Suffolk

Suffolk is an independent city in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia that includes both urban and rural areas. The city extends along the Nansemond and James rivers and connects residential neighborhoods with wide fields and forest areas.

The settlement began in 1742 as a riverside warehouse and was later renamed after an English county. The city separated from Nansemond County in 1910 and grew through farming and trade.

The name comes from a county in eastern England and the downtown shows buildings from different centuries along wide streets. Visitors notice old brick warehouses and houses that recall the trade in cotton and peanuts.

Main roads lead to Norfolk and Chesapeake and connect the city to other communities in Hampton Roads. Visitors can move between different neighborhoods, from downtown to farm areas.

Part of the Great Dismal Swamp lies within city limits and offers rare plants and animals. The swamp area was once used as a refuge and later as a timber source.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1742

Elevation above the sea: 11 m

Part of: Hampton Roads

Shares border with: Newport News, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Gates County, Camden County

Address: Suffolk, VA, USA

Website: http://suffolkva.us

GPS coordinates: 36.74110,-76.60970

Latest update: December 13, 2025 15:54