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Elevation

Elevation of Suffolk

50ft

above sea level · 15 m

Suffolk is a city in Virginia with 104,699 people, the 9th most populous in the state. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, it’s the 51st lowest.

By the Mapsfera Team

Elevation profile

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Place facts

Coordinates
36.73° N · 76.58° W
In degrees, minutes and seconds: 36° 43′ 42″ N · 76° 35′ 1″ W
UTM coordinates
18S · 358,596 E · 4,065,891 N
Zone 18 · NAD83, the official US datum
County
Suffolk city
Where the city’s reference point falls
State
Virginia
VA · capital: Richmond
Time zone
Eastern Time
UTC−5 · UTC−4 in summer (daylight saving time)
Population (2025)
104,699 people
399 sq mi of land · 262 people/sq mi
Elevation model
USGS 3DEP, 1 m grid
Lidar from June 2020: the ground height at the city’s reference point.

Population

Suffolk had 104,699 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 11% more than in April 2020, when it had 94,431. Its 399 sq mi of land work out to 262 people/sq mi; the state average is 225 people/sq mi.

It’s the 9th most populous of the 684 places the Census counts in Virginia (cities, towns and CDPs), after Virginia Beach (453,737), and holds 1.2% of the state’s population.

It lies entirely within Suffolk city. Its reference point in the USGS gazetteer is 3.6 mi from the geographic center the Census gives for the city.

Compared with US cities of 100,000 to 250,000

Suffolk sits at 50 ft (15 m) above sea level. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, the highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft). The average is 862 ft: Suffolk is 812 ft below it.

The state capital, Richmond, is 75 mi away in a straight line and 163 ft higher than Suffolk.

The nearest city with more than 250,000 people is Chesapeake, 18 mi away in a straight line and 38 ft lower.

Of the 8 cities in Virginia with a page, Suffolk is the 2nd highest: the highest is Richmond (213 ft) and the lowest is Norfolk (7 ft).

The highest point in Virginia is Mount Rogers, at 5,729 ft according to the USGS: 5,679 ft above Suffolk, 275 mi away in a straight line.

  1. 197 Tracy 51 ft
  2. 198 Hartford 50 ft
  3. 199 Suffolk 50 ft
  4. 200 Elk Grove 49 ft
  5. 201 Pearland 47 ft

Each color band is 500 m (1,640 ft), the same colors as the map. See the full list

Nearest cities with a page

Tools for this place

Elevation profile Draw a route from Suffolk and see how much it climbs and drops. Elevation of a point Compare the elevation of Suffolk with any other point on the map. Map of Suffolk city The county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print or download. Time zone The time right now in Suffolk and its clock changes. What county am I in? See which county, city and ZIP code you’re in, from your location. Blank map of Virginia counties Print it blank, with names or to color in.

Step-by-step guide How to find the elevation of any place

Frequently asked questions

What people most often ask about the elevation of Suffolk.

What is the elevation of Suffolk?

Suffolk is 50 feet (15 m) above sea level. That’s the ground height from the USGS 3DEP elevation model at the city’s reference point in the official gazetteer (GNIS). The city doesn’t have a single elevation: it rises and falls from one neighborhood to another.

What are the coordinates of Suffolk?

Latitude 36.72821 and longitude -76.58356, in decimal degrees (36° 43′ 42″ N · 76° 35′ 1″ W). In UTM, zone 18: 358,596 E and 4,065,891 N, on NAD83.

How does Suffolk rank among the highest US cities of its size?

It’s the 51st lowest of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people. The highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft).

What county is Suffolk in?

Suffolk city, Virginia.

Which is higher, Suffolk or Richmond?

Richmond. Suffolk sits at 50 ft and Richmond at 213 ft: a difference of 163 ft, 75 mi apart in a straight line.

How is elevation measured?

Elevation is the height above mean sea level. In the US the official reference is the NAVD88 vertical datum. Summits are surveyed on the ground, with leveling and precise GPS. The USGS 3DEP is an elevation model of the whole country, largely from 1-meter lidar: it gives the ground height at every point. That’s why it can differ by a few feet from the official figure of a sharp summit.

Sources

  • USGS 3DEP (EPQS service) The elevation: the ground height at the reference point. Public domain.
  • USGS GNIS (official gazetteer) The city’s reference point (“Populated Place”). Public domain.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates Population, land area (2025 Gazetteer) and counties. Public domain.
  • TIGERweb (U.S. Census Bureau) Which county and city the point falls in. Public domain.
  • timezone-boundary-builder The point’s time zone (ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors).
  • Terrain Tiles, OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap The relief shading and the base map (ODbL).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know