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15 Facts about the City of Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach (VB) is a fun and interesting place that for over 100 years people has been the perfect destination for people to enjoy the surf, sun and sand. It is a resort city with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels, motels and restaurants along the oceanfront. The coastal city in southern Virginia lies at the meeting point of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The vibrant city is home to a delicious local culinary scene, rich history and family-friendly attractions that lure in locals and visitors all year round. As for events, they are everywhere, every week there is something new to see and experience. Live music, air shows, fireworks, car shows, races, wine festivals, art festivals, etc. VB has open and thriving unique districts, from the ever-lively oceanfront area to Sandbridge, the calm Chesapeake Bay to the bubbly Town Center, or the eclectic ViBe creative district to the surrounding inland areas. It was initially known as Seatack when the lifesaving station was built there in 1878. It kept that designation until the Virginia Beach Hotel was built in 1883. In recent years it has been named the best place to live in America by USA Today Weekend. While tourism is the major contributor to the economy, the military and agribusiness sectors also play a big part as far as boosting the economy goes. Virginia Beach is also regarded as great for remote working and has a pool of skilled workforce, a good economy and low tax rates. Finally, Virginia’s largest city is a great place for fun and recreation and here are 15 facts about the city that you need to know.
1. The Longest Pleasure Beach in the World
Image by SchuminWeb from Wikimedia
Virginia Beach holds the Guinness World Records title for the longest pleasure beach in the world. According to Guinness World Records Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA has 45 km (28 miles) of beachfront on the Atlantic and 16 km *(10 miles) of estuary frontage on the Chesapeake Bay. The city of Virginia Beach covers 803km² (310 miles²), with 147 hotel properties and 2323 campsites. VB comprises the Resort Area, Chesapeake and Sandbridge Beach which all together add up to 35 miles of oceanfront sandy paradise. However, for locals, each beach has its own unique vibe. Moreover, Virginia Beach is mostly known for its boardwalk which was built in the 1800s and is ranked 5th on America’s Favourite Boardwalks list. The Beaches sometimes get snowy, on average VB receives 45 inches of rain and 6 inches of snow per year so during winter the beaches are snow-covered. But it also receives 213 sunny days a year which is higher than the nation’s average. This place has several attractions and activities that can appeal to every tourist from museums, and parks to sandy beaches.
The best beaches in Virginia Beach.
2. Virginia Beach is the most Populous City in Virginia
Photo by Sima Ghaffarzadeh from Pexels
VB is the most populous city in the state of Virginia with a population of approximately 452, 700 people. While Richmond is the state capital it is only half as populated as VB. It is part of a region called Hampton Roads with a population of 1.7 million, the largest concentration of US military personnel in the world, including 118,000 active-duty personnel. In 2021, the largest racial or ethnic group in Virginia Beach city was the white (non-Hispanic) group, which had a population of 275,440. Between 2010 and 2021, the Hispanic/Latino population had the most growth increasing by 11,215 from 29,310 in 2010 to 40,525 in 2021. The best fact is that anywhere you live in Virginia Beach is probably 30 minutes from the Ocean at most. Virginia Beach is the name of the city and it encompasses a large chunk of land that is not actually on the beach. It is close to 500sq. miles making it large than Washington DC and even Manhattan there are plenty of industries too and a sizeable percentage of the land is used for farming.
Want to know the best Schools in Virginia Beach? Click Here
3. Virginia Beach is an Independent City
Virginia Beach is an independent city in the US state of Virginia. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. In the United States, an independent city is a city that is not in the territory of any county or county and is considered a primary administrative division of its state. Independent cities are classified by the United States Census Bureau as “county-equivalents” and may also have similar governmental powers to a consolidated city-county. Of the 41 independent U.S. cities, 38 are in Virginia, whose state constitution makes them a special case. Developers chose to create an independent city, separate from the neighbors of Norfolk and Portsmouth and from Norfolk County as well. Virginia Beach became a city in 1952. Governing responsibilities for cities became separate from surrounding counties with the adoption of a new state constitution in 1870. It was incorporated as a town in 1906 from a portion of Princess Anne County (now extinct), and as a city in 1952. In 1963 it was consolidated with Princess Anne County, which was formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk County.
