This rural Virginia city also happens to be one of the most populous in the state. Chesapeake is the result of South Norfolk merging with what remained of Norfolk County in 1963 and consolidating into a new city. Much of the county had already been annexed by other cities at this point, so the cities merged under a voter referendum. This Chesapeake region is a historic area, as it was one of the first areas settled during the colonial era in the United States. As a suburban and rural city, Chesapeake city did not experience much industry growth initially after its incorporation. It served as a residence for commuters to Virginia Beach and Norfolk until the 1990s, when large-scale economic growth in the city started to occur. Chesapeake experiences decent variation in temperatures, shifting between hot, humid summers and mild, cooler winters.
Chesapeake is the third-largest Virginia city by population and the second-largest by area. Though the population growth slowed after 2000, Chesapeake experienced consistent 20% to 30% population growth for the four decades after its incorporation. The 2010 census estimates Chesapeake's population to be 222,209 people. Though less than 10% of the population is over the age of 65, the median age for Chesapeake is still 35 years old. Though much of the city's employment is through the government, the private sector is starting to grow. Chesapeake has two Navy bases in town, and 5,726 people work for the Chesapeake City Public Schools, the largest employer in the city. However, the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and LTD Hospitality Group each employ more than 2,000 people, while Sentara Healthcare, QVC, and HSBC Finance each employ more than 1,000.
Chesapeake is home to several prominent celebrities and athletes. Atlanta Braves outfielders B.J. and Justin Upton both grew up in Chesapeake, as did the Mets' David Wright and Michael Cuddyer. In the NFL, Deangelo Hall of the Washington Redskins and Darryl Tapp of the Eagles both call Chesapeake their hometown.
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