All posts in September 2018

The area of Hampton Roads is a place filled with a number of attraction and historical sites. The harbor located in this area has been the most important thing that contributes to the growth of the area, in terms of both water-related events and activities. The harbor (and the tributaries originating from it) may be an important conduit for transportation but it also poses a challenge on both travel and commerce that are more land-based. Due to this fact, constructing and managing infrastructure capable enough of supporting transportation is an obstacle to overcome in the area for a long time.

One of the biggest efforts to counter problems caused by the harbor is the HRBT (Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel) and the MMMBT (Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge). In the Hampton Roads Beltway interstate, the two are the largest harbor crossings. The two bridges serve as connectors of Hampton Roads’ large population centers. The HRTA (Hampton Roads Transportation Authority) was established in 2007. This organization sought to help improve transportation in the area. It was, however, founded under a controversial state law. The law in question was intended to establish a variety of more taxes, tolls, and fees in order to generate funding for major transportation projects in the region. Included in the plan was the third bridge of Hampton Roads that was too costly.

Cities located in the Hampton Roads region are not counted as being in counties. They exist independently of one another. The Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) of Hampton Roads consists of 5 counties and 9 cities in Virginia and 2 counties in North Carolina. A census held by in 2010 showed that the entire area has a population number of 1,676,822. The number is expected to rise in 2014 to 1,716,624. The Hampton Roads is one of the areas in the US with the largest population.

To best define what Hampton Roads is, the definition used by the US Census Bureau can be referred to. The Bureau determines that the area consists of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News within the VA—NC MSA. This region comprises of 16 jurisdictions of county-level. In Virginia, there are 5 counties and nine independent cities while in North Carolina, there are two counties included in the MSA. However, the definition that the locals use to determine the borders of this region does not truly in line with what the Bureau defines. The metropolitan areas within the region are what commonly and collectively referred to as Hampton Roads.

The VA-NC MSA comprises of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News. This statistical area has a population of 1,676,822 according to a 2010 census. The population number is expected to rise to 1,716,624 in 2014. A constitutional change was implemented in 1871 and stated that all Virginian cities are independent, placing all of them outside counties. These independent cities are to be regarded as the equivalent of counties in order that the definition of MSA can be best determined. Areas constituting the VA—NC MSA is shared between Virginia and North Carolina.

The areas in Virginia consist of 5 counties and 9 cities namely Gloucester County, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Mathews County, York County, City of Chesapeake, City of Hampton, City of Newport News, City of Norfolk, City of Poquoson, City of Portsmouth, City of Suffolk, City of Virginia Beach, and City of Williamsburg. The other areas in North Carolina consist of two counties namely Currituck County and Gates County. Towns or other areas surrounding these MSAs are still colloquially referred to as part of Hampton Roads—especially by locals, but legally they do not count as such.