Evening star., 1962-12-27

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are being built or are on the
drawing boards.
Another result of freezing
Norfolk's boundaries was
pointed up in a recent inter-
view with the city's school SUI
perintendent, E. L. Lamberth.
The school enrolment in Oc-
tober was 54,567, divided about
65 per cent white and 35 per
cent Negro.
Mr.. Lamberth foresees a
gradual increase in the proper
ton Of Negro students as white
families continue their exodus
from the older central city.
Since 1948, Norfolk County
has lost 80 square miles, no.
900 residents, $1.8 million in
local revenues and $92.5 mil
lion in property values through
four separate bites from ad-
joining cities. Portsmouth an
nexed from the county in l948
and 1860, South Norfolk in
1851 and Norfolk in 1855.
In 1859 Norfolk annexed 1876
square miles from Princess
Anne County which included
38, 900 residents and an annual
tax revenue estimated at the
time at $824,00
Two years ago the Virginia
General Assembly amended the
annexation laws, making 1t
possible for merger referenda to
be held. Early this year voters
in all four of the affected areas
approved merger by overwhelm-
ing majorities. This year the
General Assembly granted
charters for both of the new
cities to take effect next Tues
day.
The Legislature also this year
passed a law imposing two
year moratorium on further
mergers and annexationS, ex-
cepC any pending at the time in
court.
Although favoring restric-
tionS on annexation, Fairfax
County officials opposed the
moratorium on mergers. Fair
fax argued that it was being
fragmented by land grabs from
Alexandria, Falls Church and
the city of Fairfax, as well as
through possible incorporation
of towns within its borders and
that it should be given the
same consideration as the
Tidewater areas.
| A majority in the General
Assembly justified the incorpo-
ration Of Chesapeake and Vir-
gina Beach on the grounds that
the voters there had acted al
ready while those in Fairfax
had not.
May Get More
| There is a possibility that
Portsmouth may obtain one
more bite of land from the new
city of Chesapeake. 1t filed suit
to annex 44.7 square miles and
20 per cent of the population
from Norfolk County just be-
fore the General Assembly i'm
posed its temporary freeze on
all such actions.
Norfolk County-and the fu-
ture city of Chesapeake - are
fighting the Portsmouth suit
with the argument that 1t was
filed in less than the prescribed
time after the previous annex
alton.
Urbanization of Norfolk
County and Princess Anne
County has moved at a fast
pace in recent years. Growth
has been particularly rapid
along the Norfolk Virginia
Beach corridor.
But in vast areas Of both
counties the dominant features
are swamps, bays, inlets, farms,
duck blinds, deer stands, for
ests, oyster beds and strawberry
patches.
Both Virginia Beach and
Chesapeake will have depart
ments of farm and home dem
onstration.
i w. Russell Hatchett, city
manager of the future Virginia
Beach, pointed with pride to
the presence Of Bayville Farms
within the new city.
That will give us the finest
dairy of any city in the coun-
try"
Estimates Urban Areas
He estimated that about 80
per cent Of Virginia Beach will
be urban. The growth Of the