according to the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD)

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TABLE 3.3: POPULATION CHANGES AND PROJECTED CHANGES, 1970-2034

JURISDICTION 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2034

Isle of Wight County 18,285 21,603 25,053 29,728 35,270 37,500 68,600

Norfolk 307,951 266,979 261,250 234,403 242,803 228,297 240,400

Portsmouth 110,963 104,577 103,910 100,565 95,535 95,900 104,500

Suffolk 45,024 47,621 52,143 63,677 84,585 87,801 180,600

Virginia Beach 172,106 262,199 393,089 425,257 437,994 460,900 469,200

REGION TOTAL 656,299 704,959 837,435 855,630 898,197 912,418 1,063,300 Source: Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Population Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau

FIGURE 3.3: POPULATION CHANGES AND PROJECTED CHANGES, 1970-2034

Source: Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Population Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau

HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND LAND USE

According to the 2010 Census, there are a total of approximately 365,753 housing units in the Southside Hampton Roads region with more than 90 percent of the units classified as occupied. All of the houses in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth are within designated urban areas, while all of the houses in the Town of Windsor are located in non-urban areas. The average age of housing units in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth is notably older than houses in other areas (the median year of construction is 1959 and 1961, respectively), and the two cities also have the highest percentage of structures built before 1970. Table 3.4 summarizes data on housing characteristics for each jurisdiction within the Southside Hampton Roads region, and more specific information is provided in Section 5: Vulnerability Assessment. The most up to date information released from the 2010 Census was used for the 2011 update, as noted in the table.

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POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS

According to the 2010 Census, the Southside Hampton Roads region has a population of 906,902 people. Table 3.2 shows total population, percent of children under the age of 18, percent of elderly population (age 65 and over), percent of white population and disability status for participating jurisdictions. Data in Table 3.2 were updated based on 2010 Census data released during the 2011 update process, as noted in the table. Among the seven jurisdictions in the planning area, the City of Virginia Beach has the highest population, followed by the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk.

TABLE 3.2: POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

UNDER 18 65 YEARS AND WHITE DISABILITY TOTAL JURISDICTION YEARS OLD OVER (%) POPULATION STATUS (%) POPULATION (%) (2000 Census) (%) (2000 Census)

Isle of Wight 35,270 23 12.2 72 20.1 County Norfolk 242,803 21 10.9 47 23.5

Portsmouth 95,535 24 13.8 42 24.7

Smithfield 8,089 24 13.6 67 22.1

Suffolk 84,585 26 11.4 52 24.4

Virginia Beach 437,994 25 8.4 68 15.3

Windsor 2,626 23 12.4 74 19.9

REGION TOTAL 906,902 23.29 11.81 58 21.43 Source: 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census Bureau

Table 3.3 lists the population change experienced by participating jurisdictions (towns excluded) between 1970 and 2010, as well as population projections through 2034. While the City of Portsmouth has experienced a decrease in overall population, all other jurisdictions except Norfolk have experienced a steady increase since 1970. Much of this trend may be attributed to suburbanization as residents move outward from the denser city centers. The experienced and projected changes in population are illustrated in Figure 3.3.

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Due to a combination of the city’s geographic position on the mid-Atlantic coastline and the straddling of two ecologically significant estuaries, Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound, the area serves as the southern limit of many northern plant and animal species. The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1938 and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is an 8,000 acre fresh water refuge that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Back Bay on the west. The barrier islands feature large sand dunes, maritime forests, fresh water marshes, ponds, ocean beach, and large impoundments for wintering wildfowl.

Virginia Beach is best known as a major resort destination, with miles of beaches and dozens of hotels, motels, and restaurants. It is also home to several state parks, several protected beach areas, four military bases, a number of large corporations, and two universities. Much of the land remained undeveloped until World War II when the Navy built Oceana Naval Air Station, followed by three more military bases, including Little Creek, Fort Story, and Dam Neck. Since the end of the war, Virginia Beach has experienced continued rapid growth and is the region’s most populous jurisdiction at more than 430,000 people.

