Hampton Roads is the 40th largest metropolitan area in the country with 1.5 million residents and is the fourth largest metropolitan statistical area in the southeastern United States. The area is culturally diverse with the 14th highest percentage of African-American population out of the top 50 market in the country. 32% of the market is African-American or 480,000 persons. Additionally, 46% of the market is coprised of women; 43% men and 11% teens.

Hampton Roads is a major player in Global Commerce and has one of the world's busiest ports and finest deep-water harbors. The area is located where the Chesapeake Bay intersects the Atlantic Ocean. The region is concentrated in seven major cities; Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News. Additionally, the area is comprised of four counties.

The area boasts the world's largest Naval Base, NASA Langley Research Center and the country's premier Physics Research Library. The region has one of the largest concentrations of military operations that includes Langley Air Force Base, Fort Eustis Army Transportation Base, U.S. Atlantic Command, and headquarters for the North American Treaty Organization (NATO).

Hampton Roads is known for its numerous tourist attractions, from the historic Colonial Williamsburg to the sandy beaches of Virginia Beach. Additionally, Norfolk has the areas premier naval history museum in Nauticus. The region attracts over 4 million visitors annually.

Although the port, military, tourism and service industries are the mainstay of the economic base, in recent years the area has attracted major businesses. Some of these companies include: UPS Service Center, MCI Service Center, Canon Virginia, QVC cable network, Lillian Vernon, Ford Motor Company and many more.