Virginia

This article is about the U.S. state. For other uses, see Virginia (disambiguation).
"The Old Dominion" redirects here. For other uses, see Old Dominion.

Virginia
State
Commonwealth of Virginia
Navy blue flag with the circular Seal of Virginia centered on it.
Flag
A circular seal with the words "Virginia" on the top and "Sic Semper Tyrannis" on the bottom. In the center, a woman wearing a blue toga and Athenian helmet stands on the chest of dead man wearing a purple breastplate and skirt. The woman holds a spear and sheathed sword. The man holds a broken chain while his crown lies away from the figures. Orange leaves encircle the seal.
Seal
Nicknames: 
Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents
Motto(s): 
Sic semper tyrannis
(English: Thus Always to Tyrants)[1]
Anthem: "Our Great Virginia"
Virginia is located on the Atlantic coast along the line that divides the northern and southern halves of the United States. It runs mostly east to west. It includes a small peninsula across a bay which is discontinuous with the rest of the state.
Map of the United States with Virginia highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodColony of Virginia
Admitted to the UnionJune 25, 1788 (10th)
CapitalRichmond
Largest cityVirginia Beach
Largest metro and urban areasWashington (metro and urban)
Government
 • GovernorGlenn Youngkin (R)
 • Lieutenant governorWinsome Sears (R)
LegislatureGeneral Assembly
 • Upper houseSenate
 • Lower houseHouse of Delegates
JudiciarySupreme Court of Virginia
U.S. senators
U.S. House delegation6 Democrats
5 Republicans (list)
Area
 • Total
42,774.2 sq mi (110,785.67 km2)
 • Rank35th
Dimensions
 • Length430 mi (690 km)
 • Width200 mi (320 km)
Elevation
950 ft (290 m)
Highest elevation
(Mount Rogers[2])
5,729 ft (1,746 m)
Lowest elevation
(Atlantic Ocean)
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
8,715,698[3]
 • Rank12th
 • Density219.3/sq mi (84.7/km2)
  • Rank14th
 • Median household income
$80,615
 • Income rank
10th
DemonymVirginian
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
 • Spoken language
  • English 86%
  • Spanish 6%
  • Other 8%
Time zoneUTC-05:00 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation
VA
ISO 3166 codeUS-VA
Traditional abbreviationVa.
Latitude36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N
Longitude75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W
Websitevirginia.gov

Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia,[a] is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The state's capital is Richmond and its most populous city is Virginia Beach. Its most populous subdivision is Fairfax County, part of Northern Virginia, where slightly over a third of Virginia's population of 8.7 million live.

Eastern Virginia is part of the Atlantic Plain, and the Middle Peninsula forms the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Central Virginia lies predominantly in the Piedmont, the foothill region of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which cross the western and southwestern parts of the state. The fertile Shenandoah Valley fosters the state's most productive agricultural counties, while the economy in Northern Virginia is driven by technology companies and U.S. federal government agencies. Hampton Roads is also the site of the region's main seaport and Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval base.

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, leading to Virginia's nickname as the Old Dominion. Slaves from Africa and land from displaced native tribes fueled the growing plantation economy, but also fueled conflicts both inside and outside the colony. Virginians fought for the independence of the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution, and helped establish the new national government. During the American Civil War, the state government in Richmond joined the Confederacy, while many northwestern counties remained loyal to the Union, which led to the separation 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 have been competitive in Virginia since the repeal of Jim Crow laws in the 1970s. 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. Unlike other states, cities and counties in Virginia function as equals, but the state government manages most local roads. It is also the only state where governors are prohibited from serving consecutive terms.

  1. ^ Hamilton 2016, pp. 6
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference mtrogers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference QuickFacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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