The Chesapeake Beach Historic District, located in the northwest corner of Virginia Beach, is one of the earliest 20th century bayfront neighborhoods established in what was then Princess Anne County (now the city of Virginia Beach) that retains its historical layout and character. Despite its bayside beach location, Chesapeake Beach did not develop as a commercial resort area with hotels and other amenities. Instead, the community remained primarily residential in character with only a handful of locally owned commercial businesses. The man-made character of the historic district is enhanced and influenced by the natural environment and nearby bodies of water, including Chesapeake Bay and Pleasure House Lake, which influenced the location and physical layout of the community. Chesapeake Beach’s reputation as a residential ‘beach cottage’ community contrasts with the nearby oceanfront resort featuring hotels and other businesses that catered to vacationers. The Chesapeake Beach Historic District retains its gridded street plan and is one of the last remaining examples of a high-density beach cottage community, making it a rarity among the city’s neighborhoods.