The Washington times., 1922-05-14
PORTSMOUTH
THIRD CITY Of
OLD DOMINION
Founded in 1852 by Colonel
Crawford, Who Laid of
1872 Lots.

James heatlnB, tne research eX-
pert. PA McGln Building. Wash.
ington, has compiled the following
facts as to the early history and
present importance Of Portsmouth,
Norfolk county, Va:
Norfolk County is a part of the
original Elizabeth City county
formed by the Colony of Virginia in
1884. From this county, the part
lying on the south side of the
James was cut off and formed into
New Norfolk County about 1886.
About 1887. New Norfolk County
was divided into Upper and Lower
Norfolk County. Upper Norfolk
County was then changed to Nan.
semond County.
Lower Norfolk County was. in
1891, divided into Norfolk and
Princess Anne County. Norfolk
County retaining all the records
of the older counties back to 1888.
Portsmouth.
Portsmouth was established as a
town in 1852, being founded by
Colonel William Crawford. Its
original area was thus described:
"a parcel of land, on the south
side of the Elizabeth River opposite
to the town OF Norfolk, Qaid ouo
into one hundred and twenty-five
lots, commodious streets. place for
court house, market and public
landing" To this, in 1853, the
following property belonging to
Thomas Veale, was added: Begin.
ming at a stake. by the mouth of
small creek, opposite to where
Daniel Veale. now lives, running
thence up the said creek, and cross
ing a small creek south 80 degrees
west; Sc poles thence south: 46
degrees west: 81 poles to the south
thence south, 81 degrees west, one
hundred and sixty poles to the
head of Rice Branch, thence down
the said Rice Branch south, 2:
degrees east. ~ poles to the head
OF a cove issuing out OF Crab
Creek: thence along the meanders Of
the said cove to the said Crab
Creek; thence along the said Crab
Creek, according to the meanders
thereof, to the Southern Branch OF
the Elizabeth River; thence bound
ing on the said branch and the
said river to the beginning"
To this enlarged area. certain
public lands, called "Gosport," were
added In lisa. They adjoined the
town Of Portsmouth and were all
to be laid off into lots. 80 as to
make them uniform with the town
of Portsmouth, except such parts
as might be necessary for the use
of the public. 1t was the urea as
thus composed. which was cut off
from the county. by Act OF March
IL, 1853. This act gave no bound.
,-lA hs.A Rnlx
territory contained within the lin
it's OF the town OF Portsmouth, pre-
scribed by sundry Acts of Assembly
heretofore passed" This Act was
TO be in effect when ratified by
the voters of Portsmouth Acts:
lS57.1S5S, p. 1889.
Park View. Portsmouth's fifth
ward. left the county, February -,
1894. Scottsville and Prentis, Ports.
mouths sixth and seventh wards.
were made a portion Of the city OF
Portsmouth, by order Of the Cir
cult Court OF the County of Nor.
folk, entered on November 2l, 1908,
but which was suspended for sixty
days pending appeal and which Is
considered to have finally taken
effect on March %. 1909. Port
Norfolk, Primers Point, Prentis
Park, Brighton, etc. Portsmouth,
latest wards, were made a part OF
the city by an order of the Supreme
Court of Appeals, taking effect
order of the Circuit Court of Nor
folk county. originally entered June
26, 1918, and is found in Common
Law Order Book 27.
City Government.
Portsmouth Is the county seat
of Norfolk county. Its population
in 1920, was 54,3S7. Government
Is vested in q Council OF seven
elected by the people regardless OF
ward lines, the executive officers
OF the Council and General Man.
ager of the city. Real estate and
personal valuations total $39,711.-
956, which together with railroad
property assessments and the gov
ernment holdings, bring the total
to $64 4,7So.590. Portsmouth IL the
third city in the State in point OF
larger trunk lines have their term.
trails in Portsmouth and transfer
freight and passengers by ferry.
These are the Southern Railway
| Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard
Air Line Railway.
The present city government IL
as follows: Mayor: r. A. Hutchins,
Jr., City Manager; ]. P. Jervey.
City Attorney; John w. Harper,
City Bacteriologist: DR.. Joseph
Grice; City Building Inspector; M.
l.. Parker; Chief Of Police, ]. NJ.
Broughton. City Clerk and Auditor.
L. C. Brinson; City Collector, Frank
c. Hanrahan; City Director Of Pub
lie Safety, j. Davis Reed; City
Electrician, GI T. Matthews; City
Engineer, Joseph F. Weaver, jr.,
City Inspector, l.. c. Elliott; City
Nusery Department, Mrs. L. J.
Smith, Chief of Nurses.
Education.
II. A. Hunt Is Superintendent Of
the School Board. Fifteen schools,
5.127 pupils and 126 well trained
teachers represent the school system
which is maintained at approx
mately 500, 900 annually.
Fire Department.
| Headquarters, Firemen's Hall,
sol Court street. Chief Engineer,
George c. Stanley; Assistant Chief
Engineer; r. A. Alexander. Annex
Fire Company, Elm avenue, corner
Henry; Independent Fire Company,
No. 1. 519 South street, Chambers
Eira COrnnanU y.