Portsmouth, Virginia

Colonial era In 1620, the future site of Portsmouth was recognized as a suitable shipbuilding location by John Wood, a shipbuilder, who petitioned King James I of England for a land grant. The surrounding area was soon settled as a plantation community. Portsmouth was founded by Colonel William Crawford, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. It was established as a town in 1752 by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and was named for Portsmouth, England. In 1836, the town of Portsmouth was incorporated. The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1857. During the 19th century, the church was part of the Underground Railroad. Freedom seekers from Virginia and other slave states used the church as a hiding place and refuge on their way to the abolitionist Northern United States. American Civil War and postbellum During the American Civil War, in 1861, Virginia joined the Confederate States of America. Fearing that the Confederacy would take control of the shipyard at Portsmouth, the shipyard commander ordered the burning of the shipyard. The Confederate forces did in fact take over the shipyard and did so without armed conflict through an elaborate ruse orchestrated by civilian railroad builder William Mahone (soon to become a famous Confederate officer). The Union forces withdrew to Fort Monroe across Hampton Roads, which was the only land in the area which remained under Union control. In early 1862, the Confederate ironclad warship CSS Virginia was rebuilt using the burned-out hulk of USS Merrimack. Virginia engaged the Union ironclad USS Monitor in the famous Battle of Hampton Roads during the Union blockade of Hampton Roads. The Confederates burned the shipyard again when they left in May 1862. Following the recapture of Norfolk and Portsmouth by the Union forces, the name of the shipyard was changed to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The name of the shipyard was derived from its location in Norfolk County. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard today is located entirely within the city limits of Portsmouth, Virginia. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard name has been retained to minimize any confusion with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which itself is actually located in Kittery, Maine, across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. By 1870, the population of the city was 10,590. In 1894, the city annexed portions of Norfolk County North of the city. The school was open to students from first through seventh grade. In 1926, the school moved to a new building, with funding coming from the Black community, the Rosenwald Fund, and Norfolk County. The school closed in 1965. 21st century By 2000, the population of Portsmouth was 100,565. • 1767 – Gosport Shipyard, later renamed the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, founded by Andrew Sprowle. • 1779 – Portsmouth sacked by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. 19th century • 1800s • 1805 – Dismal Swamp Canal opens. • 1810s • 1812 – War of 1812 begins • 1813 – Craney Island Fort is completed • 1815 – War of 1812 ends. • 1820s • 1821 – Fire. • 1822 – Norfolk-Portsmouth steam ferry begins operating. • 1824 – October 25: Lafayette visits Portsmouth. • 1827 – Norfolk Naval Hospital opens. It would later be renamed Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. • 1830s • 1830 – Trinity Episcopal Church is established. • 1832 – Cedar Grove Cemetery is established. • 1834 – Drydock Number One, Norfolk Naval Shipyard is put into service. • 1836 – Town of Portsmouth incorporated. • 1846 – Norfolk County Courthouse built. • 1850s • 1850 – Population: 8,626. • 1870s • 1870 – Population: 10,590. • 1890s • 1890 – Became a stop on the Atlantic and Danville Railway. • 1894 – Annexation of portions of Norfolk County north of the city. • 1895 – The Portsmouth Truckers begin competing as a Minor League Baseball team. • 1896 – Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad begins. • 1897 – King's Daughters' Hospital Home for the Sick opens, which would later become known as Portsmouth General Hospital. • 1905 St. Paul's Catholic Church is dedicated. • 1909 – Annexation of portions of Norfolk County West of the city. • 1930s • 1939 • Lyric Theatre in business. • Glensheallah Hospital opens. It would later become Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center. • Commodore Theatre opens on High Street. • World War II ends. • 1947 – The Circle is built. • 1948 – The fourth annexation since becoming an independent city, pushing the city boundary westward to Western Branch. • 1950s • 1950 – Population: 80,039. • 1952 – Norfolk–Portsmouth Bridge–Tunnel, later known as the Downtown Tunnel, opens. • 1953 • The first Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. • Temple Sinai is established in December. • 1955 – Portsmouth Historical Association founded. • 1964 – United States lightship Portsmouth is donated to the city to become part of the Naval Shipyard Museum. • 1965 – The Key Road School closes. • 1970s • 1970 – Portsmouth Public Schools is established by the Virginia