Lambert's Point
coal piers and yards at Lambert's Point, on Elizabeth River at Norfolk, Virginia
Lambert's Point is a point of land on the south shore of the Elizabeth River near the downtown area of the independent city of Norfolk in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia. It includes a large coal exporting facility and a residential area.
History Lambert's Point was named for Thomas Lambert, who patented 100 acres (400,000 m²) there on the east side of the "Bay" of the Elizabeth River on June 1, 1635, when the territory was still a part of Elizabeth River Shire in colonial Virginia. Lambert was an ensign in the Lower Norfolk County Militia by 1640 and was later a major in the same outfit. He was later a member of the Assembly at Jamestown for Lower Norfolk County in 1652, and by the time of his death in 1671 he was the proud bearer of the title Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Lambert. Lambert's Point was located in Norfolk County when that county was formed from Lower Norfolk County in 1691.
Development for coal export business Lambert's Point is the site of one of the busiest coal export facilities in the world, built in the late 19th century by the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) to reach Hampton Roads shipping. In 1886, the N&W tracks were extended directly to the new coal piers at Lambert's Point upon their completion. A residential section was also developed to house the families of the workers. Many early residents of Lambert's Point were involved in the coal industry. By 1900, Norfolk was the leading coal exporting port on the East Coast. The area including Lambert's Point was annexed by the City of Norfolk in 1911.
Today
Today, the coal export facility at Lambert's Point, and other Norfolk area port facilities are operated by Lambert's Point Docks, Inc., a subsidiary of N&W successor, Norfolk Southern, a Fortune 500 company which is headquartered in Norfolk.
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