Getting to Know Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is located in the southeastern geographic area of Virginia and is the most populous city in the Commonwealth. Virginia Beach is part of the metropolitan area referred to as Hampton Roads.
The City of Virginia Beach combines the richness of the Hampton Roads heritage with the energy and zest of one of the most dynamic cities on the East Coast. Among its attractions are our highly acclaimed public education system, health care facilities, the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, the Virginia Beach Convention Center, and the Virginia Beach Sportsplex all near our 38 miles of Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean beaches. Residents enjoy a moderate climate, a wide variety of outdoor activities, and the ever-changing beauty of the four seasons.
Virginia Beach is governed by a mayor who is one of an elected 11-member City Council. The Council, working closely with the School Board and Superintendent, appropriates funds for the school division’s operational and capital improvement budgets. School Board members are elected by the citizenry in November with elections held every two years. They serve overlapping four-year terms.
| Virginia Beach Area | |
| Land: | 248 square miles |
| Water: | 59 square miles |
| Virginia Beach average elevation: | 12 feet (4 meters) above sea level |
Virginia Beach Economic Development
| Population | |
| White | 68.4% |
| African-American | 21.4% |
| Asian/Pacific Islanders | 5.6% |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 0.8% |
| Two or More Races | 2.5% |
| Other | 1.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 5.9% |
| median age | 36.6 years |
| Male | 49.1% |
| Female | 50.9% |
Source: Claritas 2008
| Income | |
| Median Household Income | $106,000 |
Source: Claritas 2008
| Colleges and Universities in the Virginia Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area | |
| Christopher Newport University | 4,904 |
| The College of William and Mary | 7,892 |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School | 807 |
| Hampton University | 5,427 |
| Norfolk State University | 6,325 |
| Old Dominion University | 23,086 |
| Paul D. Camp Community College | 1,628 |
| Regent University | 4,460 |
| Thomas Nelson Community College | 10,557 |
| Tidewater Community College | 26,898 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | 1,381 |
Source: Claritas 2006