Bold New Directions

Our visionary leadership is proactive in anticipating the ever-changing world. We boldly embrace the future in ways that inspire and challenge our citizens to seize the opportunities of the new era. As a historic regional partner, the City engages neighboring communities to solve area challenges. We are committed to using innovation and emerging technologies to succeed in the information and    knowledge-based society. Portsmouth has become the hometown of choice and a community of international reputation. 

A Robust and Prospering Economy

Portsmouth is a financially prosperous community with a superior quality of life. Residents enjoy diverse employment choices from maritime,              manufacturing, medical, military, marketing, and management opportunities. Portsmouth municipal government has created an environment that has        generated significant private investment resulting in job creation, expanded tax revenue,  and one of the region’s lowest real estate tax rates, along with an enviable bond rating.

World Class Maritime Center

As a historic waterfront city, Portsmouth is strategically located in the center of the eastern seaboard on the world’s largest natural harbor at mile marker “0” on the intra-coastal waterway. The City boasts a world-class, inter-modal          transportation system and is home to the world’s largest container line and  America’s oldest naval shipyard. Portsmouth is the gateway to international  shipping, hosting private and state operated shipping terminals with a worldwide reach. Our waterfront offers a diverse, unique mixture of recreational boating, marinas, tours, and maritime support industries.

Lifelong Learning Community

Education is the foundation of our social, political, and economic wellbeing and is the top priority of the City. Through collaborative efforts of City    Council, School Board, and the private sector, Portsmouth has exceptional public and private schools. This includes learning opportunities for early  childhood, primary and secondary education, higher education, vocational training, and workforce development. Its preferred educational system has made Portsmouth a top choice for employers and families.

Neighborhood and Community Transformation

Portsmouth citizens are empowered to create their own quality of life, to ensure community safety and to elevate the livability of their own neighborhoods, creating true communities of choice for the 21st Century. Citizens work together with local government to fully utilize human and community assets, thus producing a state-of-the-art environment that includes excellent schools, public facilities, parks, green spaces, gateways, and roadway corridors. Our neighborhoods have been transformed into communities that promote and celebrate diversity, equity, and the inclusiveness of all citizens.

Pride of Past, Promise of Future

Portsmouth’s tomorrows are found in the footsteps of the richest traditions of America, from the earliest days of Colonial Virginia through the victories of equality, dignity, and diversity.  As guardian of the collective heritage of many people, we have become one. The Portsmouth family preserves the proudest traditions of the past as the compass for our future, drawing the grace of our spirit into the nobility of what we have become. 

Portsmouth’s rich historical diversity is celebrated throughout the year in     festivals, concerts, and ceremonies. Portside, which sits at the center of our “Path of History,” serves as our signature community-gathering place.        Seasonal programs and entertainment punctuate the year, drawing neighbors, families, and guests from throughout the City, the region, and the world to celebrate Portsmouth’s people, history and future.