General Assembly. • 1972 – Manor High School opens. • 1974 – Richard Joseph Davis becomes mayor. • 1980s • 1980 – The Tidewater Children's Museum is established by volunteers from the Portsmouth Service League in the basement of the Portsmouth Library's main branch. • 1981 • Portsmouth Times newspaper begins publication. • After serving as mayor for six years, Richard Joseph Davis is elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, becoming the first Catholic elected to a statewide office in Virginia history. • 1984 • James W. Holley III becomes the first African-American mayor. • Louise Lucas becomes the first African-American woman to serve on the Portsmouth City Council. • Angelos Bible College opens. • The Tidewater Children's Museum moves to the old Norfolk County Courthouse building. • 1986 – Kenneth R. Melvin, from Portsmouth, is elected to represent the 80th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. • 1990s • 1991 – Louise Lucas is elected to the Virginia General Assembly as a State Senator. • 1993 – Bobby Scott becomes U.S. representative for Virginia's 3rd congressional district. • 1994 – The Tidewater Children's Museum is renamed the Children's Museum of Virginia. The museum moves into a building on High Street. • 1998 • Museum of Military History established. • 2005 – The newly renovated Governor Dinwiddie Hotel reopens after being closed for more than ten years. • 2010s • 2010 – Population: 95,535. • 2011 – Kirill Denyakin is shot and killed by police officer Stephen Rankin. Rankin is not indicted on charges. • 2013 – The Circle is demolished. It was officially removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. • 2015 – William Chapman is the second person shot and killed by police officer Stephen Rankin. Rankin is ultimately convicted of manslaughter. • 2017 – John L. Rowe Jr. becomes mayor. The Sports Hall of Fame closes the Portsmouth location. • 2019 – Don Scott is elected from Portsmouth to represent the 80th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. • 2020s • 2020 • Population: 97,915. • 2023 • Rivers Casino Portsmouth, the first permanent Casino in Virginia History, opens in Portsmouth on Victory Blvd. • Don Scott is unanimously nominated by his caucus to become the first black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. • 2024 – Hampton Roads Regional Jail permanently closes. ==Geography==

, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Norfolk, seen from space in July 1996. Portsmouth is in the center-right portion of the photo. North is at left. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Portsmouth has a total area of , of which is land and (28.0%) is water. The city is in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, and is bisected by the West Branch of the Elizabeth River which flows from neighboring Suffolk. The region is known for its roadstead and low-lying coastal plains. The Hampton Roads region is the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Several creeks run through the city, including Scott Creek, Owens Creek, Paradise Creek, and Baines Creek, which are tributaries of the Elizabeth River. The city borders Norfolk to the east, across the Elizabeth River. The river also runs along part of the city's southern border with Chesapeake. Portsmouth shares a border with Suffolk to the west. To the north, the city is bordered by water, where the James, Nansemond, and Elizabeth rivers come together. North of that part of the roadstead are the cities of Newport News and Hampton, which are connected to South Hampton Roads by the Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel, which connects Newport News and Suffolk. The city is northeast of the Great Dismal Swamp, with the Dismal Swamp Canal nearly reaching Portsmouth. Porstmouth is also located west of Virginia Beach, north of the North Carolina border, southeast of Richmond, Virginia, and southeast of Washington, D.C. Neighborhoods Portsmouth has six historic districts: Cradock, Downtown, Olde Towne, Park View, Port Norfolk, and Truxtun. The historic districts were created to promote and preserve the cultural, education, and economic interests of the ciy. The Downtown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The area is bounded by Interstate 264, Middle Street, Primrose Street, and Queen Street. In contrast to the residential Olde Towne District, Downtown is a central business district. It is sometimes referred to as the High Street Corridor Historic District. The Olde Towne Historic District is adjacent to the Downtown District, and features one of the largest collections of historically significant homes between Alexandria, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built by slaves and free men in 1857 and is the second-oldest building in Portsmouth and the city's oldest black church. The church was required by law to have a white minister, and did not have its first African-American pastor until Reverend James A. Handy took the position in 1864. In 1871, the congregation affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and became known as the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 2022, the church was officially