Information Virginia
Virginia, abbreviation, VA, is a state on the east coast of the United States of America. The nickname of the State is “the Old Dominion”. Virginia is one of four states that call themselves a commonwealth. The state capital is Richmond. Arlington is another large and important city. See all cities in Virginia. Virginia is known for its beautiful nature, proximity to the District of Columbia. and involvement in American history.
If you like the beach, you can go to the Atlantic coast of Virginia, especially the seaside town of Virginia Beach is a must.
If you’re more into forests and mountains, you can visit Shenandoh National Park, which borders the Blue Ridge Mountains, which in turn are part of the Appalachian Mountains. In one of the many visitor centers you can obtain information about the area. Virginia is also important in administrative terms. Arlington has grown attached to Washington DC, which is why many important administrative buildings, such as the CIA headquarters, are located in this city.
Geography
Virginia is located on the east coast of the United States, although the open sea coastline is relatively short relative to the size of the state. The state is bordered by North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky and West Virginia to the west, and Maryland to the north. The state measures a maximum of 700 kilometers from west to east and 325 kilometers from north to south. The state is roughly in the shape of a triangle. The southernmost part of the Delmarva Peninsula belongs to Virginia. The large Chesapeake Bay has several estuaries, which converge at the Hampton Roads.
The state is flat to rolling in the east and center, with the Appalachian Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Several forested ridges run diagonally through the west of the state, interspersed with the famous Shenandoah Valley. The 1,764 meter high Mount Rogers is the highest point in the state. Several major rivers flow into estuaries in the east of the state. The Potomac River forms the border with Maryland, and the James River is the main river in the center of the state.
History
Virginia is the first colony of America’s 13 colonies. The name refers to the “Virgin Queen” (“Virgin Queen”) Elizabeth I of England. Originally the name referred to a much larger area, the area explored by Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition of 1584. Jamestown was founded in 1607, the oldest permanent English settlement in the New World. This one still exists. King Charles II nicknamed Virginia, which had remained loyal to the monarchy throughout the English Civil War, “The Old Dominion”.
The colony owed its first economic boom to tobacco cultivation. In the late 18th century, cotton started to become the main export product. To grow tobacco, the planters first hired white workers. These so-called “indentured labourers” were not much different from slaves during their contract period. At the end of their seven-year contract period, these workers were given complete freedom. Most of them then started their own farming business. Around 1700, however, the planters mainly made use of imported Negroes, who remained in slavery for life. Virginia thus became a slave state, where 30 to 40% of the population consisted of black slaves.
Virginia was one of thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the 18th century. Virginia became the 10th state of the United States on June 25, 1788.
During the American Civil War, Virginia sided with the Confederate States of America, after which the western part of the state seceded to form West Virginia. The first president, George Washington, owned Mount Vernon, a plantation that is now a museum.
Economy
Virginia has a rapidly growing economy and is increasingly a dominant state on the East Coast. There is a lot of employment in the suburbs of Washington, DC Heavy industry is mainly in the Hampton Roads conurbation, especially port-related. Much West Virginia and Kentucky coal is exported here. The US Navy has an important base in Norfolk where thousands of people work. Per capita defense spending in Virginia is the highest of any state. Major defense-related employers are located in Virginia, such as the Central Intelligence5 Agency, US Navy, the Department of Defense (Pentagon), and Quantico Marine Corps Base. There is a large supply industry to the defense sector, especially northern Virginia.
| Abbreviation: | VA |
| Nickname: | Old Dominion |
| Joined the US as the 10th state on: | June 25, 1788 |
| Capital city: | Richmond |
| Census: | 8,096.604 |
| Surface: | 110,862 km² |
| Geography: | Bordering Maryland, District of Columbia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia |
| Governor: | Ralph Northam |
| State motto: | Thus always to tyrants |
| California official website: | virginia.gov |
