Virginia is known for:
- Appalachian Trail
- The Arlington National Cemetary
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
- Presidential homes
- Capital of the Confederacy
- Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
VA |
| State Capital |
Richmond |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 42,774 sq miles; Land Only: 39,594 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
95 |
| Time Zone |
Eastern Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia |
| Highest Point | Mount Rogers, 5,729 feet |
| Tallest Building | The Westin Virginia BeachTown Center in Virginia Beach, 508 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, capacity 66,233 |
| National Parks | Shenandoah National Park |
| State Population (2020) | 8,631,393 |
| State Population Density | 218.0 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
276, 434, 540, 571, 703, 757, 804, 826, 948 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Virginia Beach (451,231)
Chesapeake (247,011)
Norfolk (242,803)
Richmond (232,226)
Newport News (179,062)
|
Government & Legislature
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 |
Sports Teams
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Arlington National Cemetery: Military cemetery in Arlington, 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.
- Blue Ridge Parkway: Scenic drive that goes through Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia.
- Colonial Williamsburg: Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia.
- First Landing State Park: State park in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- George Washington's Mount Vernon: Plantation house of George Washington, located in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
- Great Falls Park: Park in northern Virginia.
- Jamestown Settlement: First permanent English settlement in the Americas. Located in Jamestown, Virginia.
- Kings Dominion: Theme park in Doswell, Virginia.
- Luray Caverns: Cave in Luray, Virginia.
- Shenandoah National Park: National park along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
- Shenandoah Valley: Valley in western Virginia.
- Skyline Drive: 109-mile road that runs the entire length of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
- Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: Primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, located in Charlottesville, Virginia.
- USS Wisconsin: Historic battleship in Norfolk, Virginia.
- Virginia Aquarium: Aquarium in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: Art museum in Richmond, Virginia.
- Water Country USA: Water park in Williamsburg, Virginia.
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Virginia. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
Popular Iconic Virginia Foods
Virginia is famous for the following foods:
- Brunswick Stew
- Country Ham
- Peanut Soup
- Virginia Peanut Pie
- Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab
- Barbecue
- Ham Biscuits
- Pimento Cheese
Virginia has 1 three-star Michelin restaurant:
| Restaurant |
City |
Cuisine |
| The Inn at Little Washington | Washington | American, French |
Famous People Born In Virginia
Nobel Prize Winners
United States Presidents
- George Washington (1st President)
- Thomas Jefferson (3rd President)
- James Madison (4th President)
- James Monroe (5th President)
- William Henry Harrison (9th President)
- John Tyler (10th President)
- Zachary Taylor (12th President)
- Woodrow Wilson (28th President)
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Bill Dudley (Halfback. Inducted in 1966)
- Ace Parker (Quarterback. Inducted in 1972)
- Rosey Brown (Offensive Tackle. Inducted in 1975)
- Willie Lanier (Linebacker. Inducted in 1986)
- Fran Tarkenton (Quarterback. Inducted in 1986)
- Henry Jordan (Defensive Tackle. Inducted in 1995)
- Lawrence Taylor (Linebacker. Inducted in 1999)
- George Allen (Coach, General Manager. Inducted in 2002)
- Bruce Smith (Defensive End. Inducted in 2009)
- Charles Haley (Defensive End, Linebacker. Inducted in 2015)
- Kenny Easley (Strong Safety. Inducted in 2017)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Eppa Rixey (Pitcher. Inducted in 1963)
- Ray Dandridge (Third Baseman. Inducted in 1987)
- Leon Day (Pitcher. Inducted in 1995)
- Jud Wilson (Third Baseman. Inducted in 2006)
- Pete Hill (Center Fielder. Inducted in 2006)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Moses Malone (Center-Forward. Inducted in 2001)
- Ralph Sampson (Center. Inducted in 2012)
- Alonzo Mourning (Center. Inducted in 2014)
- Allen Iverson (Guard. Inducted in 2016)
- Bob Dandridge (Forward. Inducted in 2021)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Sandra Bullock
- Shirley MacLaine
- George C. Scott
Famous Singers
- Chris Brown
- Missy Elliott
- Parrell Williams
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.
This page was last updated on July 10, 2023.
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