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 |
| 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.
Popular Iconic Virginia Foods
Virginia is famous for the following foods:
- Brunswick Stew
- Country Ham
- Peanuts
- 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 January 30, 2023.
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