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== History and Location ==
== Location and History ==
[[File:Screenshot 2025-12-01 192141.png|thumb|Map of Lambert's Point Neighborhood. Retrieved 2025 from Google Maps. ]]
[[File:Screenshot 2025-12-01 192141.png|thumb|Map of Lambert's Point Neighborhood. Retrieved 2025 from Google Maps. ]]
Lambert's Point — named for Thomas Lambert, who patented 100 acres there in 1635— is one of the oldest neighborhoods and industrial areas located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Located along the southern shore of the Elizabeth River, it is known primarily for its deep-water port facilities and its historical association with the [[Railroad Companies|railroad]] and coal export industries.  
Lambert's Point is one of the oldest neighborhoods and industrial areas in Norfolk, Virginia. Lambert's Point is situated along the southern shore of the Elizabeth River and has deep-water port facilities.
[[File:1889-atlas.webp|thumb|Detail from 1889 Atlas of Norfolk. Sargeant Memorial Collection/ Norfolk Public Library. Retrieved 2025 from https://lambertspoint.wordpress.com/]]
[[File:Norfolk southern railroad piers 1934.webp|thumb|The Lambert’s Point neighborhood is shown at left of railroad tracks, 1934. Sargeant Memorial Collection/Norfolk Public Library. Retrieved 2025 from https://lambertspoint.wordpress.com/]]
Named for Thomas Lambert, who patented 100 acres there in 1635,<ref>Citation. Is there a map to go along with this?</ref> the neighborhood began as a company town for Black railroad workers.<ref>Cite the census records you mentioned (now deleted) here</ref> In 1883, the first trainload of coal arrived in Norfolk from the [[Coal Companies|Pocahontas Coalfield in West Virginia]],<ref>Citation</ref> and coal quickly replaced cotton as the city's main export. At the time, the [[Railroad Companies|Norfolk & Western Railroad]] piers were located in downtown Norfolk on the Elizabeth River waterfront. Because more space was needed to handle the growing shipments of coal, [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Norfolk & Western]] expanded into Lambert's Point in 1886.  


The neighborhood at Lambert's Point began as a residence for railroad workers and those working in the coal industry. In 1883, the first trainload of coal arrived in Norfolk from the [[Coal Companies|Pocahontas coal fields in West Virginia]], and coal quickly replaced cotton as the city’s main export. The Norfolk & Western Railroad's piers were located downtown on the Elizabeth River waterfront at the time, but it was clear that more space was needed for the booming cargoes of coal, including more tracks for the trains to carry the coal into the port and more docks to send it out. The [[Railroad Companies|railroad]] expanded the coal and cargo piers into Lambert's Point in 1886.  
By 1900, the [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Norfolk & Western Terminal]] had become the top coal-exporting port on the East Coast.<ref>Citation</ref> In 1911, Lambert's Point officially became part of the City of Norfolk.<ref> McPhillips, [https://voicesinthedust.org/images/6/60/Lambert%27s_Point_Norfolk_Public_Library.pdf Lambert's Point], ''Norfolk Public Library,'' 2013. </ref> The neighborhood was one of the first in Norfolk where Black residents could buy homes.<ref>Need citation</ref>
=== Old Dominion University Expansion and Neighborhood Destruction ===
In the 1960s and 70s, [https://www.odu.edu Old Dominion University (ODU)] bulldozed parts of Lambert’s Point to expand their campus causing the neighborhood to shrink in size and forcing many long term residents to move away.<ref name=":0" /> This was despite the fact that Lambert's Point was a middle-class neighborhood with thriving businesses and many homeowners.<ref>Citation</ref> This is part of a long, racist history of Virginia's public universities displacing Black residents.<ref name=":0">Hansen, [https://www.propublica.org/article/these-virginia-universities-expanded-by-displacing-black-residents Virginia's Public Universities Have a Long History of Displacing Black Residents], ''ProPublica'', September 11, 2023.</ref>


