Virginia

Virginia   






Capital: Richmond

State abbreviation/Postal code: Va. / VA

U.S. Representatives: 11

Entered Union (rank): June 25, 1788 (10)

Present constitution adopted: 1970

Motto: Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)

State symbols:
State Bat Virginia big-eared bat
State Bird Cardinal
State Boat Chesapeake Bay deadrise
State Dog American foxhound
State Drink Milk
State Flower American dogwood
State Folk Dance Square dance
State Fossil Cheaspecten jeffersonius
State Fresh Water Fish Brook trout
State Insect Tiger swallowtail butterfly
State Maple Festival Highland County Maple Festival
State Motto Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)
State Nickname The Old Dominion; Mother of Presidents
State Salt Water Fish Striped bass
State Shell Eastern oyster
State Song "Our Great Virginia" (traditional), "Sweet Virginia Breeze" (popular)
State Tree American dogwood


Origin of name: In honor of Elizabeth “Virgin Queen” of England

10 largest cities (2010 est.): Virginia Beach, 437,994; Norfolk, 242,803; Chesapeake, 222,209; Richmond , 204,214; Newport News , 180,719; Alexandria , 139,966; Hampton , 137,436; Roanoke , 97,032; Portsmouth, 95,535; Suffolk, 84,585

Land area: 42,774.2 sq mi (110,785.67 km2)

Geographic center: In Buckingham Co., 5 mi. SW of Buckingham

Number of counties: 95, plus 39 independent cities

Largest county by population and area: Fairfax, 1,081,726 (2010); Pittsylvania 978 sq mi.

State forests: 16 (50,000+ ac.)

State parks/natural areas: 34

Residents: Virginian

2016 resident population est.: 8,411,808



Popular Tourist Attractions

• Kings Dominion: Theme park in Doswell, Virginia.
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia.
• George Washington's Mount Vernon: Plantation house of George Washington, located in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
• Blue Ridge Parkway: Scenic drive that goes through Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: Primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, located in Charlottesville, Virginia.
• Colonial Williamsburg: Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia.
• Shenandoah National Park: National park along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
• Luray Caverns: Cave in Luray, Virginia.
• Arlington National Cemetery: Military cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
• Water Country USA: Water park in Williamsburg, Virginia.
• Assateague Islands: Island on the eastern border of Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia section houses the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, famous for the wild Chincoteague ponies.
• Shenandoah Valley: Valley in western Virginia.
• Skyline Drive: 109-mile road that runs the entire length of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
• Virginia Aquarium: Aquarium in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: Art museum in Richmond, Virginia.
• Jamestown Settlement: First permanent English settlement in the Americas. Located in Jamestown, Virginia.
• Great Falls Park: Park in northern Virginia.
• First Landing State Park: State park in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
• USS Wisconsin: Historic battleship in Norfolk, Virginia.

Virginia Fun Facts

• Virginia was named for England's "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth I.
• Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the American Continent. It was also the first capital of Virginia.
• The Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia is the largest office building in the world.
• The first theater in America was built at Williamsburg, Virginia in 1716.
• Virginia is the first state in the United States to elect a black governor: Douglas Wilder was elected as Governor in 1990.
• Virginia was one of the two states that donated land to build Washington D.C. The other state was Maryland.
• The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is the second oldest in the United States, it was founded in 1693.
• Virginia is the only state with an official State Bat: Virginia big-eared bat.
• In Virginia, it is illegal to hunt wild animals on Sundays with the exception of raccoons, which may be hunted until 2:00 AM.