recognized as part of the Civil War Trails Program and the National Park Service's Network to Freedom trail. Park View Historic District includes 295 buildings in a primarily residential section of northeast Portsmouth. The district was developed in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Architecture in the neighborhood includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and American Foursquare style single family residences. Park View was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Port Norfolk Historic District was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Truxtun Historic District encompasses 241 buildings. The district was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1980 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The neighborhood is primarily residential and was developed between 1918 and 1920 as a planned community of Colonial Revival style single family residences. Alongside Cradock, Truxtun was developed by the United States Housing Corporation as a result of the rapid influx of workers at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard during World War I; however, Truxtun was the first wartime government housing project constructed exclusively for African-American residents. In 1921 the Federal Government sold the neighborhood. List of neighborhoods • Academy Park • Alexander Corner • Armistead Forest • Cavalier Manor • Churchland • Cradock Historic District • Downtown • Midtown • Olde Towne Historic District • Park Manor • Park View Historic District • Pinner Point • Port Norfolk Historic District • Prentiss Park • Shea Terrace • Swimming Point • Truxtun Historic District • West Norfolk • West Park Homes • West Park Manor • Westhaven • Westhaven Park • Westmoreland • Westwood • Williams Court • Windy Pines • Woodbine Climate Portsmouth experiences a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid with warm evenings. The mean annual temperature is , with an average annual snowfall of 3 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. No measurable snow fell in 1999. The wettest seasons are the spring and summer, although rainfall is fairly constant all year round. The highest recorded temperature was 105.0 °F in 1980. The lowest recorded temperature was −3.0 °F on January 21, 1985. Snow falls rarely, averaging per season. ==Demographics==

Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, Portsmouth had a population of 97,915, up from 95,535 in 2010 and the first decennial increase since 1960. The gender makeup was about 52% female, with 93.4 males for every 100 females and 90.7 males for every 100 females age 18 and over; the median age was 37.0 years, with 22.2% under the age of 18 and 15.8% 65 years of age or older, and 8,612 veterans made up roughly 8.7% of the population. The census reported the city as 53.3% Black or African American (52,214 people), 36.7% White (35,892), 6.4% two or more races (6,218), 1.3% Asian (1,285), 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native (427), 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (141), and 1.8% some other race (1,738); approximately 4.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race (4,413). There were 39,547 households, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18, 34.0% were married-couple households, 21.7% were male householders with no spouse or partner present, 37.2% were female householders with no spouse or partner present, 31.4% were households made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The city had 43,164 housing units, of which 8.4% were vacant, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 2.7% and a rental vacancy rate of 7.6%. there were 95,535 people, 38,170 households, and 25,497 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 41,605 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 53.3% African American, 41.6% White, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population. There were 38,170 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% have a female household with no husband present and 33.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $46,340, and the median income for a family was $53,769. Males had a median income of $39,871 versus $33,140 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,108. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over. ==Arts and culture==

Tourism Portsmouth has a long history as a port town and city. The Olde Towne Business and Historic District is located adjacent to the Downtown Portsmouth Historic District, where a combination of preservation and redevelopment has been underway. The Hawthorn Hotel & Suites at The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel was renovated and reopened in 2005 after being closed for more than 10 years. It has been recognized by Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that identifies hotels that have maintained their historical integrity, architecture and ambiance and provides resources for their preservation. The historic hotel was named for Governor Robert Dinwiddie, who was the administrative head of the Colony of Virginia during the time Portsmouth was founded in 1752. It