Chesapeake is located in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, bordering North Carolina. It is among the largest cities in Virginia in both land area (353 square miles) and population (estimated 250,000) yet maintains the perfect balance between big-city services with small-town charm. Chesapeake is a diverse, culturally rich community with safe neighborhoods and high-quality schools. It sits in close proximity to the world's largest naval base and is conveniently located within 20 minutes of the Atlantic oceanfront, 15 minutes from downtown Norfolk, and an hour from Colonial Williamsburg and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The City operates under the Council-Manager form of government, with the City Manager having oversight for daily operations. The City government employs approximately 3,500 people in more than 30 departments with a net budget of $1.47 billion.