South Norfolk was an independent city in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia and is now a section of the City of Chesapeake, one of the cities of Hampton Roads which surround the harbor of Hampton Roads and are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway.
Located a few miles south of the larger City of Norfolk along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, South Norfolk became an incorporated town in Norfolk County in 1919. Within three years, it became an independent city.
As the much larger independent City of Norfolk expanded rapidly into the adjacent communities after World War II, the voters of South Norfolk chose to consolidate with Norfolk County (by mutual agreement) and with approval from the Virginia General Assembly, formed the new City of Chesapeake in 1963. The new name was also selected through a voter referendum.
In the early 1920s streetcars ran from Ocean View in Norfolk, to South Norfolk. There was a ferry that docked at the end of Indian River Road and crossed the southern branch of the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth.
According to the Virginian-Pilot, many South Norfolk residents believe their community's growth was stunted 42 years ago when it merged with Norfolk County to create the City of Chesapeake.
They say the move siphoned tax dollars from their community and rerouted them to other parts of the fledgling city. Greenbrier and Great Bridge, which were just being developed, received much of the focus. But that is changing.
The Gateway at SoNo, the city’s first major redevelopment project generated by the City’s South Norfolk Revitalization Plan. When completed, The Gateway at SoNo, which will span 6 acres (24,000 m2), will feature 133 condominiums and loft apartments as well as 54,000 square feet (5,000 m2) of retail and office space. Harris-Judah LLC, the builder/developer behind The Gateway at SoNo, has announced that affordable, single family homes are available in Chesapeake’s South Norfolk area. The homes, which are row-style, are located on B Street and a total of approximately 15 will be available.