Whaleyville, Virginia facts for kids

Whaleyville is a neighborhood in the city of Suffolk, Virginia, United States. It used to be a small, independent town. Whaleyville is located between downtown Suffolk and the North Carolina border, right along U.S. Route 13.

This community is part of a larger area known as Hampton Roads. A local leader, Council Member LeOtis Williams, represents Whaleyville on the Suffolk City Council. Just a few miles east of Whaleyville, you'll find the famous Great Dismal Swamp.

What's in a Name?

Whaleyville got its name from another town with the same name, Whaleyville, Maryland. This Maryland town is located north of Virginia's Eastern Shore. A man named Seth Mitchell Whaley (1821–1901) was born and grew up there. He was very active in the lumber business in Maryland.

A Look Back: Whaleyville's Story

The Start of a Mill Town

In 1877, Seth M. Whaley bought a farm in the southern part of Nansemond County, Virginia. He then opened a sawmill nearby. He worked with the Jackson Brothers Lumber Company, which was set up in the new village of Whaleyville, Virginia. Soon, what people called the "Big Mill" was working 24 hours a day!

Railroads and Growth

Between 1885 and 1902, a narrow gauge railroad called the Suffolk and Carolina Railway was built. It ran from Suffolk, through Whaleyville, and south to Edenton, North Carolina. This railroad helped Whaleyville ship its lumber and the crops from local farms. Later, this railroad became part of the larger Norfolk and Southern Railway.

Another important railroad, the Norfolk and Carolina Railroad, was built nearby in 1884. This connected Whaleyville to bigger cities like Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Norfolk.

As the mill town grew, new stores opened. In 1907, the Bank of Whaleyville started. A high school was added in 1915, showing the town was developing.

Changes and Challenges

The big lumber mill in Whaleyville closed in 1919. It moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and many residents moved with it. Even though the mill closed, people still harvested lumber locally. The area became more focused on farming.

Despite losing its biggest employer, the community stayed strong. In 1928, Whaleyville had about 500 to 600 residents. It also had a cotton gin, peanut storage buildings, two churches, and one of the best schools in Nansemond County.

Becoming Part of Suffolk

Whaleyville was part of Nansemond County for a long time. It officially became an independent town sometime between 1950 and 1973.

In the 1970s, many areas in southeastern Virginia changed how they were governed. In 1972, Whaleyville merged with Nansemond County and another town called Holland. They all joined to form a new independent city named Nansemond. Just two years later, in 1974, Nansemond merged with the city of Suffolk. This created the large city of Suffolk we know today.

Even though Whaleyville is now part of a modern city, it still feels like a small town. It's surrounded by farms and woodlands. Local residents work hard to keep that small-town feeling. Suffolk is a very large city, covering about 430 square miles (1,114 square kilometers).

Getting Around: Transportation

Railroad Changes

During the Great Depression, the Norfolk and Southern Railway stopped using its line through Whaleyville. Other railroad companies also changed or merged. For example, in 1967, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL). Some of the old tracks near Whaleyville were no longer used.

Roads and Highways

Road building started in Virginia around 1909. In 1932, the smaller roads in Nansemond County, including those in Whaleyville, became part of the state road system. The main highway through Whaleyville was eventually named U.S. Route 13.

On July 1, 2006, the City of Suffolk took over control of its roads, including those in the Whaleyville area, from the state. The city has plans to build a bypass around Whaleyville as part of its future development. This bypass would help traffic flow better on US 13, which is an important highway connecting to Greenville in North Carolina.

Historical Places to See

• Seth M. Whaley's Home: The house where Seth M. Whaley lived is still standing on Whaleyville Boulevard. It is now owned by private residents.
• Whaleyville United Methodist Church: This church was started in 1884 for the mill workers and other people in the area. It is still used today. Two of its beautiful stained glass windows have S.M. Whaley's name on them, showing he was a supporter.
• The Old Bank Building: The bank building, built in 1907 by T.O. Knight, is still there. The City of Suffolk now owns it. Members of the Whaleyville Historical Society are working to possibly open a Whaleyville Museum inside. Currently, the building houses a restaurant.