was largely through his efforts that Virginia survived the French and Indian War relatively well. Other points of interest include the Portsmouth City Park, featuring the narrow-gauge Portsmouth City Railroad with an operating Chance Rides C.P. Huntington locomotive named Pokey Smokey II. The original Pokey Smokey locomotive was built by Crown Metal Products and ran at the park for many years before being sold at auction. It now runs on the Mideast Railroad in Ederville in Carthage, North Carolina. The Railroad Museum of Virginia located at Harbor Center Way features vintage railroad artifacts, rolling stock, and an operating model train layout. The Children's Museum of Virginia is located in Portsmouth at 221 High Street. It is the largest children's museum in the state. The museum is busiest in the summer, receiving up to 1,000 visitors per day. Completed in 2023, the Rivers Casino Portsmouth boasts a casino floor with slots, table games, poker tables, and a sportsbook. It is the second casino in Virginia and the first casino in Virginia with a permanent facility. Historic sites is a historic landmark in the center of the Olde Towne Historic District. Seaboard Coastline Building Located at 1 High Street in the Olde Towne Historic District, the Seaboard Coastline Building is a historic train station and former headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line railroad company. Hill House Hill House is a four-story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings. The Hill family were avid collectors and lived graciously over a period of 150 years. The house remains in its original condition, with limited renovation through the years. Cedar Grove Cemetery Established in 1832, Cedar Grove Cemetery is the oldest city-owned cemetery in Portsmouth. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Portsmouth, Virginia, the cemetery is noted for its funerary art and the civic, business, maritime, religious and military leaders who are buried there. Historical markers placed throughout the cemetery allow for self-guided tours. The cemetery is located between Effingham Street and Fort Lane in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Entrance is through the south gate to the cemetery, located on London Boulevard. ==Sports==

In 1895, Portsmouth became home to the Portsmouth Truckers, a minor league professional baseball team. The team played in the Virginia State League. In 1896, the team was renamed the Portsmouth Browns and competed in the Virginia League. From 1953 until 1955 the team was known as the Portsmouth Merrimacs. Each April since 1953, the city hosts the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, where college basketball seniors play in front of scouts from the NBA and top European leagues. Many top basketball stars played in the PIT before successful pro careers, including Jimmy Butler, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and John Stockton. The Portsmouth Cavaliers were a basketball team founded in 2010 and played in the American Basketball Association for the 2011–12 season. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Cavaliers played their home games at the Chick-fil-A Fieldhouse on the campus of Portsmouth Catholic Regional School. The club spent one season in the American Professional Basketball League (APBL) before folding. ==Government==

Portsmouth is one of the most consistently Democratic of all Virginia's cities and counties. It has only voted for a Republican twice since 1900 (in 1928 and 1972), both of which were national landslides. It has voted for the Democratic candidate by over 60% since 1996, and in 2012 Barack Obama reached 70% of the vote for the first time since 1948. Portsmouth is governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The current mayor is Navy veteran and businessman Shannon Glover. In 2024, Glover was re-elected for a second four-year term. The City Council is a legislative body served by six members, elected for four-year terms. • Hezekiah Stoakes, 1854 • D. D. Fiske, 1855 • James G. Hodges, 1856–1857 • George W. Grice, 1858–1860 • John O. Lawrence, 1861 • John Nash, 1862 • Jack P. Barnes, circa 1973 • Richard Joseph Davis, 1974–1980 • Julian E. Johansen, circa 1980–1983 • James W. Holley III, 1984–1987 • Gloria Webb, 1987–1996 • James W. Holley III, 1996–2010 • Kenneth I. Wright, 2010–2017 • John Rowe, 2017–2021 • Shannon Glover 2021–present ==Education==

