Top 10 Cities America’s Veterans Call Home
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In honor of Veteran's Day, we researched the top 10 places in America with the highest percentage of veterans in the civilian population. These figures were compiled from the 2000 U.S. Census, because the 2010 Census information for this data is not yet available.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user jimbrickett.
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Veteran Population: 12,995
City Percentage of Veterans: 18.4%
Portsmouth’s veteran population is linked to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Built in 1767, the Shipyard is the navy’s oldest and largest industrial facility.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user Missy_Schmidt.
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Veteran Population: 25,621
City Percentage of Veterans: 19.6%
Chesapeake is home to the United States Coast Guard Financial Center as well as the Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex, which provides support to naval operations worldwide.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user Kevin Coles.
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Veteran Population: 24,984
City Percentage of Veterans: 19.6%
Known as the “Home of the Infantry,” Fort Benning, located in Columbus, supports more than 120,000 active-duty military and family members.
Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons User xoder.
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Veteran Population: 24,021
City Percentage of Veterans: 19.9%
Nearby Fort Eustis is a 9,000-acre training facility and the home of the U.S. Army Transportation Corps.
Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons User Tobyotter.
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Veteran Population: 30,068
City Percentage of Veterans: 19.9%
Norfolk hosts the largest navel complex in the world. Naval Station Norfolk supports 75 ships and 134 aircraft.
Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons User Hampton Roads Partnership.
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Veteran Population: 51,609
City Percentage of Veterans: 21.7%
Colorado Springs hosts many military operations, including Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base, Fort Carson, the United States Air Force Academy, and the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user pasa47.
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Veteran Population: 60,260
City Percentage of Veterans: 21.7%
Virginia Beach is home to several military facilities including the Naval Air Station, the Naval Amphibious Base, and Fort Story.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user nannetteturner.
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Veteran Population: 19,060
City Percentage of Veterans: 23.7%
Home to both Fort Bragg and the Pope Air Force Base, Time Magazine dubbed Fayetteville "The Most Pro-Military Town" for its extensive network of volunteer support.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user Funky Tee.
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Veteran Population: 15,319
City Percentage of Veterans: 24.4%
Located 13 miles outside of Clarksville, many military personnel report to Fort Campbell. This fort is a 106,700-acre military installation that provides training and mobilization support for numerous Army National Guard and Army Reserve units.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user Wonderdawg777.
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Veteran Population: 28,312
City Percentage: 27%
Hampton's high veteran population is thanks to Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Operating since 1916, this facility is the oldest continually active Air Force base in the world.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons user Hampton Roads Partnership.
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Comments (38)
EqualJustice
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:25amGEEZ, don’t tell those OWS this info!!!
Report Post »Country_of_Arizona
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:56amI am from the Seattle-Tacoma, WA and there are several bases and posts with-in a very small area. Tacoma area supports one of the biggest military installations McChord AFB and Fort Lewis Army Post called Joint Base Lewis-McChord close by 3 naval ports Bremerton, Bangor and Everett and 1 Whidbey Naval Air Station.
Report Post »The reasons’ for “large populations’ of veterans” are many but usually they retire near military installations. As I am a veteran that is what I have done, Reason 1. Medical facilities are close by (free care). 2. Commissaries are grocery stores that sell at a very reduced cost (mainly due to the fact military active duty and retirees make little $$$$) and Exchanges, which are military version of Target et al type stores. So why any of the towns and cities not make this list, who knows?? All but one reside on the east coast, enough said!!! Another bit of proof that they think we are another country out here!!!!
MatthewChapter24
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:12pmUnfortunately, it is like another country out here in the “left coast”. Conservative Christian families like mine are outnumbered and berated. However, the bible makes it clear that we were sent out like sheep among the wolves, so it’s no surprise.
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Report Post »We love our troops!
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condorman65
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 3:55amI vote for Branson, Mo. You can always count on the people of Branson to be welcoming to Veterans.
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:42amMy husband is no longer in the military and I miss the camaraderie and patriotism and the similarity of opinions that we shared with our military family. There was always a support network around and it was easier to make friend because everyone is away from home and without the friends from their youth.
Report Post »BellaMia7
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 11:51pmOur son is deployed.
Report Post »chdorb
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:28amThank him for my husband and myself. We truly value the sacrifices our military, veterans and their families make for us. We pray for all our troops daily and desire their safe return home.
Report Post »ENCTARHEEL
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:21pmI live in the area of Cherry Point MCAS and Camp Lejeune. If the cities of Jacksonville and Havleock were combined they would have a high % of retired vets.
Report Post »Millhouse2therescue
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:51pmI live in northern va – it’s dem country up here. thank d.c for that one.
