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About Virginia

by Vishul Malik

Where is Virginia? Virginia is bordered by Maryland and Washington DC to the north and the east, Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky…


Where is Virginia?

Virginia is bordered by Maryland and Washington DC to the north and the east, Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the north and west. It has a total area of 42,774.2 square miles and an estimated population of 8,001,024, making it the twelfth-largest state in the United States. It is divided into 95 counties and 39 independent cities.

What is the capital of Virginia?

Richmond is the capital of the US state of Virginia. The city was founded in 1737. It is not a part of any county and is an independent city. The population of the city is 204,214 and it covers an area of 62.5 square miles. It became the capital of Virginia on April 18,1780. During the American Civil War, the city served as the capital of the Confederate States of America.

How did Virginia get its name?

The name of the state, Virginia, was applied by Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth in 1584. It is often suggested that the name of the state was given by Walter Raleigh to denote the status of the “Virgin Queen”.

Which is the largest city of Virginia?

Virginia Beach is the largest city in the state. It is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia and is an independent city. This area is also known as “America’s First Region” and includes independent cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. The total area of the city is 497.3 square miles and it has an estimated population 437,994. The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world.

Why is Virginia called “Old Dominion” or “Mother of Presidents”?

Virginia is often called the “Mother of Presidents” because eight US presidents were born here. It is also called “Mother of States” because of its role in being carved into states like Kentucky. The declaration of Virginia also played a pivotal role in drafting the constitution of the United States of America.

What is the official language of Virginia?

English is the official language of Virginia. Spanish is the other popular language.

What is the religion of Virginia?

The majority in Virginia are Christian. Baptists are the largest single group, constituting 27% of the population. Roman Catholics are the second-largest religious group in the state, followed by Methodists and Lutherans. Protestants and other Christians constitute 28% of the total population. 18% of the population are unaffiliated, while there is also a small percentage of Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and Muslims.

When did Virginia achieve statehood?

Virginia became the tenth state of United States of America on June 25, 1788.

Who is the political leader of Virginia?

Virginia is a politically competitive state for both the national parties. Northern region is liberal, while southern region is traditionally conservative. Robert Francis “Bob” McDonnell is the 71st and the current governor of Virginia. He was sworn into office on January 16, 2010. He defeated Democratic state senator, Creigh Deeds in 2009 general election. He currently serves as chairman of the Republican Governors Associations.

William T. “Bill” Bolling is the current lieutenant governor of Virginia. He defeated his Democratic opponent in 2005 and again in 2009 general elections. He is the first lieutenant governor to serve two consecutive terms since Don Beyer.

What are some of the famous places in Virginia?

Some of the notable places in Virginia are: Colonial National Historical Park, Wickham-Valentine House, Saint Luke’s Church, Sabine Hall, Jackson Ward Historic District, City Hall, Christ Church and Alexandria Historic District.

What is the economy of Virginia like?

Virginia is one of the richest state in the southern region of United States. Forbes magazine voted Virginia as the best state in the country for business. The economy of the state is balanced, with the Gross Domestic Product of the state being $383 billion. The services sector employs one-third of the total population. Agriculture, manufacturing, technology, finance and government are other major sectors. Virginia is the famous for coal, tobacco and computer chips. It is the fifth-largest producer of tobacco in the country. The world’s largest Internet service provider is based in Virginia.

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