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Suffolk is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area of eastern Virginia. Geographically, it is the largest of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 63,677. A more recent 2005 census shows that the city's population has grown to 81,039.

Suffolk began in 1742 as a port town on the Nansemond River in the Virginia Colony. Originally known as Constance's Warehouse, Suffolk was named after Royal Governor William Gooch's home of Suffolk in East Anglia.

Early in its history, Suffolk became a transportation gateway to the areas east of it in South Hampton Roads. Before the American Civil War, both the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad and the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad had been built through Suffolk, early predecessors of 21st century Class 1 railroads operated by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern respectively. Other railroads and later major highways followed.

Peanuts grown in the surrounding areas became a major industry for Suffolk. Notably, Planters Peanuts was established in Suffolk beginning in 1912. Suffolk was the "birthplace" of Mr. Peanut, the mascot of Planters Peanuts. For many years, the call-letters of local AM radio station WLPM stood for World's Largest Peanut Market.

Long surrounded by Nansemond County, Suffolk progressively became an incorporated town in 1808 and an independent city in 1906 before combining by mutual agreement in 1974 with the former county, which had also become an independent city (City of Nansemond) only 18 months earlier, including the former outlying unincorporated towns of Holland and Whaleyville. The newly-consolidated cities assumed the name of Suffolk, creating the largest city geographically in Virginia.

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