Portsmouth, Virginia

Portsmouth: The most populous city in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is located on the Elizabeth River in southeastern Virginia. Portsmouth is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites

About

Portsmouth is a city located in the county of City of Portsmouth in the U.S. state of Virginia. Its population at the 2010 census was 95,535 and a population density of 790 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 95,094 inhabitants.

The city was created 272 years ago in 1751.

Portsmouth is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It lies on the Elizabeth River near the Chesapeake Bay.

Settled in 1752, Portsmouth was established as a port town and was named after Portsmouth, England. It soon became a key shipping hub for the Southern colonies.

During the Revolutionary War, Portsmouth contributed ships and supplies in support of the fight for independence. It continued to grow as a port city after the war.

In 1858, Portsmouth became an independent, incorporated city separate from Norfolk County. It emerged as an important industrial city through the early 20th century.

Portsmouth Today

Today, Portsmouth has around 95,000 residents. It remains an important naval shipbuilding and shipping center.

Notable sites include the historic Olde Towne district, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum. The city reflects over 250 years of American history.

Portsmouth balances its naval heritage with emerging industries in tourism, retail and technology. It honors its past while charting a course for the future.

Conclusion

From colonial times as an active port to present-day shipbuilding, Portsmouth exemplifies the maritime spirit of coastal Virginia. Its key role in the Revolutionary War cemented its stature. Portsmouth embraces its naval legacy while evolving as a historic and modern city.

Portsmouth locator map
Location of Portsmouth on Virginia map.

Quick Facts about Portsmouth

Population : 95,094 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : Virginia (United States)
County : City of Portsmouth
Phone Area Codes : 757
Area : 120.91 km2
Named for : Portsmouth
Altitude : 20 feet / 6 meters
Establishment : January 01, 1752 (272 years ago)
Time Zone : America/New_York
Local time : 15:52:42 (30th October 2024)
Postal code : 23701
Density : 787 Pop. per km² as of 2020
Population growth : -0.46% (2010-2020)
US Navy 030820-N-9851B-011 Tug boats guide USS Harry S. Truman 'CVN 75' up the Elizabeth River  past Portsmouth landmarks image
US Navy 030820-N-9851B-011 Tug boats guide USS Harry S. Truman 'CVN 75' up the Elizabeth River past Portsmouth landmarks
US Navy 030820-N-9851B-011 Tug boats guide USS Harry S. Truman 'CVN 75' up the Elizabeth River  past Portsmouth landmarks image

Geography

Portsmouth is located at 36°50'8"N 76°17'54"W (36.8354300, -76.2982700). It has 5 neighbors: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Portsmouth map

  • Dunedin
  • Eldoret
  • Gorée
  • Orizaba
  • Portsmouth

Portsmouth has 5 neighbours.

  • Chesapeake The second most populous city in Virginia. It is located on the Chesapeake Bay in southeastern Virginia. Chesapeake is known for its many beaches, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterfowl Museum.
  • Hampton The second most populous city in Virginia. It is located on the Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia. Hampton is known for its many military bases, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Hampton History Museum and the Hampton Coliseum.
  • Newport News The second most populous city in Virginia. It is located on Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia. Newport News is known for its many naval bases, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Mariners' Museum and the Virginia Living Museum.
  • Norfolk The most populous city in Virginia. It is located on the Elizabeth River in southeastern Virginia. Norfolk is known for its many military bases, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Nauticus National Maritime Museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art.
  • Suffolk The most populous city in Suffolk County, Virginia. It is located on the James River in southeastern Virginia. Suffolk is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the Suffolk Museum and Cultural Center and the Suffolk Visitor Center.

Demographics

According to census records, the population of Portsmouth decreased by 0.46% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 95,535 - census
2011 95,748 0.22% estimation process
2012 96,480 0.76% estimation process
2013 96,075 -0.42% estimation process
2014 95,829 -0.26% estimation process
2015 96,336 0.53% estimation process
2016 95,165 -1.23% estimation process
2017 94,838 -0.34% estimation process
2018 94,750 -0.09% estimation process
2019 94,398 -0.37% estimation process
2020 95,094 0.73% estimation process

Portsmouth zip code is 23701. County name: Portsmouth, County fips: 51740

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Best Things to Do in Portsmouth

1 Children's Museum of Virginia

Rating: 4.6 (1922)

221 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573935258 🔗 Url

Children's Museum of Virginia

2 Portsmouth City Park

Rating: 4.5 (1219)

Cpl J M Williams Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23701, United States ➦ Show Map

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Portsmouth City Park

3 Paradise Creek Nature Park

Rating: 4.5 (386)

1141 Victory Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23702, United States ➦ Show Map

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Paradise Creek Nature Park

4 St. Paul's Catholic Church

Rating: 4.7 (88)

522 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17574847335 🔗 Url

St. Paul's Catholic Church

5 Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center

Rating: 4.7 (86)

