Virginia
U.S. state / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia,[lower-alpha 1] is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The state's capital is Richmond, its most-populous city is Virginia Beach, and Fairfax County is the state's most-populous political subdivision. Virginia's population in 2022[update] was over 8.68 million, with 35% living within the Greater Washington metropolitan area. The Blue Ridge Mountains cross the western and southwestern parts of the state, while the state's central region lies mostly within the Piedmont. Eastern Virginia is part of the Atlantic Plain, with the Middle Peninsula forming the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
Virginia | |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth of Virginia | |
| Nickname(s): Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents | |
| Motto(s): | |
| Anthem: "Our Great Virginia" | |
 Map of the United States with Virginia highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Colony of Virginia |
| Admitted to the Union | June 25, 1788 (10th) |
| Capital | Richmond |
| Largest city | Virginia Beach |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Washington (metro and urban) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Glenn Youngkin (R) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Winsome Sears (R) |
| Legislature | General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Delegates |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court of Virginia |
| U.S. senators |
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| U.S. House delegation |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 42,774.2 sq mi (110,785.67 km2) |
| • Rank | 35th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 430 mi (690 km) |
| • Width | 200 mi (320 km) |
| Elevation | 950 ft (290 m) |
| Highest elevation | 5,729 ft (1,746 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 8,683,619[3] |
| • Rank | 12th |
| • Density | 219.3/sq mi (84.7/km2) |
| • Rank | 14th |
| • Median household income | $80,615 |
| • Income rank | 10th |
| Demonym | Virginian |
| Language | |
| • Official language | English |
| • Spoken language |
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| Time zone | UTC-05:00 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-04:00 (EDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | VA |
| ISO 3166 code | US-VA |
| Traditional abbreviation | Va. |
| Latitude | 36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N |
| Longitude | 75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W |
| Website | www |
Virginia's history begins with several indigenous groups, including the Powhatan. In 1607, the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World. Virginia's state nickname, the Old Dominion, is a reference to this status. Slave labor and land from displaced native tribes fueled the growing plantation economy, but also fueled conflicts both inside and outside the colony. Virginia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution, during which several key battles were fought there. More major battles were fought in Virginia during the American Civil War, which split the state as the government in Richmond joined the Confederacy, but many northwestern counties remained loyal to the Union and separated as the state of West Virginia in 1863. Although the state was under one-party rule for nearly a century following the Reconstruction era, both major political parties are competitive in modern Virginia.
Virginia's state legislature is the Virginia General Assembly, which was established in July 1619, making it the oldest current law-making body in North America. It is made up of a 40-member Senate and a 100-member House of Delegates. Unlike other states, cities and counties in Virginia function as equals, but the state government manages most local roads inside each. It is also the only state where governors are prohibited from serving consecutive terms. Virginia's economy is diverse with a strong agriculture industry in the Shenandoah Valley; high-tech and federal agencies in Northern Virginia, including the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency; and military facilities in Hampton Roads, the site of the region's main seaport.