Norfolk, Virginia, USA
1906

Norfolk, an independent city and principal seaport of Virginia, is situated on the right or N. bank of the Elizabeth River, opposite Portsmouth, 3 miles from Hampton Roads and 86 miles SE. of Richmond. Lat. 36° 51 N. ; Lon. 76° 19' W. It is on the Norfolk and Western, the Chesapeake and Ohio and other railroads, and has regular steam ship communication with European and American ports. Next to Richmond, Norfolk is the most populous city of Virginia, and together with Portsmouth is the most important naval station in the Union. (See Portsmouth). The harbor is large, safe, and easily accessible, admitting vessels of the largest class. The city is irregularly laid out and presents many quaint features. There are few public buildings of note (city-hall, custom-house, cotton exchange). Among the various educational institutions are the Norfolk Mission College and the St. Joseph's Colored School. Nor folk has a large shipping trade in cotton, grain, early fruits and vegetables, fish, game and oysters, peanuts, cattle, and horses. It is one of the largest coaling stations in the world. Its manufactures comprise cottons and silks, cot ton-seed oil, fertilizers, agricultural implements, carriages, iron goods, flour, lumber, etc It has also ship- and boat yards. The city's trade is facilitated by the Dismal Swamp and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canals. The entrance of the harbor is defended by Fort Monroe. Pop. in 1870, 19,229 ; in 1880, 21,966 ; in 1890, 34,871 ; in 1900, 46,624. During the first part of the Civil War Norfolk was the principal naval station of the Confederate states. A few miles from the city is Old Point Comfort.

Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

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