Norfolk, Virginia, USA
1854 - Norfolk

Norfolk, a city, and port of entry of Norfolk county, Virginia, is situated on the right or N. bank of Elizabeth river, 8 miles from Hampton Roads, 32 miles from the sea, 160 miles by water or 106 miles by land S. E. from Richmond. Lat. 36° 52' N. Lon., 76° 19' W. The river, which is seven-eighths of a mile wide, separates it from Portsmouth. Next to Richmond, Norfolk is the most populous city of Virginia. It has more foreign commerce than any other place in the state, and together with Portsmouth is the most important naval station in the Union. The harbor is large, safe, and easily accessible, admitting vessels of the largest class to come to the wharves. The tonnage of this port in 1851 was 23,661. The Bite of the city is almost a dead level; the plan is somewhat irregular ; the streets are wide, mostly well built with brick or stone houses, and lighted with gas. The most conspicuous public buildings are the City Hall, which has a granite front, a cupola 110 feet high, and a portico of six Tuscan columns ; its dimensions are 80 feet by 60: the Norfolk Military Academy, a Doric structure 91 feet by 47, with a portico of six columns at each end : the Mechanics' Hall, a Gothic building 90 feet by 60: Ashland Hall, and a Baptist church, with a steeple 200 feet high. It also contains 14 churches, 1 of which is Roman Catholic, 9 seminaries, a hospital, an orphan asylum, 3 banks, and 2 reading rooms. Five newspapers are published here. The trade of Norfolk is facilitated by the Dismal Swamp canal, which opens a communication between Chesapeake bay and Albemarle sound, and by the Seaboard and Roanoke railroad, which connects it with the towns of North and South Carolina. The canal, constructed with great labor through the Dismal Swamp is navigable by schooners, and brings to this place a very extensive trade in corn and lumber. Within a few years past many substantial warehouses and handsome dwellings have been erected, giving evidence of its increased prosperity, consequent on these internal improvements. Norfolk communicates with New York and Philadelphia by regular lines of ocean steamers. A railroad is projected from this city to Petersburg. The entrance of the harbor is defended by Forts Calhoun and Monroe. The capital invested in manufactures is about $570,000, and the value of the annual productions is estimated at $1,140,000. The reported value of real estate is $5,000,000. The shipping of the port, June 30, 3852, amounted to an aggregate of 7716 tons registered, and 14,447 tons enrolled and licensed. Of the latter, 13,083 tons were employed in the coast trade, and 936 tons in steam navigation. The foreign arrivals for the year were 85, (tons, 20,778,) of which 69 (tons, 13,580) were by American vessels. The clearances for foreign ports were 129, (tons, 24,447,) of which 94 (tons, 17,880) were by American vessels. During the year, 6 vessels, with an aggregate burthen of 408 tons, were ad measured. Norfolk was laid out in 1705, incorporated as a borough in 1736, and as a city in 1845. In 1776 it was burnt by the British. Population in 1 850, 14,326 ; in 1853, about 16,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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