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Virginia
State
CountryUnited States
Admitted to the UnionJune 25, 1788 (10th)
CapitalRichmond
Largest cityVirginia Beach
Largest metro and urban areasNorthern Virginia
Government
 • GovernorTim Kaine (D)
 • Upper house{{{Upperhouse}}}
 • Lower house{{{Lowerhouse}}}
U.S. senatorsJohn Warner (R)
Jim Webb (D)
Population
 • Total7,078,515
 • Density178.8/sq mi (69.03/km2)
 • Median household income
$53,275
 • Income rank
7th
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
 • Spoken languageEnglish 94.3%, Spanish 5.8%
Latitude36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N
Longitude75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W

The Commonwealth of Virginia (Template:PronEng) is a Southeastern state on the Atlantic Coast of the United States of America. Virginia is the 12th-most populous state in the U.S. with over 7.7 million residents[2] and the 35th largest in area. It is named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the Virgin Queen as she never married. The Virginia Colony was the first permanently settled English colony in the New World; founded on May 13, 1607 by the Virginia Company of London. Up to the American Revolution, Virginia was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution to form the United States of America.

The capital of the commonwealth is Richmond. Virginia Beach can be noted as the largest city in terms of population, however, Fairfax County in Northern Virginia is the most populous political subdivision in the state. Alternatively, Arlington is the most densely populated jurisdiction, and the largest city geographically is Suffolk, which includes a large portion of the Great Dismal Swamp. While Virginia's population is primarily white and of Northern European ancestry, over one-fifth of residents are African American with notable populations of Latinos and Asian-Americans.[3] Though traditionally conservative and historically considered part of the Southern United States, Virginia is a politically competitive state with both conservative and liberal areas and culturally shows elements of the North as well as the South.[4] Virginia is popularly known as the "The Old Dominion" and sometimes "Mother of Presidents" or "Mother of States", because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents and its role in being carved into several mid-western states, respectively.[5]

Virginia has a diverse economy. In Northern Virginia, there are a large number of people who work for the federal government due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. There are also many people in the area employed by the military as the Pentagon is located in Arlington County and other installations are nearby. The Hampton Roads region is also home to many service men and women. Norfolk is home to the world's largest naval base and neighboring cities host an array of bases representing several branches of the military. The Historic Triangle, located to the immediate northwest of the Hampton Roads region, includes Jamestown, Yorktown and the living museum of Colonial Williamsburg and forms one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.[6] The growth of the technology sector has made computer chips the state's leading export, due in part to the strength of Virginia's public schools and universities; some of which are at the top of national rankings.[7]

Geography

See also: List of Virginia counties; List of Virginia county seats; and Lost Counties, Cities and Towns of Virginia
Map of Virginia

Virginia is bordered by Maryland and the District of Columbia to the north; by Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east; by North Carolina and Tennessee to the south; and by Kentucky and West Virginia to the west. Due to a peculiarity of Virginia's original charter, its northern boundary with Maryland does not extend past the low-water mark of the southern shore of the Potomac River, meaning Maryland possesses the whole width of the river rather than it being split between them.[8] This is also the case in areas where the Potomac River runs between the District of Colombia and Virginia--the District has full possession of the river.[citation needed] Virginia has an area of 42,774 square miles (110,784 km2) making it the thirty-fifth largest state.[9]

Virginia has many National Park Service units, including one national park, the Shenandoah National Park, numerous other areas in the National Park System, and thirty-four Virginia state parks.

Geology and terrain

See also: List of Virginia rivers and Virginia seismic zone

The Chesapeake Bay divides the commonwealth, with Virginia's Eastern Shore, a part of the Delmarva Peninsula, a separate exclave from the rest of the commonwealth. Geographically, Virginia is divided into the following six regions:

  • Ridge and Valley—between the Appalachian Plateau and Allegheny Plateau to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east. Sometimes referred to as Valley and Ridge.
  • Shenandoah Valley—located within the Ridge and Valley Region; it is referred to geographically—and culturally— as its own region.
  • Blue Ridge Mountains—between the Ridge and Valley Region to the west and the Piedmont region to the east.
  • Foothills—area now recognized directly between the Piedmont and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Pertaining to the counties of Madison, Green, Albemarle, and Nelson. Denotes a region just west of the Southwest Mountains range and north of the James river subject to its own unique microclimate.
  • Piedmont—between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Tidewater region to the east.
  • Tidewater—between the fall line to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east; it includes the Eastern Shore.
Virginia - topographic map

Virginia's long east-west axis means that metropolitan northern Virginia lies as close to New York City and New England as to its own rural western panhandle. Lee County, at the tip of the panhandle, is closer to eight other state capitals than it is to Richmond, Virginia's own capital.

