02020148 – Virginia

VIRGINIA

Virginia offers an unforgettable blend of history, scenic beauty, and outdoor adventure, from the colonial streets of Williamsburg and the battlefields of the Civil War to the vibrant culture of Richmond. Travelers can explore the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, drive the spectacular Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, or relax along the sandy beaches of Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay. Whether you're interested in American history, mountain hikes, charming small towns, or coastal escapes, Virginia offers something memorable for every visitor.

Chesapeake Bay Horses

In Chesapeake Bay a stunning wildlife spectacle takes place each year. The islands of Assateague and Chincoteague are home to a large herd of wild horses and each July they swim from one to the other where they are auctioned off. The purpose is to keep the numbers under control, but the Chincoteague Wild Pony Swim has become a major sectator event, attracting crowds of 40,000 to the shoreline.

In Virginia, history and tobacco are inseparable. The first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London. The colony’s founders initially hoped to cultivate silk, but tobacco soon proved to be a far more profitable and reliable crop, ultimately ensuring the colony’s survival. Long before Jamestown, Sir Walter Raleigh had explored the region in the late sixteenth century, and the name “Virginia,” honoring Queen Elizabeth I—the “Virgin Queen”—came to be applied to the vast English claim stretching from Spanish Florida in the south to French Canada in the north.

The Mother of States

Virginia has played a central role in American history. It stood at the heart of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, and remarkably, both conflicts concluded on Virginia soil. During the Civil War, the state’s western counties opposed secession and broke away to form the Union state of West Virginia in 1863. Earlier, in 1792, Kentucky had been carved from Virginia’s western frontier, helping earn Virginia the nickname “The Mother of States.”

Today, Virginia stretches from the Cumberland and Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The state’s distinctive shape also includes the counties of the Eastern Shore, located across the bay on the Delmarva Peninsula. The James River flows through the heart of Virginia and passes through the capital city of Richmond, while the Potomac River forms much of the state’s northeastern border with Maryland.

In the northeastern corner lies Arlington County, now closely intertwined with neighboring Washington, D.C. Home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, the area reflects Virginia’s deep connections to the federal government and the military. Government agencies, defense contractors, and military installations are among the state’s largest employers. Beyond these sectors, Virginia has become a global technology hub. Northern Virginia is home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of data centers, earning the state the nickname “The Internet Capital of the World.” These facilities are estimated to handle more than half of the world’s internet traffic.

Country Life

Yet beyond the bustling suburbs and government corridors, much of Virginia retains its traditional rural character. The fertile Shenandoah Valley is dotted with farms and orchards, while the Blue Ridge Mountains are blanketed with forests of pine and hardwood. To the east, the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coastline offer miles of beaches, wetlands, and fishing communities that have shaped Virginia’s culture for generations.

The state’s culinary traditions reflect this blend of countryside and coast. In southern Virginia, visitors can enjoy hearty comfort foods such as Brunswick stew and fried chicken served with black-eyed peas. Farther north, Virginia is known for its vineyards, cured country ham, and abundant seafood. The waters of the Chesapeake Bay produce some of the nation’s finest oysters, blue crabs, and other shellfish.

History remains visible at every turn. Virginia is home to countless historic landmarks, battlefields, colonial settlements, and presidential homes. No other state can claim more presidents by birth, with eight commanders-in-chief hailing from Virginia, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Despite this remarkable record, it has been more than a century since a Virginia-born president occupied the White House. That distinction belongs to Woodrow Wilson, whose presidency ended in 1921.

From colonial beginnings and pivotal moments in American history to cutting-edge technology and enduring rural traditions, Virginia continues to bridge the nation’s past, present, and future.

STATEHOOD

June 25, 1788

CAPITAL CITY

Richmond

STATE PARKS

Virginia has 44 state parks.

NATIONAL PARKS

Virginia is home to one national park.

Shenandoah National Park

FUN FACTS

Both the First Battle of Bull Run (the first major land battle of the Civil War) and General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox took place on properties owned by the exact same man, Wilmer McLean.

The famous soda Mountain Dew was originally formulated in the mountains of Southwest Virginia.

Arlington, Virginia, is home to the Pentagon, which is the largest single office building in the world by floor area.

Approximately 70% of the world’s internet traffic is estimated to flow through the massive data center hubs located in Northern Virginia.