Virginia

"The Old Dominion" redirects here. For other uses, see Old Dominion (disambiguation) and Virginia (disambiguation).

Commonwealth of Virginia
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents, Mother of States
Motto(s): Sic semper tyrannis (English: Thus Always to Tyrants)[1]
Official language	English
Spoken languages	English 85.87%, Spanish 6.41% Other 7.72%
Demonym	Virginian
Capital	Richmond
Largest city	Virginia Beach
Largest metro	Washington metropolitan area
Area	Ranked 35th
• Total	42,774.2 sq mi (110,785.67 km2)
• Width	200 miles (320 km)
• Length	430 miles (690 km)
• % water	7.4
• Latitude	36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N
• Longitude	75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W
Population	Ranked 12th
• Total	8,382,993 (2015 est)[2]
• Density	206.7/sq mi  (79.8/km2) Ranked 14th
• Median household income	$61,486[3] (14th)
Elevation
• Highest point	Mount Rogers[4][5] 5,729 ft (1746 m)
• Mean	950 ft  (290 m)
• Lowest point	Atlantic Ocean[4] sea level
Before statehood	Colony of Virginia
Admission to Union	June 25, 1788 (10th)
Governor	Terry McAuliffe (D)
Lieutenant Governor	Ralph Northam (D)
Legislature	General Assembly
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Delegates
U.S. Senators	Mark Warner (D) Tim Kaine (D)
U.S. House delegation	7 Republicans, 4 Democrats (list)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC −5/−4
ISO 3166	US-VA
Abbreviations	VA, Va.
Website	www.virginia.gov

[show]Virginia state symbols

Virginia (ⁱ/vərˈdʒɪnjə/, UK /vərˈdʒɪni.ə/, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia) is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States,^[6][7][8] as well as in the historic Southeast.^[9][10][11] Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" due to its status as the first colonial possession established in mainland British America,^[12] and "Mother of Presidents" because eight U.S. presidents were born there, more than any other state. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's estimated population as of 2014 is over 8.3 million.^[2]
The area's history begins with several indigenous groups, including the Powhatan. In 1607 the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent New World English colony. Slave labor and the land acquired from displaced Native American tribes each played a significant role in the colony's early politics and plantation economy. Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution and joined the Confederacy in the American Civil War, during which Richmond was made the Confederate capital and Virginia's northwestern counties seceded to form the state of West Virginia. Although the Commonwealth was under one-party rule for nearly a century following Reconstruction, both major national parties are competitive in modern Virginia.^[13]
The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World.^[14] The state government was ranked most effective by the Pew Center on the States in both 2005 and 2008.^[15] It is unique in how it treats cities and counties equally, manages local roads, and prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. Virginia's economy has many sectors: agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley; federal agencies in Northern Virginia, including the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); and military facilities in Hampton Roads, the site of the region's main seaport. Virginia's economy changed from primarily agricultural to industrial during the 1960s and 1970s, and in 2002 computer chips became the state's leading