Welcome to Hampton Roads and the Virginia Peninsula

Special Section: Getting Settled

The armed forces have played a pivotal role in Hampton Roads, a nautical term meaning protected anchorage or safe harbor, since the English set foot here in 1607. The soldiers who accompanied the first settlers are the predecessors of the thousands of men and women who have donned uniforms to protect the United States. More then 95,000 uniformed men and women are currently stationed here.

The region is proud to house an extensive number of bases associated with all branches of the military. Langley Air Force Base, Fort Eustis Fort Monroe, and Fort Story all call Hampton Roads home.

Langley Air Force Base was established in Hampton in 1916 as Langley Field and is one of the first sites of military aviation. The 27th Fighter Squadron was the first in the Air Force to deploy the F-22A Raptor, the world’s most sophisticated fighter. Langley is home to the Headquarters, Air Combat Command, the Air Force’s largest command, which controls all the fighter jets and bombers, and the 1st Fighter Wing and the 480th Intelligence Wing. The three squadrons that are part of Langley’s 1st Fighter Wing have a history of being deployed to patrol the world’s hot spots as well as conducting homeland security patrols. The base is set to expand due to 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommendations.

Fort Eustis was established in Newport News in 1918. The base is headquarters for the Army Transportation Center and School, the 7th Sustainment Brigade, the 8th Transportation Brigade, the Army Transportation Museum and the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School. As a result of the 2005 BRAC recommendations, Fort Eustis will realign by relocating installation management functions under Langley AFB. The James River Reserve Fleet, nicknamed the “Ghost Fleet,” is mothballed next to the post and is managed by the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Fort Monroe was first operational in Hampton in 1823 and is located at Old Point Comfort on the tip of the Virginia Peninsula. Its initial purpose was to guard the navigational shipping channel between the Chesapeake Bay and the entrance to the harbor of Hampton Roads. The base is home to the headquarters for the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, Northern Command’s Joint Task Force Civil Support and the Casemate Museum. It is the only active Army post with a moat. The post is scheduled to close in 2011 as part of the 2005 BRAC recommendation. Its future use has yet to be determined.

Fort Story was established in 1914 in Virginia Beach, the post is home to the 11th Transportation Battalion, which conducts amphibious operations and is attached to Fort Eustis’ 7th Sustainment Brigade. It is the Army’s only saltwater-purification training site. The site offers amphibious training for all branches, including explosive ordnance disposal Sailors and Navy SEALs. As a result of the 2005 BRAC recommendations, Fort Story will joint base with Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.

Hampton Roads is made up of seven independent cities. Like other major metropolitan areas, it may be difficult at first to figure out when one city leaves off and the next begins. Many call the region “Tidewater” or simply refer to one of its cities. With a landmass of nearly 1,500 square miles and a population of more than 1.7 million people, Hampton Roads is the 34th largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States.

Other terms that may be used to refer to local regions are Southside and the Peninsula. The Southside, also known as South Hampton Roads, comprises the five cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. The Peninsula is made up of the independent cities of Hampton, Newport News (these two are officially part of the seven cities of Hampton Roads as well), Williamsburg and Poquoson and the counties of York and James City. While the area represents 400 years of American history, the region is culturally diverse and offers something for everyone.

With base and community information, military resources, childcare options, museum and shopping listings, and contact information for public and private schools and religious organizations, this guide is intended to make the transition to Hampton Roads and the Virginia Peninsula a little easier and a more enjoyable while getting to know the Navy community.

Explore Hampton Roads and the Virginia Peninsula and good luck with Getting Settled!