Although the area was mainly designed for industrial use, workers and their families soon settled nearby, creating a residential community close to the coal terminals. Census records from the early 1900s show that many of these residents worked directly in the coal industry. By 1900, Norfolk had become the top coal-exporting port on the East Coast, and the industry kept growing through the Great Depression. In 1911, Lambert's Point officially became part of the City of Norfolk. The neighborhood was one of the first in Norfolk where Black citizens could buy homes.
=== Today ===
Lambert's Point continues to be a predominantly African American neighborhood<ref>Recent census as a citation?</ref> with a strong sense of community. The typical household earns around $42,000 a year, which is less than the citywide median household income in Norfolk ($64,017).<ref>U.S. Census Bureau, [[:File:Census Tract 25.pdf|Census Tract 25]], Norfolk, Virginia, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Census Reporter Profile, 2023. </ref>


Today, Lambert's Point remains closely tied to the Port of Virginia, with shipping, logistics, and industrial operations continuing to shape the local economy. Beyond its industrial roots, the neighborhood has developed a strong sense of community. Residents participate in local events organized by groups like the Lambert’s Point Civic League, which hosts neighborhood cleanups, social gatherings, and safety initiatives. Community members also celebrate the neighborhood’s history through oral histories, photographs, and storytelling projects that preserve the experiences of long-term residents.  
=== Coal Dust Pollution ===
The [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Norfolk Southern Terminal]], formerly the [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Norfolk & Western Terminal]], remains a feature of life in Lambert's Point, with its operations influencing the local economy, the ambient noise of trains screeching slowly along the tracks, and the distinctive black coal dust residues that are common on the outside surfaces of buildings. Community activism around the coal dust issue dates back to at least the 1970s, when neighborhood groups began organizing for stronger environmental protections and air monitoring.<ref>Citation</ref> Residents have reported respiratory problems and other health concerns they attribute to long-term coal dust exposure.<ref>Citation</ref> Organization such as the [[Sierra Club Virginia Chapter]] and [[New Virginia Majority]] have partnered to amplify residents' voices, calling for measures such as [[Railcar Covers and Lids|covered railcars and enclosed conveyor systems]], independent [[Air monitoring|air quality monitoring]], and changes to federal environmental regulations.<ref>Citation</ref>


=== Relationship with ODU ===
[[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Norfolk Southern]] currently uses a [[Wet Dust Suppression|wet dust suppression system]], with sprinklers coating the coal-filled railcars with reused stormwater. However, many community members argue that these measures are insufficient and that the problem persists.<ref>Citation</ref> Norfolk Southern maintains that air quality in Lambert's Point is below [[Regulation under the Clean Air Act|regulatory standards]] and [[Railcar Covers and Lids|covering coal cars]] is prohibitively expensive.
In the 1960s and 70s, the expansion of Old Dominion University bulldozed parts of the Lambert’s Point community. Though Lambert's Point was a middle-class neighborhood with a “thriving business sector” and a lot of homeowners, the expansion significantly shrunk the community. While it initially stretched west of Hampton Boulevard from 24th Street to 48th Street, with the expansion of ODU, it now stretches to 43rd Street.


=== Mapping Lambert’s Point ===
== Historical Records ==
Because of the ODU expansion on top of the neighborhood, much of the history of Lambert’s Point has been lost. In 2016, a group of undergraduate and graduate students from ODU conducted interviews with residents who grew up in Lambert’s Point during the 1950s and 1960s to learn about how the neighborhood has changed over time. They also gathered historical accounts from the early 20th century using the ''Norfolk Journal and Guide'', a newspaper dedicated to African American news and issues. Their work resulted in a website featuring transcribed interviews and photographs that highlight the stories of long-term residents and the places that shaped their experiences in the neighborhood.
:'''[https://www.mappinglambertspoint.org/ Mapping Lambert's Point]:''' In 2016, a group of undergraduate and graduate students from ODU interviewed residents who grew up in Lambert’s Point during the 1950s and 1960s to learn about how the neighborhood has changed over time. The students also gathered historical accounts of life in the neighborhood from the early 20<sup>th</sup> century in the [https://thenewjournalandguide.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopOhiVCRqp4jCpf-UtpxwpWAWyIPHOOU-bU894InMDP5eDnzBjj Norfolk Journal and Guide]. This archive is available to the public on [https://www.mappinglambertspoint.org Mapping Lambert's Point], featuring transcribed interviews and photographs that highlight residents's stories and mapped to the places that shaped their experiences in the neighborhood.<ref>Vera, [https://web.archive.org/web/20251110204056/https://www.pilotonline.com/2016/09/20/odu-looks-to-shed-light-on-neighborhood-without-a-voice/ ODU Looks to Shed Light on "Neighborhood without a Voice,”] ''The Virginian Pilot'', September 20, 2016. </ref>
 