4. One of the Last Bastion of Undeveloped area on the Atlantic Coast is in Virginia Beach
Image by Lago Mar from Wikimedia
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in the southeastern corner of the City of Virginia Beach. The refuge was established in 1938 to protect and provide a habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. 9,000+ acres of diverse habitats, including beachfront, freshwater marsh, dunes, shrub-scrub and upland forest are home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish. Visitors can stroll down the six miles of preserved beaches, hike the trails and if lucky catch a glimpse of wild horses, otters, loggerhead sea turtles, or even bald eagles. During the peak of winter migration, a wide variety of ducks, tundra swans and snow geese visit the Back Bay. Other winter transit travellers include the rare LeConte’s sparrow and yellow-rumped warbler. Spring migration brings songbirds and shorebirds that fill the wetlands, shrubs, and woodland areas. The weather’s best in spring and summer, but the fall and winter months are when the migration of the thousands of birds that visit the refuge really ramps up.
Practical Information
Address: 4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, United States
Phone: +1 757-301-7329
Management: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
5. Mountain made of Trash
Image by Kubigula from Wikimedia
A landfill known as Mount Trashmore is one of the largest landfills in the country, it is literary a huge mound of trash. Mount Trashmore Park, also known simply as Mount Trashmore, is a city park located in Virginia Beach, which opened in 1974. Mount Trashmore is an example of landfill reuse, as its creation consisted of the conversion of an abandoned landfill into a park. The once abandoned landfill was converted into a public eco-park stretching about 165 acres and was created through a special process involving layers of fine soil compacted with solid waste. Standing at 60 feet high and stretching over 800 feet long, this park is an environmental achievement. Mount Trashmore is the most frequented park in Virginia, featuring two mountains, two lakes, a skate park, exercise stations, and numerous playgrounds. It is a destination like no other, and visitors worldwide come to marvel at the wonders of this landmark-turned eco-park. Virginia Beach performs its 4th of July fireworks from this landfill. There are many parking lots available at the park, with one of the main ones being beside the skate park and playground, Kid’s Cove.
Here are things to do with kids in Virginia Beach.
6. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk was Originally Built in 1888
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The Virginia Beach Boardwalk has been awarded as one of “America’s favorite boardwalks” by the Discovery Channel, Coastal Living and Southern Living. Immediately after the first Virginia Beach hotel was constructed, the construction of the boardwalk started in 1888. Built in 1888 in conjunction with the Princess Anne Hotel (one of the country’s most luxurious resorts at the time), the boardwalk was actually made of boards or wooden planks that ran between 12th and 16th Streets. Today the boardwalk spans three miles down the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. In 1907 tragedy struck when the boardwalk succumbed to a fire that began in the Princess Anne Hotel. In 1926, the construction of a new concrete boardwalk along the same time as the opening of the luxurious Cavalier Hotel in 1927. But because of a concern for stroller safety, bicycles were prohibited in 1937, later, the ban was lifted after the construction of a separate side road for cyclists. Another accident struck in 1962 when a Nor’easter {a wind blowing from the north-east} produced 20–30 foot waves that crashed into the boardwalk, breaking up the concrete and eating away many sections of the walkways. It wasn’t until the 1990s that plans for a seawall were mooted to protect against the elements. Visitors have been strolling along the same strip of land near the Oceanfront for over 120 years. With miles of shops, restaurants, beautiful ocean views, and warm sandy beaches, it is no wonder that this place sees 15 million annual visitors.
