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Virginia is a beautiful state located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. Known as the "Old Dominion State", Virginia has a long and rich history dating back to the early Colonial era. Keep reading to learn more about this historic and vibrant state!

Geography

Virginia is bordered by Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean. With over 42,700 square miles of land and water area, it ranks 35th in size among the 50 states. Virginia has a varied landscape ranging from sandy beaches to rolling hills to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The highest point is Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet.

History

Humans have inhabited Virginia for at least 5,000 years. The earliest Native American tribes in the region were the Powhatan, Cherokee, and Monacan. In 1607, English colonists established the first permanent English settlement in America at Jamestown. The Virginia Colony played a pivotal role in the early history of America including hosting the first representative assembly in the New World in 1619. Key Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason were Virginians who would go on to shape the early government of the United States. Virginia was one of the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. Following the war, Richmond became the capital of the new Commonwealth of Virginia in 1780. Although the state seceded from the Union to join the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, Virginia was eventually re-admitted to the United States in 1870 during Reconstruction. To learn more about Virginia's history, visit the website for the Virginia Historical Society at 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220, (804) 358-4901.

Economy

Virginia has a diverse economy with key industries including government, military, farming, manufacturing, tourism, shipping, information technology, and biotechnology. According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the state has the highest concentration of high-tech workers in the nation. Major employers include the U.S. Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Walmart, Sentara Healthcare, Amazon, Capital One, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Two major shipping ports at Norfolk and Virginia Beach rank Virginia 3rd in the nation for port volume. Important agricultural products include poultry, dairy, cattle, tobacco, and nursery plants. The median household income in Virginia is $74,222 (2019) with a GDP of $613 billion as of Q1 2022 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Attractions & Landmarks

From historical sites to beaches to mountains, Virginia has something for everyone! Popular attractions and landmarks include:

Arlington National Cemetery - Location: 1 Memorial Ave, Arlington, VA 22211, (877) 907-8585
Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Location: 1 Busch Gardens Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, (800) 343-7946
Colonial Williamsburg - Location: 101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185, (757) 229-1000
George Washington's Mount Vernon - Location: 3200 Mount Vernon Hwy, Mount Vernon, VA 22121, (703) 780-2000
Jamestown Settlement - Location: 2110 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, (757) 253-4838
Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) - Location: 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902, (434) 984-9800
Natural Bridge - Location: 15 Appledore Ln, Natural Bridge, VA 24578, (540) 291-2121
Shenandoah National Park - Location: 3655 US-211, Luray, VA 22835, (540) 999-3500
Virginia Beach Boardwalk - 24th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (37.8577° N, 75.9784° W)
Virginia State Capitol - Location: 1000 Bank St, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 698-1788

For more ideas on places to visit, check out the Virginia Tourism Corporation website.

Government

Virginia's current governor is Glenn Youngkin (R). The state legislature is comprised of the House of Delegates and the Senate. Virginia has 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 2 seats in the U.S. Senate. The current Attorney General is Jason Miyares (R) and the Lt. Governor is Winsome Earle-Sears (R). The official State Government website has more information on Virginia's executive, legislative, and judicial branches: www.virginia.gov

Education

Virginia has over 130 colleges and universities including nationally ranked institutions like the University of Virginia, College of William & Mary, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University. For K-12 education, Virginia has 132 school districts managed by local cities, counties, and regional educational authorities. Some of the largest districts include Fairfax County Public Schools, Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and Chesterfield County Public Schools. The Virginia Department of Education website has more details on academics, accountability, special education, early childhood, finance, nutrition, and more for the state's public education system.

Transportation

Major interstate highways in Virginia include I-64, I-66, I-81, I-85, and I-95. The state has six commercial airports including Richmond International Airport and two major metro area transit systems in Northern Virginia (WMATA) and Hampton Roads (HRT). Amtrak provides passenger rail service with several lines running through the state. The Virginia Department of Transportation (1401 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 786-2801) oversees highways, bridges, rail, public transportation, ports, airports, and traffic management for the state.

Sports

From college sports to professional franchises, Virginians love their sports teams! Major professional teams include the Virginia Cavaliers (UVA), Hokies (Virginia Tech), Richmond Spiders (University of Richmond), Norfolk Tides (minor league baseball), Richmond Flying Squirrels (minor league baseball), DC United (Major League Soccer), Washington Football Team (NFL), Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Nationals (MLB). Check out the latest on Virginia sports news, schedules, tickets, and more at Virginia Sports on Facebook.

