VIRGINIA

One of the 13 original colonies, Virginia is a southeastern commonwealth with deep roots. It is bordered by Maryland to the northeast, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Kentucky and the Appalachian Mountains to the west. Originally inhabited by American Indians and the site of England’s first American colony at Jamestown, Virginia has a long and rich history in the context of our nation. Virginia played a vital role in the American Revolution as the birthplace of founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In addition, during The Civil War, its capital, Richmond, became the capital of the Confederacy and many influential battles were fought in the state. Today, Virginia is the headquarters of many government institutions and a hub of tourist and historical sites. These attractions include Arlington National Cemetery, Colonial Williamsburg, General Robert E. Lee’s House, and Mount Vernon, to name just a few.

Virginia has a population of over 8,000,000 and is divided into 95 counties and 38 independent cities. The state’s population is predominantly white and of European descent. Since the late 20th century, Virginia’s Hispanic population has also been rapidly growing. The heart of Virginia’s economy that once was agriculture, today comes from the services sector and the high-technology sector. The federal government and military institutions also remain huge contributors to Virginia’s economic growth. In fact, The Department of Defense is one of the state’s major employers. Besides a bustling economy, Virginia has a strong public school system with many options for four-year universities, such as the College of William and Mary and Virginia Tech. Containing major airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International and located in close proximity to all that Washington D.C. has to offer, Virginia is an ideal location for commuters. Sources: Brittanica Places, Brittanica Summary, History.com, vaco.org