:'''[https://lambertspoint.wordpress.com Lambert’s Point: A Historical Geography]:''' This collection was produced by students as part of an ODU historical geography course. [https://lambertspoint.wordpress.com Lambert’s Point: A Historical Geography] includes historical content discussing the [[Railroad Companies|Norfolk & Western Railroad]] and the transport of coal through Lambert's Point, expansion of ODU, [https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/map/VA/Norfolk/areas#mapview=full&loc=11/36.9142/-76.341 redlining of Lambert's Point by the Home Owner's Loan Corporation], and many maps and photographs, among other resources.
== Community and Residents ==
 
=== ''Demographics'' ===
Lambert’s Point is a diverse neighborhood, with just over half of residents identifying as Black (50.8%), about a third as White (36.8%), and a small percentage as Asian (3.5%). The typical household earns around $42,000 a year—about two-thirds of the citywide median income in Norfolk ($64,017). The area falls within Census Tract 25 in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
=== ''Community Center'' ===
The Lambert’s Point Community Center is a vibrant point in the community, and hosts regular youth sports games, adult sports games and work out classes, and other events for kids. The Center also offers a chess program, weekly teen nights, and weekly adult nights, in addition to hosting the civil league meeting once a month.  
 
=== ''Lambert’s Point Civic League'' ===
The Lambert’s Point Civic League (LPCL) is a community organization that works to improve the quality of life for residents in the Lambert’s Point neighborhood. Its actions include organizing neighborhood meetings to discuss local issues, partnering with city officials and police to enhance safety, supporting community clean-up efforts, and promoting neighborhood pride through events and outreach. The League also advocates for better housing, infrastructure, and youth programs to ensure that the community remains safe, connected, and thriving.
 
=== ''Lambert's Point Open Space'' ===
Less than 5% of Norfolk’s land is public parkland, which is well below the national average. This parkland percentage is significantly lower than in Virginia Beach (17%) and Chesapeake (27%). Therefore, in the spring of 2023, a grassroots citizens group (supported by the LPCL) was formed to encourage the City of Norfolk to establish a new city park on the city-owned parcel of the former Lambert’s Point golf course (which had also previously been a landfill). In April 2024, the City of Norfolk designated the area for public use as Lambert’s Point Open Space. The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) also leased their northern parcel, making it temporarily available to the public adjacent to the permanent Lambert’s Point Open Space.
 
== Coal Terminals ==
Lambert's Point is the home of [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Norfolk Southern's Pier 6]], which has been a defining industrial feature of the neighborhood for over a century, shaping both the physical landscape and the social fabric of the surrounding community. The terminal directly borders the neighborhood, and is located downwind, leading to long standing concerns about coal dust pollution in the area.  
 
The terminal’s history dates back to the late 19th century, when the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) (a predecessor of today’s Norfolk Southern Railway) selected the site for its deep-water coal pier. The first coal shipments from Lambert's Point began in 1884, marking the beginning of Norfolk’s rise as a leading coal export hub. Over time, the facility grew into a vast industrial complex, with [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Pier 6]] becoming the largest and most advanced coal transloading facility in the world at the time after it was completed in 1962. Pier 6 is part of the massive [[Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia|Port of Virginia]], which includes two other major coal export facilities (across the bay from Lambert’s Point): Pier IX, operated by Kinder Morgan, and Dominion Terminal. These three terminals combined represent 23% of all coal export capacity in the United States.
 
Coal from the Appalachian mines of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky arrives at the terminal by rail, where massive rotary dumpers unload the railcars directly onto conveyor belts. From there, coal is sorted, blended, and loaded onto ships bound for power plants and steel mills worldwide. This is different from the [[Railroad Companies|CSX coal piers]] across the river from Lambert's Point (located in [[Southeast Newport News]]) where coal is offloaded and stored in large piles before being loaded onto ships for export.
 
The [[Railroad Companies|coal terminal]] has long been the source of environmental and [[Health impacts: particles and coal dust|health concerns]]. The wind blows southwest off of the Elizabeth River, blowing coal dust off of the terminal and into Lambert's Point. Coal dust emissions from railcars, conveyor systems, and ship-loading operations have been [[Coal dust complaints|documented throughout the 20th and 21st centuries]], prompting community activism and regulatory scrutiny.
 
