Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/496

 482 NORFOLK m. ; pop. in 1871, 30,760, of whom 13,039 were of English, 5,384 of German, 5,280 of Irish, 3,779 of Scotch, 1,781 of Dutch, and 687 of French origin or descent. It is watered by several streams, and is traversed by the Can- ada Southern and Canada Air Line railroads. The surface is undulating and the soil fertile. Capital, Simcoe. NORFOLK, a maritime county of England, bor- dering on the North sea, the counties of Suf- folk, Cambridge, and Lincoln, and the Wash ; area, 2,116 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 438,511. The coast consists of cliffs, partly chalk, which the sea is gradually undermining, and several vil- lages have been swept away. The surface is flat, except in the north. The soil is light, and there is little woodland, but agriculture is very advanced. The principal rivers are the Great and Little Ouse, Nen, and Yare. The climate on the E. coast is dry, and in winter and early spring cold penetrating winds prevail. The best crop is barley, which is made into malt and exported. Turnips are extensively raised. The stock of sheep is considerable, much poul- try is raised for the London market, and game abounds. There are valuable fisheries of her- rings and to some extent of mackerel. "Wool- len manufactures are largely carried on. The principal towns are Norwich, the capital, Lynn Regis, Thetford, and Yarmouth. NORFOLK, a city and port of entry of Nor- folk co., Virginia, on the N. bank of Elizabeth river, 8 m. from Hampton roads, 32 m. from the Atlantic ocean, and at the terminus of the At- lantic, Mississippi, and Ohio railroad, 88 m. in a direct line and 160 by water S. E. of Richmond pop. in 1850, 14,326; in 1860, 14,620; in 1870, 19,229, of whom 8,766 were colored. Its situ- ation is low. The streets are generally wide, but irregularly laid out, and the houses well built of brick and stone. Among the princi- pal buildings are the city hall, having a granite front and a cupola 110 ft. high, the Norfolk academy, mechanics' hall, and masonic temple. There are two cemeteries handsomely laid out and adorned with cypress trees. The city con- tains a court house, jail, and custom house. The custom house and the buildings of several of the banks are elegant structures. It has a fine harbor, easily accessible and safe, admit- ting the largest vessels. The entrance is de- fended by Forts Calhoun and Monroe. In the vicinity, at Gosport, is a United States navy yard with a marine hospital. The yard con- tains a dry dock, constructed of granite, at a cost of $974,536. The trade of Norfolk is facilitated by three canals: the Norfolk and Princess Anne canal; the Dismal Swamp canal, passing through Dismal swamp from Elizabeth river to Pasquotank river ; and the Albemarle and Chesapeake canal, connecting Chesapeake bay with Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico sounds. The last is navigable by vessels of 500 tons, and steam is exclusively used for towing and transportation. The receipts of cotton in 1872-'3 were 405,412 bales; in 1873- '4, 467,571. The value of imports into the cus- toms district, which includes Portsmouth, for Norfolk. the year 1874, was $45,209 ; of exports, $3,906,- 318; clearances for foreign ports, 96, tonnage 50,698; coastwise clearances, 1,183, tonnage 1,119,029; belonging in the district on June 30, 376 vessels, of 12,029 tons, viz. : 313 sail- ing vessels, 6,236 tons; 51 steamers, 4,826 tons; and 12 barges, 967 tons. The port is connected with Richmond, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York by regular lines of steamers. Large quantities of oysters and early fruits and vege- tables are shipped to northern ports. There are two national banks, with an aggregate capi- tal of $400,000 ; seven state and savings banks, with an aggregate capital of $400,000 ; and a number of manufactories. The city is gov- erned by a mayor, a select council, and a com- mon council. It has water and gas works, sev- eral charitable institutions, 26 churches and chapels (5 colored), three daily, one tri-weekly, and two weekly newspapers, and six public and several private schools and academies, among which is St. John's theological seminary (Ro- man Catholic). Norfolk was founded in 1705, incorporated as a borough in 1736, and as a city in 1845. It was burned by the British in 1776, and severely visited by yellow fever in 1855. It was prominent during the first year of the civil war. At the commencement of 1861 there