~tea
Report Post »Guitar Master
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:46pmzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
THE REPORTER’S View
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Dear Veteran,
Today is a day of recognition, a day to honor your service to our great nation. A simple thank you is not enough to show the appreciation of a grateful nation.
From the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan freedom loving people everywhere salute you.
Considering how our country has evolved and how the citizens have forgotten that WE are the caretakers of your sacrifices. You have done your duty but we have not, we have let you down. We are undeserving of your willingness to put your life on the line for us because we have allowed the freedom that YOU fought for slip slowly through our grasp.
In spite of our shortcomings we convey to you our gratitude for your sacrifice and we hope that the work that you have done for US, will not have been in vain.
Report Post »BONETRAUMA
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 10:27pmWell stated.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:04pmGreat letter..Sad but true, maybe we can turn all that around with God’s help and more effort from us.
Report Post »bigdeg
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 9:51amThank you for that letter…it made me eyes water a little bit.
Report Post »I was talking with some of my shipmates yesterday, and one of their mothers said about the same thing. About the stewardship of this country…
If all Americans would not vote for themselves, but vote for your children, please!!!
That is how I got thru…
Unix
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:28pmGod Bless our Veterans.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:26pmI live in Virginia, not in those cities, but you can rest assured Virginia is a conservative state. I am a conservative (I guess you all know that by now (i am Sgt Crust), but here in Virginia our democrats, for the most part are middle of the road. I guess you could even say our democrats are conservatives. they make conservatives in some states look liberal. well all except northern Va, we call that communist country, too bad there are so many of them up there – but the proximity to DC has poisoned them.
Report Post »NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:14pmNope! Mine didn’t make it. Then again, I didn’t see anything west of the Mississippi. Don’t you east coasters know how to handle the Wild Wild West?
Report Post »Homeschoolmama
Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:38amMost large military bases are in the east because they were established when the country was being founded and first settled.
Report Post »Amy
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:53pmYep. Didn’t need to read it to know Virginia Beach on the list. Except for the crazy young sailors running drag on 564 every chance they get, it’s A-okay.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:39pmWow, Virginia takes the cake. Aside from Colorado Springs, Colorado every place listed is IN THE SOUTH. That means those place are traditional values areas of the country, most likely vote Republican and are usually “mocked” by northern liberal elites. It all makes sense to me now. Great places to live!
Report Post »gwayman1
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:10pmThat is why I love this area. I live in Chesapeake and love the huge military presence here. God Bless All the Vets!
btw: picture 3 is not Chesapeake. It is ChicsBeach in Va Beach. That is the south end on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. One of the 8 engineering marvels of the world.
Report Post »ENCTARHEEL
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:22pmI feel the same way living here near Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune.
Report Post »dread_pirate_roberts
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 6:10pmThanks to all of you veterans and active duty personnell, Me and mine REALLY appreciate you and yours.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:34pmJust want to add my thanks and appreciation to all you Vets out there
Report Post »Hope we can last this fellow out to the end of next year!
Stay safe and I know you are always prepared
WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:49pmHoly Effing Virginia!
Thanks to all the vets for volunteering, God Bless.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:25pm@COPATRIOTS
Hey neighbor! What happened to the 63 degree day we were supposed to have today? LOL!
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:56pmWe’re actually in Evergreen but LOVE the Springs! You have good peeps down there. :D
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:23pmRight on Colorado Springs! I love my city and our Veterans! We honored them on my show today and they were a blast as usual! God bless ‘em all!
Report Post »Hisnameishussein
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:22pmLots in San Antonio too, weird it didn’t make the list.
Report Post »becca_leigh
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:08pmI‘ve lived in Va Beach most of my life and my dad’s a vet….this doesn’t surprise me at all that a very large portion of the vets live in Hampton Roads!!
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:58pmGee, who would have thought that the retirement cities are also major military and naval posts and bases.
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 9:26pmIt is called Convenience of the Commissary, and PX!
Report Post »JAMACAMECRAZYMAN
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:56pmI would think San Antonio TX. would be on this list?
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 5:06pmProbably cannot get a job because vets are competing with illegals.
San Antonio may be discriminatory also in that if you are not Hispanic, you cannot get a job especially in the state or federal levels.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:52pmYAY! Glad to see the Springs on the list!
This is a wonderful opportunity to thank all military, past and present, for your service to this country! May God bless you, each and every one! And God bless the USA!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:51pmI think that there are many small towns where the percentage of Vets are higher than any of the named!
Report Post »DivineMomentsOfTruth
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:49pmI would say Brick, NJ is a great town for Vets!
Report Post »