Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia features a broad diversity in terms of population, economy, and geography. Located on the Atlantic coast in the southern United States, it is bordered on the west by the Blue Ridge [Page 928]Mountains, a part of the larger Appalachian Mountains that define much of the eastern United States. Virginia occupies 69,000 square miles, and with a contemporary population of nearly eight million people, Virginia is the 12th most populous state. Fairfax County, in the northern part of the state, is the largest municipality, and Virginia Beach, in the southern half of the state, is the largest city.

Jamestown, located in Jamestown Island, was established in 1607 and is the oldest permanent English settlement in the United States. Added to the Union in 1788, its original land area was carved up to create several Midwestern states, giving it the nickname “mother of states.” Virginia voted to secede from the United States on April 17, 1861, and the city of Richmond became the capital city of the south. Virginia is host to many of the most famous Civil War battlefields. Virginia is also known as the “mother of presidents,” as eight former U.S. presidents were born in Virginia, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. For this reason, Virginia attracts a great deal of historical tourism.

Virginia's economic base is extremely diverse and includes the military, agriculture, tourism, tobacco, and technology, as well as a number of federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The population of Virginia has become much more diversified in recent decades, with many Vietnamese and Korean immigrants moving to northern Virginia. In recent decades, Virginia has seen massive growth in media and technology, as it headquarters companies such as AOL-Time Warner. Virginia's Dulles Corridor carries 50 percent of the nation's Internet traffic. Virginia is also known for its exceptional educational opportunities, from its public and private K-12 schools to a number of renowned colleges and universities.