Editing Norfolk, Virginia (section)

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Norfolk, Virginia}}
[[File:1888 Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co Advert for Norfolk.jpg|thumb|left|1888 advertisement for the Market Square [[A&P]]]]
Since Norfolk serves as the commercial and cultural center for the unusual geographical region of Hampton Roads (and in its political structure of independent cities), it can be difficult to separate the economic characteristics of Norfolk from that of the region as a whole.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

The waterways which almost completely surround the Hampton Roads region play an important part in the local economy. As a strategic location at the mouth of the [[Chesapeake Bay]], its protected deep-water channels serve as a major trade artery for the [[import]] and [[export]] of goods from across the [[Mid-Atlantic States|Mid-Atlantic]], [[Midwestern United States|Mid-West]], and internationally.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Wisconsin museum.JPG|thumb|Nauticus and [[USS Wisconsin (BB-64)|USS ''Wisconsin'']]]]
In addition to commercial activities, Hampton Roads is a major military center, particularly for the [[United States Navy]], and Norfolk serves as the home for [[Naval Station Norfolk]], the world's largest naval installation. Located on [[Sewell's Point|Sewell's Point Peninsula]], in the northwest corner of the city, the station is the headquarters of the [[United States Fleet Forces Command]] (formerly known as the Atlantic Fleet), which compromises over 62,000 active-duty personnel, 75 ships, and 132 aircraft. The base also serves as the headquarters to [[NATO]]'s [[Allied Command Transformation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-11 |title=The biggest naval bases in the US |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/features/featurethe-biggest-naval-bases-in-the-us-4144545/ |access-date=2020-05-20 |website=Naval Technology |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web  |url=http://www.act.nato.int/contact-us |title=Contacts and Visits |publisher=Act.nato.int |date=2014-11-02 |access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>

The region also plays an important role in defense contracting, with particular emphasis in the shipbuilding and ship repair businesses for the city of Norfolk. Major private shipyards located in Norfolk or the [[Hampton Roads]] area include: [[Huntington Ingalls Industries]] (formerly Northrop Grumman Newport News) in Newport News, [[BAE Systems Ship Repair|BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair]], [[General Dynamics]] [[National Steel and Shipbuilding Company|NASSCO]] Norfolk, and Colonna's Shipyard Inc., while the US Navy's [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]] is just across the [[Downtown Tunnel]] in [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]]. Most contracts fulfilled by these shipyards are issued by the Navy, though some private commercial repair also takes place. Over 35% of Gross Regional Product (which includes the entire Norfolk-Newport News-Virginia Beach MSA), is attributable to defense spending, and that 75% of all regional growth since 2001 is attributable to increases in defense spending.<ref name="Hampton Roads Statistics">{{cite web |url=http://bpa.odu.edu/forecasting/sor/sor2004.shtml |title=State of the Region 2004 |access-date=February 21, 2008 |publisher=Old Dominion University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120224242/http://bpa.odu.edu/forecasting/sor/sor2004.shtml |archive-date=January 20, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the military, the second largest and most important industry for Hampton Roads and Norfolk based on economic impact are the region's cargo ports. Headquartered in Norfolk, the [[Virginia Port Authority]] (VPA) is a [[Virginia|Commonwealth of Virginia]] owned entity that, in turn, owns and operates three major port facilities in Hampton Roads for break-bulk and container type cargo. In Norfolk, [[Norfolk International Terminals]] (NIT) represents one of those three facilities and is home to the world's largest and fastest container cranes.<ref name="NIT Facilities">{{cite web |url=http://www.vaports.com/Facilities/FAC-term-nit.htm |title=Norfolk International Terminals |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=Virginia Port Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070803150402/http://www.vaports.com/Facilities/FAC-term-nit.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=August 3, 2007}}</ref> Together, the three terminals of the VPA handled a total of over 2 million [[containerization|TEUs]] and 475,000 tons of breakbulk cargo in 2006, making it the second busiest port on the east coast of North America by total cargo volume after the Port of New York and New Jersey.<ref name="Hampton Roads Ports">{{cite web |url=http://hreda.com/publicImages/downloadFiles/The%20Port%20of%20Hampton%20Roads.pdf |title=The Port of Hampton Roads |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=Hampton Roads Economic Development Authority |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808212304/http://hreda.com/publicImages/downloadFiles/The%20Port%20of%20Hampton%20Roads.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2007}}</ref>

