City of Norfolk City Map Poster

About City of Norfolk

The city is also the terminus of major highways such as Interstate 64, Interstate 264, and the Hampton Roads Beltway. The modern City of Norfolk developed within Norfolk County in the late 19th century. It was incorporated in 1705 by an Act of Assembly as one of Virginia's eight original shires (the predecessor to counties). In 1636 a settlement on what was to become Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort became the first permanent English settlement in North America north of Florida and began growth for what is now called "Olde Towne". The oldest surviving house built by Europeans within this county dates from about 1653; it is now known as Surry House, located at 810 Glanford Avenue . As many other areas did throughout Virginia during this period, when development began around Chesapeake Bay during his administration (1789–1801), Governor Thomas Jefferson encouraged development here due to its strategic importance for shipping goods into and out through Hampton Roads harbor.