COMMUNITY
QUALITY OF LIFE
Isle of Wight County is 319 square miles of rolling terrain and planned development, and is fertile ground for the region’s most prosperous businesses. Located on the western edge of the Hampton Roads region, Isle of Wight County is an intermodal community with easy access to the Port of Virginia, interstate highways, airports and railways. Nearly two million people live within an hour’s drive, and because of our central location on the mid-Atlantic coast, we are within a day’s drive of more than half of the entire U.S. population.
Download the Isle of Wight Community Profile (PDF)
Rich in natural resources and populated by residents who use them wisely, Isle of Wight has successfully blended industry with good, clean living. We invest heavily in endeavors that build quality of life -schools, health care, parks and neighborhoods. We keep our rivers clean and our land unspoiled. And because we exercise such care, businesses and their employees find us a desirable destination.
Schools
Isle of Wight County Schools consists of five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Additionally, Isle of Wight Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy are private K-12 institutions for residents seeking private educational opportunities for their children.
Tourism
Isle of Wight County, located in Southeastern Virginia, has a rich historic heritage. The Isle of Wight Museum, Boykins Tavern, Fort Boykin, Historic St. Luke’s Church, and other notable attractions within the County highlight the history of the area throughout many exhibits of early settlement artifacts.
Isle of Wight boasts the restored Historic District of the Town of Smithfield, with streets lined with specialty and antiques shops and various local eateries that offer temptations to please even the most discerning palate. Of course, the Smithfield Ham may be found on any menu.
Amidst the many shops and restaurants is an expansive collection of Colonial, Federal and Victorian homes. Their individual histories, stories of Victorian elegance and a time fraught by women pacing the widow’s walk while waiting for their husbands to return home can be discovered on an Old Towne Walking Tour.
Busch Gardens and Water County U.S.A. are located less than one hour away in Williamsburg. Jamestown, the site of the first permanent English settlement; Williamsburg, the Colonial Capital of Virginia; and Yorktown, where the British surrendered to end the Revolutionary War, are also within an hour of Isle of Wight County. And, the County’s close proximity to the Norfolk-Virgina Beach-Newport News metropolitan areas enable residents and visitors to enjoy the numerous sporting events, concerts, theater productions, lectures, and art exhibitions that the Region has to offer.
Please contact the Smithfield & Isle of Wight Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information on attractions in the County and surrounding areas.
Parks & Recreation
Isle of Wight County residents and visitors can enjoy diverse recreational activities. The outdoor enthusiast can sail, crab and water ski on the James, Blackwater or Pagan Rivers, and Jones or Cypress Creeks. During the hunting season, deer, wild fowl, and small game are plentiful. The county has a public beach, three marinas, two campgrounds, wildlife refuge, fishing and hunting clubs, horseback riding and carriage services, as well as facilities for gliders and ultra-light sports. Semi-private golf is available at the 18-hole Cypress Creek Golfer’s Club. The county also has a roller-skating rink, skate park, and three public parks with picnic and recreation facilities.
The Department of Parks and Recreation oversees the County’s recreational facilities and offers numerous recreation and leisure programs throughout the year.
Community Facilities & Services
Health Care
The County Health Department, Smithfield Medical Center, Riverside Clinic, and Lakeview Medical Clinic provide medical services on a county-wide basis. Over 30 physicians and seven dentists maintain practices in the county.
Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin is a 225-bed facility that offers 24-hour emergency care, air ambulance, surgery, intensive and coronary care, obstetrics, and diagnostic services. Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk is a 243-bed, full-service hospital that offers emergency care, surgery, and complete outpatient services. The 576-bed Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News offers a full range of services that include a nuclear medicine unit, a cancer treatment center, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pediatrics.
Emergency Services
Isle of Wight is served by five volunteer fire departments and two rescue squads strategically located within the County. Law enforcement is provided by the Sheriff’s Office. The Smithfield Police Department and Windsor Police Department provide law enforcement services for their respective towns.
Banking
Bank of America, BB&T, Farmers Bank, Citizens National Bank, Wachovia Bank, Bank of Southside Virginia, Bayport Credit Union and Old Point National Bank have local branches in the county.
Libraries
There are three libraries within the county that operate as part of the Blackwater Regional Library System. The branches are located in Smithfield, Windsor and Carrollton.
Newspapers
The Smithfield Times is published weekly and the Tidewater News is published 3 times per week. Regional dailies include The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot.
Television
ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, WB and CW have area affiliates. The County Beat, Board of Supervisors meetings, and other information are broadcast on Cable Channel 8 (Charter Communications only). Local citizen information is also provided by the Town of Smithfield on Cable Channel 6 (Charter Communications only).
Radio
Numerous FM and AM stations broadcast locally throughout the region.
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