Town of Windsor The Town of Windsor is located in the heart of Isle of Wight County. The town’s original name was Corrowaugh and it was established as a post office in 1852. Five years later, the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad obtained the post office and built a depot called Windsor Station. In 1902, a town charter was granted by the General Assembly and the town became known simply as Windsor.

In 1950, the Windsor Ruritan Club and the Town of Windsor built a "Community House" which has been a valuable asset to the community over the years. Over the next three decades, town services improved and expanded. The streets were upgraded and paved, sidewalks extended, additional streetlights installed, drainage improved, and ditches piped. The privately owned water systems in the town limits were purchased by the town, upgraded, extended and an above ground water storage tower was erected. In 1971, the Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad was founded and continues to provide service to the town and surrounding community.

In July 2001, the Town of Windsor annexed 2.82 square miles of Isle of Wight County. As a result, the total area increased from one square mile to 3.82 square miles and population increased from approximately 900 to 2,347. Also in 2001, Isle of Wight County helped install a central sewer system in the town which opened up many areas for new homes and businesses. The Town of Windsor remains a small rural town amidst the region’s larger, more populated cities which are easily accessible through two main roads bisecting the town, Route 460 and Route 258.

City of Suffolk In 1742, the Town of Suffolk, which was originally part of the County of Nansemond, was established. The town was burned by the British in 1779 and damaged by other fires throughout the next century, but survived to eventually become incorporated as a city in 1910. In 1974, the City of Suffolk consolidated with the towns of Holland and Whaleyville, and the County of Nansemond. At that point it became the largest city (geographically) in Virginia and the 11th largest in the country, encompassing a total of nearly 430 square miles. This large area is made up of land with woods, lakes, rivers, and rolling terrain.

The City of Suffolk is located along the Nansemond River, and is still largely recognized as the “Peanut Capital” of the world and as the home of “Mr. Peanut.” In 1912, an Italian immigrant named Amedeo Obici moved from Pennsylvania to Suffolk and opened Planters Nut and Chocolate Company. Today, Suffolk remains a major peanut processing center and transportation hub.

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City of Norfolk The City of Norfolk, located on the Elizabeth River, was founded in 1682 but was not incorporated as a city until 1845. Initially comprised of only 50 acres, the city has grown to a total of 96 square miles today.

Norfolk has seven miles of Chesapeake Bay waterfront and a total of 144 miles of shoreline, including lakefront, rivers and the Bay. Naval Station Norfolk, which was established on the old Jamestown Exposition grounds in 1917, is the world’s largest naval base. The city is also home to the North American Headquarters for the North American Treaty Organization (NATO). Norfolk is the most densely developed jurisdiction in the Southside Hampton Roads region at 4,496 people per square mile.

City of Portsmouth The City of Portsmouth was founded as a town in 1752 on the shores of the Elizabeth River by Colonel William Crawford. In 1858, the town was separated from the county government and given status as an independent city.

Portsmouth’s location as an East Coast deepwater port, and available business sites in proximity to the nation’s largest shipyard, have provided a significant impetus for economic growth in the area. Today Portsmouth is in the middle of the dynamic Norfolk-Virginia Beach metropolitan area and home to almost 100,000 people. In addition to the many medical, cultural and recreational facilities within the immediate community, Portsmouth’s downtown is bustling with retail, restaurant and service-related businesses. The historic waterfront neighborhood of Olde Towne lines the Elizabeth River and is easily traversed by the famous downtown seawall, and the City of Norfolk is easily accessible by a 5-minute ferry ride across the river.

Town of Smithfield The Town of Smithfield was incorporated in 1752 by Arthur Smith, IV, who parceled out his family farm into 72 lots and 4 streets in order to house British merchants and ship captains. The town is located on the banks of the Pagan River, which flows into the James River. Smithfield was a river town from its very beginning, and the livelihood of its residents and continued growth over the years has been influenced by the river. The town measures approximately ten square miles.

Nurtured by trade and commerce, Smithfield soon became a town of industry with four plants devoted to the art of curing the world famous "Smithfield Ham.” Located within the town is Smithfield Foods, Inc., the area’s largest meat-processing industry as well as a major employer for the region.

