Why Virginia Beach Neighborhoods Are Called What They’re Called

Why Virginia Beach Neighborhoods Are Called What They're Called

If you've lived in Virginia Beach for any amount of time, the names just become part of how you talk. "Meet me at Chick's." "They live over in Alanton." "Traffic's bad through Kempsville."

Most of these names didn't come from planning committees. They came from real people and real moments that just... stuck. Here's the actual story behind a few of them.

Chick's Beach: Yeah, There Was Actually a Guy Named Chick

Charles "Chick" Bradford had a little food stand by the Chesapeake Bay back in the early 1900s. People would stop by, grab something to drink, and hang out by the water. Eventually everyone just started calling it Chick's Beach.

That's really all there was to it. Just a guy with a stand that became the place people wanted to be.

And if you've been to Chick's lately, you know it still has that same energy. It's not trying to compete with the Oceanfront. The beaches are quieter, the crowds are more local, and you can find parking on a Saturday. Go for sunset on a random Tuesday and you'll see what we mean. 

Alanton: Named After the Family Who Owned It

The Allen family owned a bunch of land out there way back when. Farmland, mostly. Over time it got divided up and turned into neighborhoods, but the name just stayed.

Alanton's not flashy. Never has been. It's just one of those areas where the streets curve instead of grid out perfectly, the trees are tall, and you start recognizing the same people at the grocery store. It's close to the water, the homes have some age to them, and it feels more settled than a lot of newer parts of the city.

It's a good reminder that Virginia Beach grew piece by piece, not all at once.

Seatack: This One Goes Way Back

The name Seatack is said to come from "sea attack", there was British naval activity around here during the War of 1812. Over the years, people shortened it down and it became Seatack.

Seatack is one of the oldest communities in Virginia Beach, and it has real cultural weight. Families have been here for generations. People have roots here that go back further than most of the city even existed.

The community has grown and changed over the years, but those deep roots are still there. The name matters because the people who carry it matter. It represents generations of families who've made this place home.

Kempsville: Started as a Stopover, Became a Neighborhood

Kempsville comes from Kemp's Landing, which was a trading post and travel stop back before Virginia Beach was really Virginia Beach. People would pass through on their way to somewhere else.

These days, people don't just pass through, they stay. It's got schools, shopping, access to pretty much everywhere you need to go. At some point it stopped being convenient and started being home.

You can still feel a little bit of that old crossroads energy if you know where to look, even with all the shopping centers and subdivisions. Kempsville's not trying to be quaint. It's just a solid place to live.

Lynnhaven: One of the Originals

Lynnhaven is one of the original seven boroughs that came together when Virginia Beach became a city back in 1963. The name goes back even further to colonial times, and an early settlement near the bay.

These days when people say Lynnhaven, they're usually talking about the area around Lynnhaven Mall or near the inlet. It's a mixture of older neighborhoods and newer development, with easy access to the water. The Lynnhaven River runs through it, and you're close to some of the best fishing and boating spots in the city.

Great Neck: It's Actually a Peninsula

Great Neck is a peninsula in the northern part of Virginia Beach. Back in the 1600s, the English used to call peninsulas "necks", which is why you've got Great Neck, Little Neck, Bird Neck, Dam Neck, and a bunch of others scattered around the area.

Great Neck today is mostly residential, with a lot of waterfront homes and neighborhoods tucked along the Lynnhaven River and the bay. It's quieter than the more central parts of the city, and people who live there tend to like it that way. Good schools, established communities, and you're never far from the water.

The name might sound a little odd at first, but once you know history, it makes sense. It's just an old colonial term that stuck around.

Princess Anne: Named After Royalty

Princess Anne was the name of the entire county before it merged with the city of Virginia Beach in 1963. It was named after Princess Anne, the daughter of King James II.

Even though the merger happened over 60 years ago, the name Princess Anne still shows up all over the place. There's Princess Anne Road, Princess Anne High School, the Princess Anne Courthouse, it's woven into the fabric of the city.

The area around the old courthouse still has that historic feel. It's where a lot of the city's government buildings are, and you can still see some of the old architecture that reminds you, this place has been around a lot longer than the Oceanfront hotels.

What This Means If You're Looking at Bishard Homes

Bishard Homes builds new communities throughout Virginia Beach, in neighborhoods like these and other established areas across the city. Places with names people recognize, history that goes back generations, and that feeling of being somewhere real.

When you buy a Bishard home, you get everything you'd expect from new construction; modern layouts, energy efficiency, quality finishes, but you're moving into an area that already has roots. The community around you has been there. People know the neighborhood. There's a rhythm to the place.

That's what makes buildings in these established parts of Virginia Beach different. You're not waiting years for trees to grow or for a community to form. You get a brand-new home in a neighborhood that already feels like home. New construction with the advantage of location, history, and established surroundings.

Whether it's near Kempsville, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne, or any of the other areas Bishard builds in, you're becoming part of a place that matters to people. And that's something you can't replicate in a development that's starting from scratch. These names stick because they mean something.