Geography

Chesapeake is located at 36°46′2″N 76°17′14″W (36.767398, -76.287405).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 351 square miles (910 km²), of which 341 square miles (880 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) (2.9%) is water.^[6]
The northeastern part of the Great Dismal Swamp is located in Chesapeake.

Diverse environment

Chesapeake is one of the larger cities in Virginia and the nation in terms of land area. This poses challenges to city leaders in supporting infrastructure to serve this area. In addition, the city has many historically and geographically distinct communities. City leaders are faced with conflicts between development of residential, commercial and industrial areas and preservation of virgin forest and wetlands. Within the city limits in the southwestern section is a large portion of the Great Dismal Swamp.

Adjacent counties and cities

• Portsmouth, Virginia (north)
• Norfolk, Virginia (north)
• Virginia Beach, Virginia (east)
• Currituck County, North Carolina (south)
• Camden County, North Carolina (south)
• Suffolk, Virginia (west)

Communities

Chesapeake is formally divided politically into six boroughs: South Norfolk, Pleasant Grove, Butts Road, Deep Creek, Washington, and Western Branch.^[7]
Of the current boroughs, one, South Norfolk, was formerly a separate incorporated town and independent city for much of the 20th century. Within the other boroughs, a number of communities also developed. Some of these include:

• Benefit (Pleasant Grove Borough)
• Bower's Hill (notable as a major highway junction)
• Buell
• Camelot (Western Branch Borough)
• Crestwood (Washington Borough)
• Deep Creek (Deep Creek Borough)
• Eva Gardens (Crestwood community, Washington Borough)
• Fentress (Butts Road Borough)
• Gertie
• Gilmerton
• Grassfield (Deep Creek Borough)
• Great Bridge
• Greenbrier (Washington Borough)
• Hickory (Pleasant Grove Borough)
• Hodges Ferry
• Indian River (Washington Borough)
• Mount Pleasant (Pleasant Grove Borough)
• Northwest
• Oak Grove
• Oaklette
• Portlock
• South Norfolk (South Norfolk Borough)
• Wallaceton

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chesapeake has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[8]