Primary and secondary schools In 1846, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act that established a "free education for all classes." In 1848, Portsmouth began organizing a public education system for primary school and elected a board for that purpose. A small tuition was required, but poorer students were paid for by funds from the sale of the Glebe lands. During the 1969-1970 session of the General Assembly, Portsmouth Public Schools was established. The district is made up of twenty-four schools. There are three public high schools in Portsmouth, located at three corners of the city. In the northwest section of the city, off Cedar Lane, is Churchland High School. In the downtown section of the city, between London Blvd and High Street, is I.C. Norcom High School. In the southwest section of Portsmouth, on Elmhurst Lane, is Manor High School. There are also three middle schools, thirteen elementary schools, three preschools, an alternative education center, and an adult education center. There are approximately 13,000 students enrolled in Portsmouth Public Schools, and the district employs approximately 2,100 people. The district has struggled with staff retention and teacher vacancies. In 2023, the superintendent of Portsmouth Public Schools announced the development of a Career and Technical Education Center. In July 2024, the city began construction on the center, named the Portsmouth Advanced Career Education (PACE) Center. Higher education Portsmouth is home to the Tri-Cities Higher Education Center of Old Dominion University (ODU), a public research university founded in 1930 whose main campus is located in Norfolk, Virginia. Portsmouth is also home to the Fred W. Beazley Portsmouth Campus of Tidewater Community College, a two-year higher education institution founded in 1968 in South Hampton Roads with additional campuses located in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. Angelos Bible College was established in 1984, under the name Angelos Bible Institute. In August 2000, the school received approval from the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia to begin offering degrees, and the first class graduated in 2001. ==Media==

Portsmouth's daily newspaper is the Virginian-Pilot with The Currents being the Portsmouth edition of the Sunday paper. Other papers include the New Journal and Guide, and Inside Business. Hampton Roads Magazine serves as a bi-monthly regional magazine for Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads area. The Hampton Roads Times is an online magazine for all the Hampton Roads cities and counties. Portsmouth is served by a variety of radio stations on the AM and FM dials, with towers located around the Hampton Roads area. The major network television affiliates are WTKR-TV 3 (CBS), WAVY 10 (NBC), WVEC-TV 13 (ABC), WGNT 27 (Independent), WTVZ 33 (MyNetworkTV), WVBT 43 (Fox, with The CW on DT2), and WPXV 49 (ION Television). The Public Broadcasting Service stations are WHRO-TV 15, Hampton/Norfolk and WUND-TV 2, Edenton, NC. Two additional stations also receivable in Portsmouth include independent station WSKY-TV, which broadcasts on channel 4 from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and WGBS-LD broadcasting paid programming on channel 7 from Carrollton. Portsmouth is served by Cox Cable and Verizon FIOS. DirecTV and Dish Network are also popular as an alternative to cable television in Portsmouth. The Hampton Roads designated market area (DMA) is the 42nd largest in the U.S. with 712,790 homes (0.64% of the total U.S.). ==Infrastructure==

Transportation From the earliest development, Portsmouth has been oriented to the water. In the 1830s, it was the first community in Hampton Roads to receive a new land transportation innovation, railroad service. The Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, extended to the rapids of the Roanoke River on its fall line near Weldon, North Carolina. It was to be 20 more years before its bigger neighbor, the city of Norfolk, also received a rail line, in 1858, when the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad operated passenger trains #36 and #5 to and from its North Portsmouth Station to Rocky Mount, North Carolina until 1954. In earlier years ACL ran trains including the Tar Heel all the way south to Wilmington, North Carolina. From Seaboard Terminal the Seaboard Air Line and then the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad operated #17 and #18 to and from Raleigh, North Carolina, where the train joined with those companies' Silver Comet. The SAL also operated a local all-coach train (#3-11 southbound/#6-10 northbound) to Atlanta from the terminal. The 17/18 trains ended in 1968. Portsmouth is primarily served by the Norfolk International Airport , now the region's major commercial airport. The airport is located near Chesapeake Bay, along the city limits of neighboring Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Seven airlines provide nonstop services to twenty-five destinations. ORF had 3,703,664 passengers take off or land at its facility and 68,778,934 pounds of cargo were processed through its facilities. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport also provides commercial air service for the Hampton Roads area. The Chesapeake Regional Airport provides general aviation services and is located outside the city limits. In the 21st century, the city has access to lines of CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern and three short line railroads. Amtrak provides service to points along the Northeast Corridor from Newport News station across the Hampton Roads, and from Norfolk station across the Elizabeth River. Portsmouth is served by Interstate 264 and Interstate 664, which is part of the Hampton Roads Beltway. U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 58 pass through. The Elizabeth River is crossed via the Midtown Tunnel, the Downtown Tunnel