1965 Map of Kempsville

About this map

The Eastern Branch Elizabeth River and its various tidal inlets shape this mid-1960s portrait of the urbanizing South Hampton Roads region. This area, spanning the boundaries of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, shows a landscape in rapid transition as residential subdivisions like Aragona Village and Pembroke Manor expand into former farmlands. Cultural and institutional anchors are prominent throughout, including the sprawling Virginia Wesleyan Col campus, Norfolk Academy, and the State Prison Farm No 22 in the southern reaches. The map captures the early footprint of the regional highway network with Interstate 64 and Interstate 264 bisecting the terrain. Further south, the landscape remains more open near Stumpy Lake and the dense wetlands of Gum Swamp, providing a stark contrast to the growing commercial hubs around Davis Corner and Chinese Corner.