What are the Key Facts of Virginia?

Where is Virginia?

Virginia is officially known as the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the 10th state admitted to the union of the United States of America on June 25, 1788. The state is in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Maryland surrounds it to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south. Kentucky also borders it to the west and West Virginia to the northwest. Richmond is the capital of the state.

What is the Geography of Virginia?

Virginia spreads across a total area of 42,774.2 sq. mi (110,785.67 sq. km). Out of which 39,490 sq. mi (102,279 sq. km) is the land area. While 3,180.13 sq. mi (8,236.5 sq. km) is the water area of Virginia. Water bodies constitute 7.7% of the total area of the state. It is in the 35th rank in terms of area of the US.

There are plenty of rivers in the state. Some of the prominent rivers of the state are- the Rappahannock River, the York River, and the James River, Possum Creek, Roach River, and so on. The James River is the largest river of Virginia flowing across the entire state. Its length is 560 km.

The state’s mean elevation is 950 ft (290 m) above sea level. The highest elevation point of the state is Mount Rogers, which is 5,729 ft (1,746 m), while its lowest elevation point is the Atlantic Ocean, which is 0 ft (0 m).

Geographers have divided the state into five physical regions, such as the Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau.

There are several mountains in the state, but some of the famous mountains of the state are the Blue Ridge Mountains, Southwest Mountains, Broken Hills, Bull Run Mountains, Catoctin Mountain, Massanutten Mountain and many more. Mount Rogers in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest natural point in the state.

Forests cover a large number of areas of the state. It is an estimation that a total of 68,626 acres (107.2 sq. mi; 277.7 sq. km) is a forest area of the state. Forests constitute 62.93% of the total area in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Forestry manages the state’s forests.

It is home to several species, including- Beaver, Black Bear, Bobcat, Coyote, Deer. Red Fox, Gray Fox, and many more. More than 400 species of birds are present in the state, such as Winter Cardinal, Red-Tailed Hawk, American Goldfinch, Mama Osprey, and so on.

Flowering dogwood is the state tree of Virginia, while American Dogwood is the state’s flower. Besides this, Virginia Big-Eared Bat is the state animal, and Northern Cardinal is the symbol of the state’s bird.

What is the Climate of Virginia?

The climate of the state is humid, subtropical. It experiences hot summers and cold winters. The state receives moderate rainfall throughout the year.

The average summer temperature in the state remains 86°F (30°C) at the peak of July. But the temperature in the southern and eastern parts of the state reaches more than 95°F (35°C) in summer. Winters are cold; the average temperature dips to 26°F (-3.3°C) in January. However, the temperature in the cold zone of the state in December remains between 22°F (-5.6°C) to 53°F (11.7°C), while coastal places like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hampton generally remains warm between 34°F (1.1°C) to 53°F (11.7°C).

The state receives an average annual rainfall of 43 inches (1092.2mm), while snowfall takes place from December to March. It registers snowfall of 8 inches (203.2mm) along the coast while in the mountains, the state gets 25 inches (635mm) snowfall. Heavy snow takes place in Piedmont and mountainous regions; the Appalachians get over 100 inches (2540mm) snowfall annually. The state experiences the average annual sunshine between 2500 to 2600 hours.

What is the Economy of Virginia?

Tobacco was the primary source of Virginia’s economy, but at present, livestock and livestock products are the prominent sources of agricultural income. The state’s five agrarian products such as broilers (young chickens), beef cattle and calves, dairy products, greenhouse and nursery products, and turkeys generate maximum revenue. Its main crops are soybean, tobacco, sweet corn, cotton, wheat, peanuts, barley, and so on.

The state is famous for manufacturing cotton cloth, soft drinks, beer, pharmaceuticals, synthetic fibers. It is also renowned for the production of transportation equipment like boats and ships, motor vehicle parts, trucks, etc.

In the mining sector, it is a leading producer of coal along with crushed stone, sand and gravel, lime, kyanite, and clay.

The state is also known for the massive production of crab, oysters, summer flounder, striped bass, etc.

The state’s community, business, and personal services group are the prominent services industry generating revenue via private health care, hotels and motels, computer programming & engineering companies, and repair shops.

The total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state was the US $ 554,211.0 in 2019, while the per capita personal income of the state was 60,116 US dollars in 2019.

What is the Transportation System of Virginia?

The Virginia Department of Transportation maintains the Virginia State Highway System. It maintains the state’s highways network comprising over 127,000 lane-miles networks (As per 2017 data). Some of the essential primary highways of Virginia are 1-64, 1-66, 1-73, 1-74, 1-77, and so on, while major auxiliary highways of the state are-1-195, 1-264, 1-266, 1-295, etc.

The state made significant growth in passenger rail service in 2019 by constructing a new rail bridge over the Potomac River, while many new rail tracks were laid. Some of the vital railroad passenger carriers in the state are- Amtrak (AMTK), The Tide, Virginia Railway Express, and so on.

The state is well connected by air. It has various airports, some of the major ones’ are-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) and many more.

What is the Origin of the Name of “Virginia”?

The name “Virginia” derives from England’s Queen Elizabeth I. During the period of early 1600s, all of North America that was neither French nor Spanish was then called “Virginia” in respect of “The Virgin Queen”.

Why is Virginia Called “Old Dominion”?

There are several nicknames of the state, but the most familiar nickname of the state is “Old Dominion”. This nickname originated in colonial days by the loyalty of Virginia to the Royalist cause during the English Civil War and later. King Charles II had given this nickname due to Virginia’s devotion to the Crown after the restoration.

The state also has some other nicknames such as “Mother of Presidents’, “Mother of Statesmen”, “Mother of States”, and “The Cavalier State”.

What are the Popular Tourist Attractions in Virginia?

The state is full of various remarkable tourist attractions. The popular tourist spots in the state are Shenandoah National Park, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Monticello and Charlottesville, Jamestown, and Yorktown, Luray Caverns and many more. Apart from these tourists have plenty of things to see and enjoy a lot in Virginia.

Facts About Virginia

1.The Old Dominion is the pet name of Virginia.

2.It happens to be the 35th state in USA in terms of size.

3.Cherokee, Nottaway, Powhatan, Occaneechi, Manahoac, Saponi, Meherrin, Shawnee, Monacan, Tutelo and Nahyssan were the earliest inhabitants of Virginia.

4.Cardinal is the officially recognized bird.

5.Virginia obtained statehood on 25th June 1788. It was the 10th member of USA.

6.The state was the capital of the Confederacy at the time of American Civil War.

7.The officially acknowledged flower of Virginia is Dogwood.

8.Tobacco plantation started in 1812. John Rolfe, who hailed from Jamestown, can be credited for this.

9.Virginia has received its name from Elizabeth I, who was also dubbed the Virgin Queen.

10.This southern American state is the 12th biggest with respect to population.

11.Missionaries from Spain established a colony in 1570 in Virginia.

12.Both American Civil War and Revolutionary War ended with giving up of arms that occurred in this state.

13.Virginia Beach is the hugest city in this American state.

14.Individuals who reside in the state are Virginians.

15.The officially approved tree of Virginia is Dogwood.

16.The biggest bridge tunnel structure is in the state – Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

17.George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson are natives of Virginia.

18.James Monroe is from this state.

19.The earliest everlasting English settlement of Virginia was set up by Captain John Smith. It was established in 1607.

20.West Virginia and Kentucky were created from Virginia.