Isle of Wight County

A rural and suburban county (pop. 38,606) on the south bank of the James River, Isle of Wight County provides small-town living at the western fringe of Hampton Roads. Smithfield (pop. 8,533), the county seat, is famous for Smithfield ham and features a charming historic downtown along the Pagan River. The northern corridor near the James River Bridge has seen suburban growth as commuters discover the county's lower taxes and larger lots while maintaining access to Newport News and Norfolk via US-258 and US-17. Windsor, the county's other incorporated town, anchors the inland agricultural area. Isle of Wight maintains a distinctly rural identity compared to the urbanized core of Hampton Roads, with preserved farmland, waterfront estates, and a slower pace of life.