Virginia is central to the story of early English colonization, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and modern national government. Its coast, mountains, historic sites, and cities make it one of the country’s most layered states.
Quick Facts
Capital: Richmond
Largest city: Virginia Beach
Statehood: June 25, 1788 (10th state)
Nickname: Old Dominion
15 Essential Facts About Virginia
1. Virginia became the 10th state in 1788.
Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution on June 25, 1788, becoming the 10th state in the Union.
2. Richmond is the capital and Virginia Beach is the largest city.
Richmond sits on the James River and has served as the state capital since 1780; Virginia Beach is the state’s most populous city.
3. “Old Dominion” is a colonial-era nickname.
King Charles II used the phrase for Virginia after the English Civil War, and it remains one of the state’s best-known names.
4. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Founded in 1607, Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement; its site is preserved within Colonial National Historical Park.
5. Virginia’s first representative assembly met in 1619.
The House of Burgesses began in Jamestown in 1619 and is an important landmark in the history of representative government in English North America.
6. Eight U.S. presidents were born in Virginia.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson were born in Virginia.
7. The Chesapeake Bay shapes eastern Virginia.
The bay supports commercial fishing, military activity, shipping, recreation, and an extensive network of tidal rivers and estuaries.
8. Arlington National Cemetery is in Virginia.
The national cemetery sits across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., on the former Arlington estate.
9. The Pentagon is in Arlington County.
The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense is located in Northern Virginia, reflecting the state’s close connection to the federal government.
10. Virginia has a major naval presence.
Naval Station Norfolk is a key U.S. Navy installation, and the Hampton Roads region has long been important to national defense and shipbuilding.
11. Shenandoah National Park protects Blue Ridge scenery.
Skyline Drive follows the crest of the Blue Ridge through the park, offering overlooks, trails, and a window into Appalachian ecology.
12. Richmond was the Confederate capital for most of the Civil War.
The city’s museums and historic sites interpret the Confederate government, slavery, emancipation, and the war’s devastating local impact.
13. Virginia’s cities have a distinctive legal structure.
The Commonwealth has 95 counties and 38 independent cities, an unusual arrangement in American local government.
14. The Appalachian Trail crosses the western part of the state.
Virginia contains one of the longest continuous stretches of the trail, including viewpoints in Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge.
15. Virginia connects history with contemporary technology and food.
From colonial sites and Civil War battlefields to Northern Virginia’s technology economy and Tidewater seafood, the state contains many different Virginias.
Sources and Further Reading
- Virginia state government
- Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- National Park Service: Colonial
- National Park Service: Shenandoah
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts