The city of Portsmouth, Virginia is considered part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and supports a population of approximately 95,535 residents based on the most recent census numbers.
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth is a historic U.S. Navy facility that is normally referred to as the Norfolk Navy Yard. The facility is based within Portsmouth and not in Norfolk as the name suggests. The name "Norfolk" was selected in order to avoid confusion with Portsmouth, within New Hampshire. This is where a naval shipyard previously existed once the Virginia facility initially opened. The shipyard remodels, repairs and rebuilds all kinds of Navy ships.
The city sits along the Elizabeth River, exactly across from Norfolk. The city of Portsmouth offers many miles of waterfront land and is part of the Hampton Roads harbor. Between Downtown Norfolk and Olde Towne Portsmouth, there is a ferry boat which transports riders back and forth across the water.
The city of Portsmouth was established by a shipbuilder called John Wood who saw the site as a fantastic location to build ships. He petitioned King James I of England for a land grant and soon after, the neighboring area was inhabited as a plantation community.
During the year 1752, Portsmouth was established as a town by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on behalf of Col. William Crawford. He was a ship owner and a wealthy merchant who dedicated the 4 corners of Court and High streets for a market, a church, a courthouse and a jail. The township was named for Portsmouth England. The region called Old Towne features one of the largest collections of historically important homes between Charleston, Virginia, Alexandria and South Carolina. The AME or Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is situated within Olde Town and was built by lots of slaves and free men. It is the oldest African American church within the city of Portsmouth and the 2nd oldest building within Portsmouth.
The Pass House is a historic building in Portsmouth, constructed in the year 1841 by Judge James Murdaugh. There are many other historic buildings within Portsmouth that were occupied by Union troops from 1862 until 1865. Regulations by federal forces required Portsmouth residents to get a written pass to travel across the Elizabeth River and places beyond. These passes were issued from the English basement and that is the way the name "Pass House" came about.
This port city has a rich history that is partly preserved in the downtown area referred to as the Olde Towne Business and Historical District. Now, there is a combination of conservation and redevelopment underway there. For example, the Hawthorn Hotel and Suites, situated at the Governor Dinwiddie Hotel, was closed for over 10 years prior to being reopened during 2005 after being renovated and reopened. This building has been recognized by the Historic Hotels of America. This is a program of the National Trust for Historical Preservation that identifies hotels which maintained their historical integrity, ambiance and architecture. The society also provides resources for their preservation.