== Coal Dust Activism in the Lambert's Point Community ==
For decades, residents of Lambert's Point have raised concerns about coal dust pollution stemming from the nearby terminal. Local residents and environmental advocates have argued that [[Particulate matter and coal dust|fine coal particles]] frequently escape during handling and transport, coating nearby homes, vehicles, and public spaces in black dust. The [[Particulate matter and coal dust|particulate matter from the coal dust]] has been shown to cause significant [[Health impacts: particles and coal dust|health issues]] in the community, leading to high rates of asthma (source: FOIA Request 2).
 
The neighborhood is also subject to lots of traffic emissions, as it is bordered on one side by Hampton Boulevard (one of the main truck routes servicing the Port of Virginia).
 
Community activism around the coal dust issue dates back to at least the 1970s, when neighborhood groups began organizing to demand stronger environmental protections and monitoring. Over the years, residents have reported respiratory problems and other health concerns they attribute to long-term coal dust exposure. Activists have called for measures such as [[Covering the Train Cars and Dumpers|covered railcars]], [[Wind Fences, Domes, and Tree Barriers|enclosed conveyor systems]], and [[Air monitoring|independent air quality testing]]. Norfolk Southern currently uses a wet [[Wet Dust Suppression|dust suppression]] system, coating the sprinklers with reused stormwater. However, [[Coal dust complaints|residents complain]] that these sprinklers are not always on, and are not fully suppressing the fugitive dust.
 
Organizations such as the Sierra Club, Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative, New Virginia Majority, and local community associations have periodically partnered to amplify residents’ voices. These groups generally focus their efforts both in Lambert’s Point and in Southeast Newport News, both historically Black neighborhoods alongside coal terminals. Their efforts have included petitions, public meetings, and engagement with city officials and the [[Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)|Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)]].
 
Norfolk Southern has maintained that the facility operates within regulatory limits and has implemented dust-control technologies, including water sprays and chemical suppressants. (source: FOIA Request 1) However, many community members argue that these measures are insufficient and that the problem persists, especially under certain weather conditions. [[Local air monitoring]] has existed since at least the mid 1950s, and community efforts to measure coal dust exist today via groups like the [[VOICES: Voices Organizing In opposition to Coal dust with Environmental Sensing Network|VOICES Network (Voices Organizing In Opposition to Coal dust with Environmental Sensing)]].
 
=== ''Getting Involved'' ===
The Civic League meets at the Lambert’s Point Community Center (4100 Bowdens Ferry Road Norfolk, VA, United States, Virginia 23508) on the third Tuesday of every month.  


== Documents ==
== Documents ==
* [https://voicesinthedust.org/images/8/83/Lazo_%26_McClain_%281996%29_Community_perceptions%2C_environmental_impacts%2C_and_energy_policy.pdf Lazo et al., Community Perceptions, Environmental Impacts, and Energy Policy: Rail Shipment of Coal, ''Energy Policy'', 24, 6, 531–540, 1996]
* [[:File:Lambert's Point Norfolk Public Library.pdf|McPhillips, Lambert’s Point, Norfolk Public Library, 2013]]
* [[:File:Census Tract 25.pdf|U.S. Census Bureau, Census Tract 25, Norfolk, VA. American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Census Reporter Profile, 2023]]


* [[:File:Census Tract 25.pdf|U.S. Census Bureau. Census Tract 25, Norfolk, VA. ''American Community Survey 5-year estimates''. Census Reporter Profile. 2023.]]
== References ==
* McPhillips, P. Lambert’s Point. Norfolk Public Library. 2013.
* Lazo, J & McClain, K. Community perceptions, environmental impacts, and energy policy: Rail shipment of coal. Energy Policy. Vol. 24. No. 6. pp. 531—540. 1996.
* Evoqua Water Technologies. ETS-UV Disinfection. 2017.

Latest revision as of 17:35, 19 January 2026

Location and History

Map of Lambert's Point Neighborhood. Retrieved 2025 from Google Maps.

Lambert's Point is one of the oldest neighborhoods and industrial areas in Norfolk, Virginia. Lambert's Point is situated along the southern shore of the Elizabeth River and has deep-water port facilities.

