Nor′folk, Va., a city and port, stands on the right bank of the Elizabeth River, about eight miles from Hampton Roads. It is built irregularly on low ground, but has a large, deep harbor, defended by Fort Calhoun and Fortress Monroe. The city contains a city hall, mechanics’ and masons’ hall, custom house, military academy and seminary; it has an excellent system of public schools and owns eighteen buildings. Norfolk ships cotton, oysters and early fruits, is the largest peanut market in the world, and is the fourth cotton port of the U. S. It is served by eleven railroads, which find their deep-water terminus here. The place was burned by the British in 1776, and was the scene of the battle between the Monitor and Merrimac. Population 67,452.
