It’s something we don’t really think about, but cemeteries across the country, and specifically in Norfolk, Virginia, are running out space. 

American cemeteries have a problem: they’re getting more and more crowded. And in many cases, such as in Norfolk, Virginia, there are no more plots left. 

According to the Virginian Pilot, a local Norfolk publication,

“Dead people are any city’s most permanent residents; unlike tenants who move if an apartment building is demolished, these folks are in it for the long haul.”

This is an interesting concept because there isn’t a migration of people, or bodies in this case, to make room for new ones. And we can’t just get rid of the plots already there.

Another interesting fact to consider is that many of the cemeteries are historic in Norfolk, which also makes it difficult to come up with new plots. Those that have bought their plots will still get a spot, but the new dead don’t have a place here. 

Though “Norfolk’s cemeteries have been expanding as much as they can over the years,” there is only so much more land that can be bought or converted. This is an especially difficult issue for city-owned cemeteries, versus for-profit ones. Cities get little transparency around expansion plans for city-owned cemeteries, and there hasn’t been any master plan that has official approval from city government. 

So, one of the questions is this: how do we find new ways to bury our dead? It sounds like we're going to have to think outside the box ... literally.

Courtesy of pilotonline.com

What do you think about this interesting topic? Let us know in the comments below!