In addition to NIT, Norfolk is home to the Lambert's Point docks, the largest coal trans-shipment point in the Northern Hemisphere,{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} with an annual capacity of approximately 48,000,000 tons.<ref name="v335">{{cite web |last=Gaffney |first=Augustyn| title=Coal Dust Is Blowin' in the Wind | website=sierraclub.org | url=https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/coal-dust-blowin-wind | access-date=2024-06-06}}</ref> [[Bituminous coal]] is primarily sourced from the Appalachian mountains in western Virginia, [[West Virginia]], and [[Kentucky]]. The coal is loaded onto trains and sent to the port where it is unloaded onto large breakbulk cargo ships and destined for New England, Europe, and Asia.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Between 1925 and 2007, [[Ford Motor Company]] operated [[Norfolk Assembly]], a manufacturing plant located on the [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]] that had produced the Model-T, sedans and station wagons before building F-150 pick-up trucks.<ref name="vp1">{{cite web |title=Despite Ford's troubles, Norfolk plant is likely to keep on truckin' |publisher=Jeremiah McWilliams, The Virginian-Pilot November 11, 2005 |url=http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=95163&ran=106860 |access-date=April 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070811045236/http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=95163&ran=106860 |archive-date=August 11, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Before it closed, the plant employed more than 2,600 people at the {{cvt|2800000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility.<ref name="vp1"/>
[[File:World Trade Center Norfolk.jpg|thumb|The [[Norfolk World Trade Center]] ]]
Most major shipping lines have a permanent presence in the region with some combination of sales, distribution, and/or logistical offices, many of which are located in Norfolk. In addition, many of the largest international shipping companies have chosen Norfolk as their North American headquarters. These companies are either located at the [[Norfolk World Trade Center]] building or have constructed buildings in the Lake Wright Executive Center [[office park]]. The French firm [[CMA CGM]], the Israeli firm [[Zim Integrated Shipping Services]], and [[Maersk Line|Maersk Line Limited]], a subsidiary of the world's largest shipping line, [[A. P. Moller-Maersk Group]], have their North American headquarters in Norfolk.<ref name="CMA CGM Picks Norfolk">{{cite web |url=http://www.siteselection.com/ssinsider/bbdeal/bd040301.htm |title=CMA-CGM Picks Norfolk, Va., as Port of Call for 376-Employee HQ |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=The Site Selection Magazine}}</ref><ref name="Zin American Israeli Shipping">{{cite web |url=http://hreda.com/publicImages/downLoadFiles/MicrosoftWord-ZimAmericanIsraeliShippingCoHREDAFINAL-April2.pdf |title=Zim American Israeli Shipping in Hampton Roads |access-date=August 6, 2007 |publisher=Hampton Roads Economic Development Authority |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808212304/http://hreda.com/publicImages/downLoadFiles/MicrosoftWord-ZimAmericanIsraeliShippingCoHREDAFINAL-April2.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Maersk Line">{{cite web |url=http://www.maersklinelimited.com/mll/ |title=Maerske Line Ltd. |access-date=October 10, 2007 |publisher=Maerske Line Ltd. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009100803/http://www.maersklinelimited.com/mll/ |archive-date=October 9, 2007}}</ref> Major companies headquartered in Norfolk include [[Norfolk Southern]],<ref name="Norfolk Southern">{{cite web |url=http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Media/Corporate%20Profile/ |title=Corporate Profile |access-date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=Norfolk Southern}}</ref> [[Landmark Media Enterprises|Landmark Communications]],<ref name="Landmark Communications">{{cite web |url=http://www.landmarkcom.com/about/contact.php |title=About Us |access-date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=Landmark Communications |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021082914/http://www.landmarkcom.com/about/contact.php |archive-date=October 21, 2007}}</ref> [[Dominion Enterprises]],<ref name="Dominion Enterprises">{{cite web |url=http://www.dominionenterprises.com/ |title=About Us |access-date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=Dominion Enterprises}}</ref> FHC Health Systems (parent company of [[ValueOptions]]),<ref name="FHC Health Systems">{{cite web |url=http://www.fhchealthsystems.com/contacts.htm |title=Contacts |access-date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=FHC Health Systems}}</ref> Portfolio Recovery Associates,<ref name="Portfolio Recovery Associates">{{cite web |url=http://www.portfoliorecovery.com/contact_us.php |title=Contact Information |access-date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=Portfolio Recovery Associates |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801145351/http://www.portfoliorecovery.com/contact_us.php |archive-date=August 1, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and BlackHawk Products Group.<ref name="BlackHawk Products Group">{{cite web |url=http://www.blackhawk.com/prod_details.asp?pid=contact_us |title=Contact Us |access-date=October 12, 2007 |publisher=BlackHawk Products Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911115346/http://www.blackhawk.com/prod_details.asp?pid=contact_us <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=September 11, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center, Norfolk, VA.jpg|thumb|Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center]]
Though [[Virginia Beach]] and [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] have traditionally been the centers of tourism for the region, the rebirth of downtown Norfolk and the construction of a cruise ship pier at the foot of [[Nauticus]] in downtown has driven tourism to become an increasingly important part of the city's economy. The number of cruise ship passengers who visited Norfolk increased from 50,000 in 2003, to 107,000 in 2004 and 2005. Also in April 2007, the city completed construction on a $36 million state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal alongside the pier.<ref name="Half Moone Terminal">{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Gregory |title=Sleek new cruise terminal set to welcome travelers |url=http://hamptonroads.com/node/247981 |access-date=September 29, 2010 |newspaper=Virginian Pilot |date=April 7, 2007 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120102141/http://hamptonroads.com/node/247981 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Partly due to this construction, passenger counts dropped to 70,000 in 2006, but is expected to rebound to 90,000 in 2007, and higher in later years. Unlike most cruise ship terminals which are located in industrial areas, the downtown location of Norfolk's terminal has received favorable reviews from both tourists and the cruise lines who enjoy its proximity to the city's hotels, restaurants, shopping, and cultural amenities.<ref name="Cruise Norfolk">{{cite web |url=http://www.cruisenorfolk.org/ |title=Cruise Norfolk |access-date=August 9, 2007 |publisher=Norfolk Cruise Terminal |archive-date=August 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812061332/http://www.cruisenorfolk.org/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hampton Roads is home to four Fortune 500 companies. Representing the food industry, transportation, retail and shipbuilding, these four companies are located in [[Smithfield, Virginia|Smithfield]], Norfolk, [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] and [[Newport News]].
;2013 [[Fortune 500]] Corporations<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2013/full_list/index.html?iid=F500_sp_full |title=Fortune 500 2012 |publisher=Fortune |date=January 4, 2013}}</ref>
:*213 [[Smithfield Foods]]
:*247 [[Norfolk Southern]]
:*346 [[Dollar Tree]]
:*380 [[Huntington Ingalls Industries]]