Smithfield has many of the charms associated with Hampton Roads communities, including many historic homes representing 18th and 19th century architecture, a revitalized historic downtown, and the character of a former colonial seaport. To preserve the historical charm, the Town of Smithfield and individual property owners enacted a Historic Preservation District Ordinance in 1979. Smithfield offers residents a small-town atmosphere, a high quality school system, affordable housing, a historic downtown, and a state-of-the-art community/conference center.

City of Virginia Beach The first settlement inside the city limits of Virginia Beach was made on Lynnhaven Bay in 1621, and the area first became incorporated as a town in 1908. In 1963, the Town of Virginia Beach merged with Princess Anne County to form the independent City of Virginia Beach.

The city consists of 249 square miles of inland water and 248 square miles of land. The topography is relatively flat with an average elevation of twelve feet above sea level. The area contains extensive brackish tidal areas, such as the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth River systems, and expansive freshwater tidal areas, such as the North Landing River and Back Bay systems.

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county and municipal jurisdiction within the planning area, as well as their neighboring jurisdictions. Figure 3.2 illustrates the major water bodies in the region.

TABLE 3.1: SUMMARY OF POPULATION, HOUSING, LAND AREA AND DENSITY

DENSITY PER SQUARE AREA IN SQUARE MILES HOUSING MILE OF LAND AREA JURISDICTION POPULATION UNITS TOTAL WATER LAND HOUSING POPULATION AREA AREA AREA UNITS Isle of Wight 35,270 14,633 363 47 316 112 46 County Norfolk 242,803 95,018 96 43 54 4,496 1,760

Portsmouth 95,535 40,806 47 13 33 2,895 1,237

Smithfield 8,089 3,323 10 1 10 809 332

Suffolk 84,585 33,035 429 29 400 211 83

Virginia Beach 437,994 177,879 497 249 248 1,766 717

Windsor 2,626 1,059 1 0 1 2,626 1,059 REGION 906,902 365,753 1,443 382 1,061 855 345 TOTAL Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010

The following information provides a brief overview of the history, geography and unique characteristics of the seven jurisdictions in the planning area.

Isle of Wight County Isle of Wight County was established as Worrosquoyacke County in 1634, one of eight counties divided from the Virginia colony. The original boundaries of the county included Lawne’s Creek to the north, the James River to the east, the head of Colonel Pitt's Creek to the south and undeveloped wooded area to the west. In 1656, Ragged Island and Nansemond County were incorporated into Isle of Wight County. A long dispute between the counties of Isle of Wight and Nansemond continued until 1674, when the General Assembly established the boundaries that exist today.

Isle of Wight County is thirty-seven miles in length and maintains an average breadth of eleven miles. The county is comprised of approximately 363 square miles, of which 80 percent is land area. The area contains relatively flat, but rolling terrain with average elevation of approximately 80 feet above sea level. The land generally dips to the northeast from a plateau west of Bethel Church, and from that same plateau, the land dips to the northwest and west. Several swamps, ravines and creeks drain to the

James River, the Blackwater River and the Nansemond River.

Today, Isle of Wight's residents enjoy the rural nature of the County coupled with the quaint atmosphere of the two incorporated towns, Smithfield and Windsor. While the local economy remains agriculturally- based, the area’s scenic beauty, history and proximity to other attractions in the Hampton Roads area greatly contribute to the tourist draw. In addition, the County is close enough to the transportation hubs and employment centers of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area to attract year round residents and businesses alike.

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DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

As discussed earlier in this section, Southside Hampton Roads is expected to continue growing steadily with a projected population of over 1 million people in the planning area by the year 2034. Most of this residential growth is expected to take place in the large, more spread out cities of Virginia Beach and Suffolk. The more densely concentrated and developed cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth may see declines in population during this period, thereby suggesting that development trends across the region will differ greatly from one jurisdiction to the next. The HRPDC is expected to update these projections based on Census 2010 data, but those projections were not available at the time this plan was updated in 2011.

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