Western Branch, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Western Branch is a community located in the independent city
of Chesapeake, Virginia
(formerly Norfolk County
) in the United States
. It is located in the South Hampton Roads
region and consists of generally low-lying sandy terrain of the coastal plain
. The area is adjacent to a river from which its name derived. Western Branch is the northernmost borough
of Chesapeake.
plant located in Suffolk, Virginia
or because they were military families trying to live outside the busy Norfolk
/Virginia Beach
areas. As the GE plant shut down in the mid 1980s, many residents were left jobless, although many new opportunities opened up with the growth of business and industry in the area.
which has become undersized relative to the rapid growth of the area since about 2001. Most residents commute to either Norfolk
, Virginia Beach
, or north across the harbor to the Virginia Peninsula
.
Western Branch is bordered by Portsmouth
to the east and northeast, Suffolk
to the west and northwest, and the borough of Bowers Hill to the south.
Its only high school is Western Branch High School
, operated by Chesapeake Public Schools which also serves the residents of Bower's Hill. The school's sports teams are named the "Western Branch Bruins." Historically, nearby Churchland High School
in Portsmouth has been the school's closest rival.
, cuts right through the center of Western Branch and takes residents north and south. Taking I-664 south allows residents to get on I-64, to head towards southern Chesapeake
, and I-264
, to head towards Portsmouth
, and to Norfolk
and Virginia Beach
by taking the Downtown Tunnel
.
At the northern boundary of the city, State Route 164 heads into the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area by taking a route through Portsmouth to the Midtown Tunnel
.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
(formerly Norfolk County
Norfolk County, Virginia
Norfolk County was a county of the South Hampton Roads in eastern Virginia in the United States that was created in 1691. After the American Civil War, for a period of about 100 years, portions of Norfolk County were lost and the territory of the county reduced as they became parts of the separate...
) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located in the South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
region and consists of generally low-lying sandy terrain of the coastal plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
. The area is adjacent to a river from which its name derived. Western Branch is the northernmost borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Chesapeake.
History
In the 1970s and early 80s, many of the residents lived in Western Branch because of either the General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
plant located in Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
or because they were military families trying to live outside the busy Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
/Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
areas. As the GE plant shut down in the mid 1980s, many residents were left jobless, although many new opportunities opened up with the growth of business and industry in the area.
Today
In modern times, Western Branch is an almost exclusively residential area, with the exception of an area around the intersection of Taylor Road and Portsmouth Boulevard consisting of a Wal-Mart Supercenter, several small strip malls, and one enclosed mall, Chesapeake Square MallChesapeake Square Mall
Chesapeake Square is a 717,282 sq. ft. regional mall and was built in 1989 in Chesapeake, Virginia, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.The mall has approximately 100 stores, five anchors , several eateries at the mall's food court including Chick-Fil-A, Dairy Queen & Sbarro, and two...
which has become undersized relative to the rapid growth of the area since about 2001. Most residents commute to either Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
, or north across the harbor to the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
.
Western Branch is bordered by Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
to the east and northeast, Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
to the west and northwest, and the borough of Bowers Hill to the south.
Its only high school is Western Branch High School
Western Branch High School
Western Branch High School is a suburban high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA. Established in 1968, it currently has the largest school population in Chesapeake with over 2200 students. The two feeder schools of WBHS are Joliff Middle School and Western Branch Middle School...
, operated by Chesapeake Public Schools which also serves the residents of Bower's Hill. The school's sports teams are named the "Western Branch Bruins." Historically, nearby Churchland High School
Churchland High School
Churchland High School is a public high school located in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is administered by Portsmouth City Public Schools. The school colors are black, orange, and white...
in Portsmouth has been the school's closest rival.
Highways
Two highways are convenient for Western Branch residents; I-664, part of the Hampton Roads BeltwayHampton Roads Beltway
The Hampton Roads Beltway is a loop of Interstate 64 and Interstate 664, which links the communities of the Virginia Peninsula and South Hampton Roads which surround the body of water known as Hampton Roads and comprise much of the region of the same name in the southeastern portion of Virginia in...
, cuts right through the center of Western Branch and takes residents north and south. Taking I-664 south allows residents to get on I-64, to head towards southern Chesapeake
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
, and I-264
Interstate 264 (Virginia)
Interstate 264 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from a junction with Interstate 64 and Interstate 664 near Bowers Hill in Chesapeake east into Portsmouth and through the Downtown Tunnel under the South Branch of the Elizabeth River into Norfolk...
, to head towards Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, and to Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
by taking the Downtown Tunnel
Downtown Tunnel
The Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area. It links the independent City of Portsmouth with the independent City of Norfolk...
.
At the northern boundary of the city, State Route 164 heads into the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area by taking a route through Portsmouth to the Midtown Tunnel
Midtown Tunnel
The Midtown Tunnel crosses the main channel of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area. It links the independent City of Portsmouth with the independent City of Norfolk. It carries U.S. Highway 58 and operates without tolls.- History :...
.