400-420 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938543 🔗 Url

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center

Where ot Eat in Portsmouth

1 Church's Chicken

Rating: 3.5 (871)

350 Effingham St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573978852 🔗 Url

Church's Chicken

2 KFC

Rating: 3.2 (241)

440 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573932752 🔗 Url

KFC

3 Subway

Rating: 4.4 (31)

Bldg # 1560 This Is A Secured Facility, Portsmouth, VA 23709, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573966115 🔗 Url

Subway

Where to Stay in Portsmouth

1 Red Roof Inn Norfolk - Portsmouth

Rating: 2.7 (142)

925 London Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573980612 🔗 Url

Red Roof Inn Norfolk - Portsmouth

Other Places in Portsmouth

1 Portsmouth city hall

Rating: 3.8 (35)

801 Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17574840204 🔗 Url

Portsmouth city hall

2 Portsmouth City Treasurer

Rating: 1.6 (20)

801 Crawford St UNIT C, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938651 🔗 Url

3 A Goodwin for Portsmouth Mayor

Rating: 5 (15)

900 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573203496 🔗 Url

A Goodwin for Portsmouth Mayor

4 Portsmouth Welcome Center

Rating: 5 (7)

206 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573935111 🔗 Url

Portsmouth Welcome Center

5 City Council Office

Rating: 2.3 (3)

801 Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938639 🔗 Url

City Council Office

6 Human Resource Management

Rating: 4.5 (2)

801 Crawford St UNIT 2, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938626 🔗 Url

7 Portsmouth Fire Station 11

Rating: 5 (2)

32 Prospect Pkwy, Portsmouth, VA 23702 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938364 🔗 Url

Portsmouth Fire Station 11

8 Engineering & Technical Services

Rating: 1 (1)

801 Crawford St # 4, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938592 🔗 Url

9 The City Of Portsmouth

Rating: 4 (1)

801 Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938481 🔗 Url

10 Portsmouth Mayor's Office

Rating: 1 (1)

801 Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704 ➦ Show Map

☎ +17573938746 🔗 Url

People born in Portsmouth (198)

People born in Portsmouth, including singer-songwriter Ruth Brown, rapper, songwriter and record producer from Virginia Missy Elliott, comedian, writer, actress and voice artist Wanda Sykes, .

List

  • LaTasha Colander (athletics competitor) she was born in 23/08/1976
  • Mae Murray (Actress, dancer, film producer, screenwriter) she was born in 10/05/1885
  • Bebe Buell (American model and singer) she was born in 14/07/1953
  • V. C. Andrews (novelist) she was born in 06/06/1923
  • Ace Parker (American football and baseball player and coach (1912-2013)) he was born in 17/05/1912
  • Dave Bailey (American drummer) he was born in 22/02/1926
  • Patton Oswalt (American stand-up comedian) he was born in 27/01/1969
  • James Murphy (American guitarist) he was born in 30/07/1967
  • Chad Hugo (American record producer and songwriter) he was born in 24/02/1974
  • Swamp Dogg (musician) he was born in 12/07/1942
  • Clay Rapada (baseball pitcher from the United States) he was born in 09/03/1981
  • Ken Bowersox (American astronaut) he was born in 14/11/1956
  • William Russ (actor, television director) he was born in 20/10/1950
  • Mike Watt (musician, songwriter) he was born in 20/12/1957
  • Donald Machholz (American astronomer) he was born in 07/10/1952
  • Perry Ellis (American fashion designer) he was born in 03/03/1940
  • Deborah Coleman (American blues guitarist, songwriter and singer) she was born in 03/10/1956
  • Wayman Carver (American musician) he was born in 25/12/1905

Schools in Portsmouth

College & universities near Portsmouth, VA

Code Name City ZIP
233772 Tidewater Community College Norfolk (VA) 23510
231970 Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk (VA) 23507
232937 Norfolk State University Norfolk (VA) 23504-8000
232982 Old Dominion University Norfolk (VA) 23529
427973 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chesapeake Chesapeake (VA) 23320

Stations (5)

Amtrak & bus stations near Portsmouth, VA

Code Name Address Type
NFK Norfolk 215 W York Street BUS
NPN Newport News station 9304 Warwick Boulevard RAIL
VAB Virginia Beach, Virginia 19th St. and Pacific Ave. BUS
WBG Williamsburg Transportation Center 468 North Boundary Street RAIL
PTB Petersburg station 3516 South Street RAIL

Post offices near Portsmouth

Post Office Name City ZIP
Portsid Post Office Portsmouth (VA) 23704
Customhou Post Office Norfolk (VA) 23514
Berkley Post Office Norfolk (VA) 23523
Milan New Post Office Norfolk (VA) 23501
Norfolk Post Office Norfolk (VA) 23501

Other cities in City of Portsmouth

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in City of Portsmouth , VA.

City Name Population Title
Portsmouth Heights 99,049 A census-designated place in Newport News, Virginia.

Distance to Other Cities

Portsmouth distances to largest Virginia cities