Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area in the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 40th largest city in the US, with a total population of 440,098.{{mn|Census|1}}

Infrastructure

Government

Virginia Beach was chartered as a municipal corporation by the General Assembly of Virginia on January 1 1963. The city currently operates under the council-manager form of government.

Related Topics:
General Assembly - Virginia - January 1 - 1963 - Council-manager

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The city's legislative body consists of an 11 member city council. The city manager is appointed by the council and acts as the chief executive officer. Through his staff, he implements policies established by the council.

Related Topics:
City council - City manager

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Members of the city council normally serve four-year terms and are elected on a staggered basis. General elections are held the first Tuesday in May in even-numbered years. All registered voters are eligible to vote for all council members. Three council members and the mayor serve on an "at large" basis with no district residency requirement. All others are required to live in the district they represent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The mayor is elected to a four-year term through direct election. The mayor presides over council meetings, and serves as the ceremonial head and spokesperson of the city. A vice mayor is also elected by the city council at the first meeting in July following a council election.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Education

According to the U.S. Census, of the population over twenty-five, 28.1% (vs. a national average of 24%) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 90.4% (vs. 80% nationally) have a high school diploma or equivalent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The city of Virginia Beach is home to the second largest school system in Virginia and among the 50 largest school divisions in the United States (based on student enrollment). Virginia Beach City Public Schools currently serves 74,682 students, and includes 55 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 11 high schools which include the 2004-2005 football state champions from Landstown High School, Princess Anne, Cox, Tallwood, Salem, First Colonial, Kellam, Green Run, Kempsville, Bayside, and Ocean Lakes as well as a number of secondary/post-secondary specialty schools and centers such as the brand new Advanced Technology Center which provides excellent courses for those trying to gain a place in the technology field.

Related Topics:
Virginia - United States - Elementary schools - Middle schools - High schools

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are also a number of private, independent schools in the city, including The Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, Cape Henry Collegiate School, Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School (formerly Norfolk Catholic), and Baylake Pines School.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Virginia Beach is home to one university, Regent University, a private university founded by Christian Evangelist and Leader Pat Robertson which is almost totally dedicated to graduate education. Old Dominion University in nearby Norfolk operates a satellite campus in Virginia Beach. Tidewater Community College, a major junior college, also has its largest campus located in the city. Virginia Wesleyan College, a private liberal arts college, is located near the border with Norfolk. Additional institutions of higher education are located in other communities of greater Hampton Roads.

Related Topics:
Regent University - Pat Robertson - Old Dominion University - Norfolk - Tidewater Community College - Virginia Wesleyan College - Liberal arts - Hampton Roads

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Military bases

Virginia Beach is home to several United States Military bases. These include the United States Navy's NAS Oceana, FTC Dam Neck, NAB Little Creek, and the United States Army's Fort Story located at Cape Henry. NAS Oceana is the largest employer in Virginia Beach and currently under consideration to be shut down by the 2005 BRAC Commission. Both NAS Oceana and FTC Dam Neck are considered to be the largest of their respective kind in the world. Furthermore, located in nearby Norfolk is the central hub of the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk Navy Base.{{mn|LittleCreek|5}}

Related Topics:
United States Military - United States Navy - NAS Oceana - FTC Dam Neck - NAB Little Creek - United States Army - Fort Story - Cape Henry - BRAC - Norfolk - Atlantic Fleet - Norfolk Navy Base

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Transportation

The city is primarily served by the nearby Norfolk International Airport {{airport codes|ORF|KORF}}. Also located within an hour's drive away is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport {{airport codes|PHF|KPHF}}.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The city is connected to I-64 via I-264, which runs from the oceanfront, intersects with I-64 on the east side of Norfolk, and continues through downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth until rejoining I-64 at the terminus of both roads in Chesapeake. The city is also connected to Virginia's Eastern Shore via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which is the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world. Transportation within the city, as well as with other cities in the Hampton Roads area, is served by a regional bus service, HRT.

Related Topics:
I-64 - I-264 - Norfolk - Portsmouth - Chesapeake - Virginia - Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel - Hampton Roads

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~