26% of the 130,000 people working in Norfolk live in the city, while 74% commute in. 37% of those come from Virginia Beach and 20% come from Chesapeake. An additional 51,575 people commute outside for work, with 35% going to Virginia Beach and 20% going to Chesapeake.<ref name="Community Profile" />

===Top employers===
[[File:NavalStationNorfolk.jpg|thumb|175px|right|[[USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)|USS ''John F. Kennedy'' (CV-67)]] arriving at [[Naval Station Norfolk]]]]
According to a report published by the Virginia Employment Commission,<ref name="Community Profile">{{cite web |title=Norfolk City Community Profile |url=http://virginialmi.com/report_center/community_profiles/5104000710.pdf |publisher=Virginia Employment Commission |access-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121190445/http://virginialmi.com/report_center/community_profiles/5104000710.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> below are the top employers in Norfolk:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
|-
|1
|[[U.S. Department of Defense]]
|-
|2
|[[Sentara Healthcare]]
|-
|3
|Norfolk City Public Schools
|-
|4
|City of Norfolk
|-
|5
|[[Old Dominion University]]
|-
|6
|[[Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters]]
|-
|7
|Eastern Virginia Medical School
|-
|8
|Portfolio Recovery Associates
|-
|9
|Anthem, Inc.
|-
|10
|[[Navy Exchange|U.S. Navy Exchange]]
|}

{{anchor|Culture in Norfolk, Virginia|Arts anc culture|Culture}}