Thalia was originally an unincorporated community in Princess Anne County.

It was the location of Summerville Plantation, home of wealthy Scottish merchant George F. McIntosh (1768–1863), whose business was based in Norfolk.

[3] The community is home to Virginia Beach EMS Station 15, dedicated as the "James L. Wood Thalia EMS Station" (formerly Thalia Volunteer Fire Department and formerly VBFD Station 7), Thalia Elementary School, and Loehmann's Plaza, a shopping center.

Princess Anne High School and Virginia Beach Town Center are just west of the neighborhood on Virginia Beach Boulevard, separated from it by the southern reach of Thalia Creek.

Caren Drive and Birchwood Gardens mark the eastern border of the neighborhood.