Virginia's Hampton Roads Regional Profile Executive Summary

Virginia's Hampton Roads is a region rich in history, situated in the southeastern corner of Virginia, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The region, comprised of 16 counties and cities, each with unique assets, is enhanced by an extensive system of waterways and a population that has been growing and changing over the last decade. This profile summarizes key demographic, economic and transportation trends.

Stable and increasingly diverse population.
Compared to Virginia and the nation as a whole, the population of the Hampton Roads region has grown at a relatively slow pace and tends to be younger and more diverse than the population of the United States.

Intricate and unique economy with stable employment.
Hampton Roads has one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the United States and increases in military pay and federal contracts have significantly contributed to the region's economic growth. However, as home to a number of private employers, Hampton Roads has
experienced relatively strong employment growth across several industry sectors, particularly Education and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality and Retail Trade. The crown jewel of the region is the Port of Virginia, which contributes nearly 350,000 jobs and greater than $13 billion in employee wages each year according to analysis by William and Mary's Mason School of Business.

Effective but aging transportation system.
Because of the abundance of waterways, the transportation network is heavily dependent on bridges and tunnels. Per capita vehicle miles traveled has remained relatively stable over the last 10 years, suggesting that commuting distances are relatively short. But, aging infrastructure and congestion around tunnels and bridges pose a threat for future economic development.

Favorable educational attainment levels.
Children entering kindergarten in the Hampton Roads region are prepared at higher rates of literacy fundamentals than any other region of Virginia. The population living in Hampton Roads compares favorably to other regions and metropolitan areas in high school and college degree attainment.