7. Virginia Beach; Home of the Oldest Surfing Competition
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Surfing in Virginia Beach is the foundation of the resort city, it is also the home to the longest-running surf contest in the world. The East Coast Surfing Championships are held in August every year. It all started with Pete Smith. In 1962, Smith took part in the first East Coast Surf contest which was held on Gilgo Beach in Long Island. He saw the potential and moved the competition to Virginia Beach in 1963. It was renamed the Virginia Beach Surfing Festival and later the East Coast Surfing Championships (ECSC). ECSC is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. ECSC is one of the world’s largest surfing events and attracts nearly 1,000 contestants. A major plus when it comes to surfing on the East Coast is the fact that surfers of all talents and abilities get to ride much friendlier waves. California has a reputation for having “aggro” (aggressive and territorial) surfers, wave riders who are so nasty that they’ve been known to actually try to harm “non-local” surfers who dare to surf in their spot, either physically or by damaging the non-local surfer’s board, but Virginia Beach surf are all welcoming.
8. Norwegian Lady Statue in Va Beach has a Sister in Norway
An interesting statue to be found along the boardwalk is the Norwegian Lady Statue. The Norwegian Lady Statues are located in the sister cities of Moss, a coastal town and municipality in the county of Ostfold, Norway, and at the Oceanfront in the coastal resort city of Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States. The statue commemorates lives that were lost and saved in the fatal shipwreck of a Norwegian ship in 1891, with the wooden figurehead washing up on shore and standing at the oceanfront as a memorial for sixty years. Thereafter the city of Moss, Norway commissioned a nine-foot bronze replica of the original figurehead and presented the gift to Virginia Beach in 1962 to commemorate the loss. Consequently, the exact same statue was erected in Moss, Norway to unite the two sister cities.
15 free things to do in Virginia Beach.
9. Virginia Beach’s Military Aviation Museum’s Airplanes Actually Fly
Image by Michael Rehbaum from Wikimedia
This museum lets visitors get up close and personal with American, British, and German aeroplanes that flew during WWI and WWII, and they’re still in flying condition today; a couple of times a year, they’re brought out and up for public shows. Each plane has been beautifully restored to its prior military condition, using original parts whenever possible. Most of the planes are airworthy and flown at the museum during flight demonstrations and at air shows throughout the year. Additionally, the museum offers a legitimate opportunity to ride as a passenger with local volunteer pilots in some of these old WWII warbirds. The MAM Museum has many activities such as a dinosaur scavenger hunt, learning about WWI & WWII aviation and much more. It is a self-guided museum, although knowledgeable volunteer guides are always at hand to tell you all about the planes you are seeing.
The best fun things to do in Virginia Beach.
10. The 700 TV Program is Taped in Virginia Beach
The Christian Broadcasting Network’s mission is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. The 700 club is a live television program that airs weekly from The Christian Broadcasting Network’s (CBN) broadcast facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is the primary program used by CBN to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the US on The air continuously since 1966, The 700 club is one of the longest-running programs in broadcast history. The 700 clubs and 700 club interactive have a combined average daily viewing audience of approximately 600,000 households. In addition, CBN also streams its programming on the internet making it available to a worldwide audience. As part of The 700 club, the station news covers stories and events affecting Christians in America and around the world. The Washington bureau reports on news from the Capitol and CBN’s international correspondents report on events and trends that shape the world. Over the years, The 700 club has become well known for its fresh and insightful interviews, hard-hitting special reports, and dramatic features.
Practical Information
Located in: Regent University
Address: 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463, United States
11. Virginia Beach is Home to Military Bases
Image by Jean-Michel Roche from Wikimedia
Hampton Roads is made up of the cities of Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake and is the east coast epicenter of military activity. Along with a huge Navy footprint the region hosts major Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard facilities. As a result, the area is extremely “military friendly” in all respects. They are NAS Oceana, NAB Little Creek, FTC Dam Neck and the U.S. Army’s Fort Story. There is also NAB Little Creek, which is largely in Virginia Beach but has its formal address in Norfolk, Virginia. The Virginia Beach MSA has the largest concentration of military personnel outside of the Pentagon, with 89,604 active-duty military personnel here representing every branch of the Armed Forces. In addition, there are 52,240 civilian employees and about 279,000 people who are military-connected. The total direct economic impact in the Fiscal Year 2020 (Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020) was nearly $15.8 billion and the annual payroll was $13 billion. NAS Oceana is the largest employer in Virginia Beach and is said to be the largest naval airbase in the world.