Local Flavor

Virginia is for food lovers! The state offers an array of delicious regional specialties including:

Chesapeake Bay blue crabs
Smithfield country ham
Peanuts from Virginia's Peanut Belt region
Oysters from the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore
Colonial Williamsburg peanut soup
Brunswick stew
Virginia wine from over 300 wineries across the state

Find restaurants, breweries, wineries, and food festivals to try authentic Virginia cuisine.

Living in Virginia

Some of the best places to live in Virginia include Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Newport News. The state has a relatively low cost of living compared to nearby Maryland and DC. With mild weather, access to beaches in the east and mountains in the west, excellent schools, a strong job market, and great food, it's no wonder so many call Virginia home! Virginia is located within the South Atlantic region of the United States. It encompasses 42,774 square miles of land and 2,355 square miles of water for a total area of 42,774 square miles. Virginia shares borders with Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean. Check out the official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia to learn more and find links to all state agencies and services.

Top 10 Most Populous Cities in Virginia

1. Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia with a population of 452,602 as of 2020. Located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area along the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is a popular tourist destination known for its miles of beaches, boardwalk, and resort hotels. The city government website for Virginia Beach can be found here: https://www.vbgov.com/ For more on visiting Virginia Beach, see: https://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/ Visit Virginia Beach on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitvabeach Virginia Beach Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Beach,_Virginia

2. Norfolk

Norfolk is the second most populous city in Virginia and part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, with a population of 242,742 as of 2020. Norfolk serves as a major naval base and has the world's largest naval station. The city government website for Norfolk can be found here: https://www.norfolk.gov/ For more on visiting Norfolk, see: https://www.visitnorfolk.com/ Visit Norfolk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitnorfolk/ Norfolk Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk,_Virginia

3. Chesapeake

Chesapeake is the third most populous city in Virginia with a population of 241,023 as of 2020. Located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, Chesapeake was formed in 1963 by the consolidation of the city of South Norfolk and Norfolk County. The city government website for Chesapeake can be found here: https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/ For more on visiting Chesapeake, see: https://www.visitchesapeake.com/ Visit Chesapeake on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitchesapeake/ Chesapeake Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake,_Virginia

4. Richmond

Richmond is the capital city of Virginia and the fourth most populous city with a population of 226,610 as of 2020. Located along the James River, Richmond played an important role in the American Revolution and Civil War. The city government website for Richmond can be found here: https://www.rva.gov/ For more on visiting Richmond, see: https://www.visitrichmondva.com/ Visit Richmond on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitrichmond/ Richmond Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Virginia

5. Newport News

Newport News is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and has a population of 181,825 as of 2020. The city's economy revolves around shipbuilding and marine-related industries. The city government website for Newport News can be found here: https://www.nnva.gov/ For more on visiting Newport News, see: https://www.newport-news.org/ Visit Newport News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewportNews/ Newport News Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_News,_Virginia

6. Hampton

Hampton is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and has a population of 135,238 as of 2020. Hampton is home to Langley Air Force Base and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center. The city government website for Hampton can be found here: https://www.hampton.gov/ For more on visiting Hampton, see: https://www.visithampton.com/ Visit Hampton on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visithampton/ Hampton Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton,_Virginia

7. Roanoke

Roanoke has a population of 99,572 as of 2020. Located in the Roanoke Valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke is known as the cultural, medical, and retail hub of western Virginia. The city government website for Roanoke can be found here: https://www.roanokeva.gov/ For more on visiting Roanoke, see: https://www.visitroanokeva.com/ Visit Roanoke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visitroanokeva/ Roanoke Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke,_Virginia

8. Alexandria

Alexandria is located along the Potomac River near Washington D.C. and has a population of 159,428 as of 2020. Founded in 1749, Alexandria is known for its historic architecture and Old Town district. The city government website for Alexandria can be found here: https://www.alexandriava.gov/ For more on visiting Alexandria, see: https://www.visitalexandriava.com/ Visit Alexandria on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitAlexandriaVA/ Alexandria Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria,_Virginia

9. Portsmouth

Portsmouth is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and has a population of 95,089 as of 2020. Located along the Elizabeth River, Portsmouth was founded in 1752 and is the site of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The city government website for Portsmouth can be found here: https://www.portsmouthva.gov/ For more on visiting Portsmouth, see: https://www.discoverportsva.com/ Visit Portsmouth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverPortsmouth/ Portsmouth Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_Virginia