ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli, ˈæftɚɹ ɐ sˈɪɹiz ʌv ˌænɪksˈeɪʃənz baɪ ðə ɡɹˈoʊɪŋ ænd ɛkspˈændɪŋ kˈɑːmɜːs sˈɛntɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndənt sˈɪɾi ʌv nˈɔːɹfək tə ðə sˈaʊθ, ˈɔːl ʌvðə wˈɔːɾɚwˌeɪ bɪkˌeɪm loʊkˈeɪɾᵻd wɪðˌɪn ðə kˈɔːɹpɚɹət lˈɪmɪts.
Eventually, after a series of annexations by the growing and expanding commerce center of the independent city of Norfolk to the south, all of the waterway became located within the corporate limits.