History of Suffolk, Virginia

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The history of the English-speaking people of the Suffolk, Virginia area dates to the early 17th century and the Virginia Company of London's settlement of the Virginia Colony first established at Jamestown in May, 1607.

The area which is now an independent city in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia in the United States, was inhabited by Native Americans, notably a tribe known as the Nansemonds. Not long after their arrival, Suffolk was explored by the settlers based at Jamestown, who were seeking to survive in the inhospitable environment at Jamestown Island. In 1609, the Nansemond Indians drove out Captain John Smith, who was interested in the oyster beds in the Nansemond River. However, despite such setbacks, the new colony continued to grow, and soon settlers populated the area on a permanent basis.

[edit] Political history: town, county, consolidated city

The Nansemond River, the commerce it helped create, and the English who recognized the opportunity they would have here, gave birth in 1742 to a town at Constance's Warehouse at Sleepy Hole Point. Authorized by the House of Burgesses, the new town was named "Suffolk", after Royal Governor William Gooch's home of Suffolk County, England. Burned by the British in 1779 during the American Revolutionary War, and damaged by other fires throughout the next century.

Suffolk became an incorporated town in Nansemond County in 1808 and an independent city from the surrounding county in 1910. At a practical level, the two remained closely linked, and the county seat of Nansemond County remained at Suffolk, even after the city became politically independent.

Beginning in the 17th century, the area had been formerly part of 1634's Elizabeth River Shire, and then Upper Norfolk County (formed approximately 1637), renamed Nansemond County a few later, until converting to city status only two years earlier, in 1972, to become the short-lived lost city of City of Nansemond.

Then, in 1974, the two became the present City of Suffolk, consolidating with the outlying unincorporated towns of Holland and Whaleyville. The end result was a new municipality encompassing a total of 430 square miles, making it the largest city in land area in Virginia and the 11th largest in the country.

[edit] Notable event

in 1908, the Town of Suffolk was the site of a rare criminal case in Nansemond County Circuit Court. In 1908, an individual, Ernest Lyons, was convicted of murdering another person who was later found alive.

[edit] Peanuts and transportation

For more details on this topic, see Amadeo Obici.

In 1908, an Italian immigrant named Amedeo Obici opened Planters Nut and Chocolate Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The company added facilities in Suffolk beginning in 1912. Louise and Amadeo Obici moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia in 1924. They lived at Bay Point Farm in Chuckatuck on a bluff overlooking the Nansemond River. Louise died in 1938, Amadeo in 1947. Their home, which has been designated a Virginia Historical Landmark, now belongs to the City of Suffolk.

In memory of his wife, Amadeo arranged funds to build Louise Obici Memorial Hospital in Suffolk, which opened in 1951. In 2006, a newer facility, Obici Sentara Hospital became its successor.

The city also became home to Planter's Mr. Peanut, a world-famous advertising icon. A statue of Mr. Peanut is prominently displayed in downtown Suffolk. The company, now owned by Kraft Foods, is the area's 11th largest employer.

For many years, the call-letters of local AM radio station WLPM stood for World's Largest Peanut Market.

As a gateway to Norfolk and Portsmouth, Suffolk became a major rail interchange point, served at one time or another by many of Virginia's railroads. Before the American Civil War, both the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad and the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad had been built through Suffolk, early predecessors of 21st century Class 1 railroads operated by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern respectively. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the Atlantic and Danville Railroad, and the Virginian Railway also built through Suffolk on their way to the harbor at Hampton Roads.