and Berkley Bridge combination. Hampton Roads Transit is the regional bus service. Law enforcement Police Department In 2019, the Portsmouth Police Department had about 255 sworn law enforcement officers and 380 total employees. In May 2019, Police Chief Tonya Chapman resigned from her position, claiming she was forced to resign and had experienced systemic racism during her tenure. She was replaced by Angela Greene who served as interim chief. In June 2020, a Black Lives Matter protest took place in Portsmouth and resulted in the vandalism of the local Confederate monument. In August 2020, nineteen people, including state senator Louise Lucas, Chief Public Defender Brenda Spry, two additional public defenders, Portsmouth School Board member LaKeesha Atkinson, and three NAACP representatives were charged with felony vandalism of the monument. The charges were announced on August 17, 2020, by Police Chief Angela Greene, one day prior to a special legislative session pushing for policing reform. Cardwell found the charges concerning and believed the police did not take out the charges out of concern for public safety. Police Chief Angela Greene was fired shortly before the dismissal of the charges. In September 2021, Renado Prince was promoted from Assistant Police Chief to Police Chief. At the end of 2021, Portsmouth reported 35 homcides, its highest number in years, up from 34 in 2020 and 16 in 2019. At the time, the police department had approximately 80 unfilled officer positions. Sheriff's Office The sheriff's office oversees the management of the Portsmouth City Jail and the Portsmouth Judicial Center. In 2021, the Porstmouth Sheriff's Office also began overseeing the school resource officer program for the city, providing officers to public schools. As of April 2023, the deputies at the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office were the lowest paid in Hampton Roads. Sheriff Michael Moore sued the city for condemning the buildings without warning, arguing that it was the city's job to maintain the jail and stated the city had not maintained the building. At the time, a privately owned facility, Hampton Roads Regional Jail HRRJ, was also operating in the city. In March 2020, the Portsmouth City Council voted 4–3 in favor of closing the jail due to its poor conditions. On May 26, 2024, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a fire broke out in the basement of the Portsmouth City Jail. The fire started in a tool room in the basement and moved up an elevator shaft, spreading to the eighth floor. The city had purchased the property after its closure on April 1, 2024. No injuries were reported from the incident, but inmates and deputies were evaluated by medical teams. Bristol is a 15-hour round trip drive. It took three years and $66 million to construct the 385,000-foot facility. Mitchell was held at the jail due to allegations that he stole $5.05 worth of sweets from a 7-Eleven convenience store. Other inmates stated that they had pleaded with the guards to help Mitchell, but were ignored. In April 2021, a Virginia Jail Review Committee recommended the closure of Hampton Roads Regional Jail. The committee's preliminary findings determined that the jail failed to meet minimum standards for supervision of inmates and did not provided twenty-four hour emergency medical and mental health care as required. After its closure, the city purchased the property. The Portsmouth City Jail moved its operations to the location in May 2024, after a fire broke out and rendered the original jail building inoperable. The hospital was dedicated on March 4, 1945, and is located on High Street. During World War II, thousands of new shipyard workers and their families moved to the area, and the city saw a need for a new hospital. When it opened, the hospital was named Glensheallah Hospital. It was funded by the Federal Government. After the war, the government sold the hospital to the Catholic Church's Diocese of Richmond for $85,000. The Dioscese of Richmond agreed to operate the hospital with the Daughters of Wisdom. After its sale, the Daughters of Wisdom considered naming the hospital "Glensheallah" or "Glenmary", but they eventually settled on the name "Maryview" to honor the Virgin Mary and the Waterview area adjacent to the hospital. At the time of its founding, the hospital was known as the Norfolk Naval Hospital. Later, the name was changed to Naval Hospital Portsmouth and eventually, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Building 1 of the center was built in 1830. Building 3, which was originally named Building 215, was built in 1959. Portsmouth General Hospital In 1886, The Daughters of the King, a women's organization, was formed at Trinity Episcopal Church located in what is now Olde Towne Portsmouth. At the time of the sale, Portsmouth General Hospital employed 830 people, 350 of whom were expected to be laid of as the hospital closed. The hospital officially ceased operations in 1999, after serving the people of Portsmouth for over 100 years. ==Notable people==