Detail from 1889 Atlas of Norfolk. Sargeant Memorial Collection/ Norfolk Public Library. Retrieved 2025 from https://lambertspoint.wordpress.com/
The Lambert’s Point neighborhood is shown at left of railroad tracks, 1934. Sargeant Memorial Collection/Norfolk Public Library. Retrieved 2025 from https://lambertspoint.wordpress.com/

Named for Thomas Lambert, who patented 100 acres there in 1635,[1] the neighborhood began as a company town for Black railroad workers.[2] In 1883, the first trainload of coal arrived in Norfolk from the Pocahontas Coalfield in West Virginia,[3] and coal quickly replaced cotton as the city's main export. At the time, the Norfolk & Western Railroad piers were located in downtown Norfolk on the Elizabeth River waterfront. Because more space was needed to handle the growing shipments of coal, Norfolk & Western expanded into Lambert's Point in 1886.

By 1900, the Norfolk & Western Terminal had become the top coal-exporting port on the East Coast.[4] In 1911, Lambert's Point officially became part of the City of Norfolk.[5] The neighborhood was one of the first in Norfolk where Black residents could buy homes.[6]

Old Dominion University Expansion and Neighborhood Destruction

In the 1960s and 70s, Old Dominion University (ODU) bulldozed parts of Lambert’s Point to expand their campus causing the neighborhood to shrink in size and forcing many long term residents to move away.[7] This was despite the fact that Lambert's Point was a middle-class neighborhood with thriving businesses and many homeowners.[8] This is part of a long, racist history of Virginia's public universities displacing Black residents.[7]

Today

Lambert's Point continues to be a predominantly African American neighborhood[9] with a strong sense of community. The typical household earns around $42,000 a year, which is less than the citywide median household income in Norfolk ($64,017).[10]

Coal Dust Pollution

The Norfolk Southern Terminal, formerly the Norfolk & Western Terminal, remains a feature of life in Lambert's Point, with its operations influencing the local economy, the ambient noise of trains screeching slowly along the tracks, and the distinctive black coal dust residues that are common on the outside surfaces of buildings. Community activism around the coal dust issue dates back to at least the 1970s, when neighborhood groups began organizing for stronger environmental protections and air monitoring.[11] Residents have reported respiratory problems and other health concerns they attribute to long-term coal dust exposure.[12] Organization such as the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter and New Virginia Majority have partnered to amplify residents' voices, calling for measures such as covered railcars and enclosed conveyor systems, independent air quality monitoring, and changes to federal environmental regulations.[13]

Norfolk Southern currently uses a wet dust suppression system, with sprinklers coating the coal-filled railcars with reused stormwater. However, many community members argue that these measures are insufficient and that the problem persists.[14] Norfolk Southern maintains that air quality in Lambert's Point is below regulatory standards and covering coal cars is prohibitively expensive.

Historical Records

Mapping Lambert's Point: In 2016, a group of undergraduate and graduate students from ODU interviewed residents who grew up in Lambert’s Point during the 1950s and 1960s to learn about how the neighborhood has changed over time. The students also gathered historical accounts of life in the neighborhood from the early 20th century in the Norfolk Journal and Guide. This archive is available to the public on Mapping Lambert's Point, featuring transcribed interviews and photographs that highlight residents's stories and mapped to the places that shaped their experiences in the neighborhood.[15]
Lambert’s Point: A Historical Geography: This collection was produced by students as part of an ODU historical geography course. Lambert’s Point: A Historical Geography includes historical content discussing the Norfolk & Western Railroad and the transport of coal through Lambert's Point, expansion of ODU, redlining of Lambert's Point by the Home Owner's Loan Corporation, and many maps and photographs, among other resources.

Documents

References

  1. ↑ Citation. Is there a map to go along with this?
  2. ↑ Cite the census records you mentioned (now deleted) here
  3. ↑ Citation
  4. ↑ Citation
  5. ↑ McPhillips, Lambert's Point, Norfolk Public Library, 2013.
  6. ↑ Need citation
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hansen, Virginia's Public Universities Have a Long History of Displacing Black Residents, ProPublica, September 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ Citation
  9. ↑ Recent census as a citation?
  10. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, Census Tract 25, Norfolk, Virginia, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Census Reporter Profile, 2023.
  11. ↑ Citation
  12. ↑ Citation
  13. ↑ Citation
  14. ↑ Citation
  15. ↑ Vera, ODU Looks to Shed Light on "Neighborhood without a Voice,” The Virginian Pilot, September 20, 2016.
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