12. Virginia Beach has a King
The Virginia Boardwalk boasts a tall bronze statue of King Neptune on 31st Street. The statue was funded by organizers of the city’s annual Neptune Festival and the statue’s designer had to venture to China in order to get it cast in bronze. The statue is 34 ft tall, weighs 12.5 tons and is in honor of the Neptune Festival that has been held at Virginia Beach every year since 1974. The design consists of a 12-foot tall rock base surrounded by various fish, dolphins, lobsters, and octopuses. Above this base, the figure of Neptune begins, starting with his waist. Neptune holds a trident in his right hand and rests his left hand on a loggerhead turtle. The statue was dedicated to the City of Virginia Beach on September 30, 2005, during the Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend. In 2015, the 7 ft maquette that served as a model for the sculpture was donated for display at the Cape Charles boardwalk. The festival has grown to over 500,000 visitors and is consistently listed as one of the top 100 festivals in the country.
Things to do on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.
13. Dewitt Cottage is one of the City’s Oldest Buildings
Image by lori05871 from Wikimedia
The Dewitt Cottage was built in 1895, it is the oldest remaining structure on the Virginia Beach oceanfront. The 22-room home represents an early example of what beach-front homes looked like back in the day. It was constructed as a wedding gift by Bernard Peabody Holland, the first mayor of Virginia Beach, for his bride, Emily. They lived in the home for several years with their first child, Walton. They sold the cottage to Cornelius de Witt in 1909. In 1917, the cottage was expanded to twenty-two rooms and remained in the de Witt family until 1988. The Cottage is listed in the City of Virginia Beach, Commonwealth of Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places because of its historic importance and lasting integrity. Presently, it is home to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum.
14. Edgar Cayce Centre is Headquartered here
Edgar Cayce is famously known as the Greatest Psychic of All Time. The reason why his headquarters is located here is that he predicted that Virginia Beach is the safest place to be when the continents change shape. Each year, this Headquarters in Virginia Beach attracts more than 100,000 individuals from around the world from vacationers, scholars, researchers, philosophers, healthcare professionals, and students of all kinds. These individuals come to investigate the information that Edgar Cayce brought forth in his psychic “readings” and discover for themselves how that material may be used today in the fields of health, personal spirituality and to spiritual development at both individual and global levels. Enjoy a massage at the Spa, shop the Bookstore & Gift Shop, relax in our meditation garden, stroll the stone labyrinth and reflexology walk, or enjoy a delicious meal at our Cafe. The centre also offers membership benefits, and experiential group tours and hosts conferences and workshops year-round. Visit the historic campus seven days a week.
For more information on SPAs in Virginia Beach click on this link.
Practical Information
Address: 215 67th St #2061, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
For an Appointment Call: 757-457-7204
15. Virginia Beach is home to many a Celebrity
Image by Andreas Meixensperger from Wikimedia
While Virginia Beach is famous for its wonderful locals, beaches, sand, and surf it is home to a number of world-renowned celebrities. They just might be swimming, dining, or walking the boardwalk right next to you. Be on the lookout for some homegrown celebrities. Pharrell Williams was born and raised in Virginia Beach and life here is the obvious inspiration for his hit song, Happy! While Missy Elliot was not born in Virginia Beach, she was born in a sister city here Hampton Roads. Mark Ruffalo, The 13 Going on 30 actor spent his teen years living in Virginia Beach. The Oscar Nominee graduated from First Colonial High School and he credits some of his great success to the outstanding VA Beach teachers. Jason George of Grey’s Anatomy fame was born and raised in VB. He is a graduate of Kempsville High School. Gabrielle Douglas (Queen of the Beam) is also a native and is an athlete who won 2 Olympic Gold Medals for the USA in 2012. Virginia Beach is home to plenty of other celebrities.
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