Virginia Beach Recognizes Its Historic Black Communities With New Neighborhood Signs

VIRGINIA BEACH

Spearheaded by Councilmember Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, the City has instituted a program to install signs recognizing the rich history of the city’s 14 historic African-American neighborhoods.

On Sunday, November 17, the first of the neighborhood signs was dedicated to identify the historic Beechwood community. It is located at the corner of Pleasure House Road and First Court Road next to Morning Star Baptist Church. Dates for three upcoming neighborhood sign dedications have not been finalized; however, they are for the Burton Station, New Light and Queen City communities.

Councilmember Dr. Ross-Hammond observed that many long-standing African-American neighborhoods lacked entrance signs designating their name and location. Concerned that the history of these neighborhoods could be forgotten by younger generations, she championed the sign program as a way of preserving their past and recognizing these neighborhoods as examples of Black economic self-empowerment.

“This isn’t just Black history,” explains Ross-Hammond. “It’s American history. These neighborhoods played an integral role in the foundation of our city. These communities and the people who lived there over the years made a tremendous impact on Virginia Beach and beyond, from music and fashion icon Pharell Williams to State Senator Aaron Rouse.”

At the end of fiscal year 2023-24, City Manager Patrick Duhaney provided each councilmember with a $150,000 budget to use at his or her discretion for a project in their district. Ross-Hammond elected to use her funds not just for District 4, but to benefit historic African-American communities throughout the city. Her hope is that the program helps to preserve the past, while also recognizing the resilience of these neighborhoods and their residents.

Signs at the threshold of the four communities – Beechwood, Burton Station, New Light, and Queen City – are under construction. Plans call for additional funding in future budget cycles to construct or improve signs at all 14 historic African-American neighborhoods in Virginia Beach.

The signs have a brick base and two columns flanking a concrete face. Each displays the name of the neighborhood and beneath it the words, “An African-American Historic Community.” Both are spelled out in oil-rubbed bronze lettering.

The 14 historic African-American neighborhoods in Virginia Beach developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries under racial segregation.

These communities were significantly affected by post-Civil War Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, voter suppression, the Civil Rights movement, and limited access to municipal services – events that impacted both individual livelihoods and the fate of the neighborhoods.

Dedication ceremonies for the next three neighborhood signs, with dates and times to be finalized, are:

• A sign at the Burton Station neighborhood to be located at the corner of Burton Station Road and Northampton Boulevard.

• A sign for the New Light community to be located on Indian River Road just past Regent University near the intersection of Church Street and next to New Light Full Gospel Baptist Church.

• A sign at Queen City to be located at the corner of Tamer Avenue and Queen City Road.

For more information about each of the 14 neighborhoods and updates on the sign installations, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/HistoricNeighborhoods.