• V. C. Andrews (1923–1986), bestselling novelist • Cleo Anthony (1981–), American actor • James P. Berkeley (1907–1985), USMC general and expert in Military communications • Ken Bowersox (1956–), astronaut • Marty Brennaman (1942–), long-time Cincinnati Reds radio broadcaster • Karen Briggs (b. 1963), violinist • Ruth Brown (1928–2006), R&B singer and actress • Bebe Buell (1953–), Playboy Playmate, fashion model, singer, mother of Liv Tyler • John T. Casteen III (1943–), President of the University of Virginia, born in Portsmouth • Mahlon Clark (1923–2007), musician • LaTasha Colander (b. 1976), track and field sprint star, 2000 Olympic gold medalist (4 × 400 m) • Deborah Coleman (1956–2018), blues musician • Henry Pierson Crowe, (1899–1991) United States Marine Corps officer • Fanny Murdaugh Downing (1831–1894), author and poet • Archie Elliott Jr., African-American retired judge and lawyer • Archie Elliott III (1968–1993), Black 24-year-old shot by police in District Heights, Maryland on June 18, 1993 • Missy Elliott (1971–), recording artist, award-winning producer, singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and clothing line designer • Perry Ellis (1940–1986), fashion designer, founded a sportswear house in the mid-1970s • Dorian Finney-Smith (1993–), Professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers • Clifton C. Garvin (1921–2016), President and CEO of Exxon • Mordechai Gifter (1915–2001), among the foremost American religious leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the late 20th century • Melvin Gregg (1988–), American actor and model • Chandler Harper, (1914–2004), winner of the 1950 PGA golf championship • Ken Hatfield, classical guitarist • James W. Holley III (1926–2012), politician, first African-American mayor of any city in the Hampton Roads region (Portsmouth) • W. Nathaniel "Nat" Howell (1939–2020), State Dept. Foreign Service officer, former Ambassador to Kuwait; professor emeritus, the University of Virginia • Chad Hugo (1974–), American record producer and songwriter • Ben Jones (1941–), actor "Cooter" on The Dukes of Hazzard; U.S. Congressman, moved to Portsmouth as a child • T. J. Jordan (b. 1986), basketball player • Jillian Kesner-Graver (1949–2007), actress • Jack T. Kirby (1938–2009), historian of the southern United States, awarded the Bancroft Prize for his 2006 book Mockingbird Song: Ecological Landscapes of the South • Erik S. Kristensen (1972–2005), US Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander and highest decorated SEAL to be killed in Operation Red Wings • Rita Lavelle (1947–), assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Louise Lucas (b. 1944), Virginia State Senator, and the first woman and first African-American to hold the position of President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate • Nathan McCall (1955–), African-American author who grew up in the Cavalier Manor section of Portsmouth, Virginia • Kenneth R. Melvin (1952–), former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, lawyer, and current jurist for the Third Circuit of Virginia • LaShawn Merritt (b. 1986) – 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter • Pete Mikolajewski (1943–), football player • Johnny E. Morrison, jurist for the Third Circuit of Virginia • George "Shadow" Morton (1941–2013) – record producer and songwriter • James Murphy (1967–), metal guitarist, member of the bands Death, Testament, Obituary and Disincarnate • Bismarck Myrick (b. 1940), U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho • Wendell Cushing Neville (1870–1930), 14th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps • Tommy Newsom (1929–2007), assistant bandleader for the Johnny Carson Band • Patton Oswalt (1969–), writer, stand-up comedian, and actor • Ace Parker (1912–2013), Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback; also played baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics • John L. Porter (1813–1893), President of the first City Council, a naval constructor for United States Navy and the Confederate States Navy. • Dave Robertson (1889–1970), MLB outfielder 1912–22, played in World Series for New York Giants; born in Portsmouth • William Russ (1950–), actor • Bill Schneider (b. 1944), political commentator for CNN • Don Scott (b. 1965), lawyer, Democratic politician, Navy veteran, and the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates • Dave Smith (1942–), poet, novelist • Lon Solomon, Christian pastor and evangelist • Dorin Spivey, NBA World and NABA Lightweight Boxing Champion • William Spong Jr. (1920–1997), lawyer, Democratic politician, United States Senator for the state of Virginia. • Brenda Spry, jurist for the Third Circuit of Virginia • Wanda Sykes (1964–), writer, stand-up comedian, and actress • Ted Thomas Sr. (1935–2020), Pentecostal African-American preacher, pastor of New Community Temple Church of God in Christ • Clif Tinker (1956–), San Antonio, Texas-based commercial artist • Adrienne Warren (1987–), Broadway singer and actress • Mike Watt (1957–), bassist, singer and songwriter • Khadijah Whittington (1986–), professional basketball player for the CSM Satu Mare of the Liga Națională • Nicole Wray (1979–), singer and songwriter ==Sister city==

• Portsmouth, United Kingdom ==See also==