Virginia has not had a history of seismic activity: the earthquakes are rarely above 4.5 on the Richter magnitude scale. The largest, at 6.0 magnitude, came in 1897 in Blacksburg.[10] There is no volcanic activity in the state, and it is located centrally on the North American Plate—where the Earth's crust is thicker than at the edges—which leads to fewer strong earthquakes.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Virginia
The Blue Ridge Mountains have a humid continental climate.

Most of the state east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, plus the southern part of the Shenandoah Valley, has a humid subtropical climate. In the mountainous areas west of the Blue Ridge, the climate becomes humid continental.[11] Many variations occur because of the state's significant relief. Elevations in Virginia vary from sea level to Mount Rogers at 5,729 feet (1,746 m) above sea level, with major gradations occurring at the edges of the Atlantic Ocean, the end of the Piedmont, and the Blue Ridge and Allegheny chains of the Appalachian Mountains.

The moderating influence of the ocean from the east, powered by the Gulf Stream, also creates the potential for hurricanes near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Cold air masses arrive over the mountains, especially in winter, can lead to significant snowfalls, such as the Blizzard of 1996. The interaction of these elements with the state's topography create micro-climates in the Shenandoah Valley, the mountainous southwest, and the coastal plains that are slightly but noticeably distinct from each other.[12] An additional element in recent years is the expansion of the southern suburbs of Washington into northern Virginia, creating an urban heat island due to the increased energy output of the city.[13]

Severe weather is a concern in Virginia. Hurricanes make the coastal area of Virginia vulnerable. It is rare for a major hurricane to threaten the Virginia coast as hurricanes this far north tend to become somewhat weakened, though Hurricane Gaston in 2004 inundated Richmond.[14] Virginia is often struck with the remnants of systems which hit further south bringing torrential rain to the state. Thunderstorms are an occasional concern with the state averaging anywhere from 35-45 days of thunderstorm activity annually, with the highest area of occurrence going towards the west.[15] The state averages more than 85 tornadoes per year, though most are F2 and lower on the Fujita scale, and Eastern Virginia has a lower rate of tornadoes.[16]

History

Main article: History of Virginia

Indigenous Americans

See also: Native American tribes in Virginia
A 19th century depiction of Pocahontas, of the Powhatan tribe, an ancestor of many of the First Families of Virginia.

At the time of the English colonization of Virginia, Native American people living in what now is Virginia include tribes known as the Cherokee, Chesepian, Chickahominy, Chiskiack, Mattaponi, Meherrin, Monacan, Moobs, Nansemond, Nottoway, Pamunkey, Povic, Powhatan, Occoneechees, Rappahannock, Saponites and others.[17] The natives are often divided into three groups, based to a large extent upon language differences. The largest group are known as the Algonquian who numbered over 10,000, most of whom were united in the Powhatan Confederacy led by Chief Powhatan. The other groups are the Iroquoian (numbering 2,500) and the Siouan.[18]

Colony

Main article: Colony of Virginia

In 1583, Queen Elizabeth I of England granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter to explore and plant a colony in North America north of Florida.[19] In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh explored the Atlantic coast of North America. Raleigh, or possibly the Queen herself, named the area "Virginia" after Queen Elizabeth, known as the "Virgin Queen" because she never married.[20] The name eventually applied to the whole coast from South Carolina to Maine, and included Bermuda. The London Virginia Company was incorporated as a joint stock company by a proprietary charter drawn up on April 10, 1606. The Charter of 1606 granted lands from approximately the 34th parallel (North Carolina) north to approximately the 45th parallel (Canadian border) and from the Atlantic Ocean westward.[21] In 1607 the Company financed the first permanent English settlement in the New World, at Jamestown, named for King James I. The settlement was founded by Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. Its Second Charter was officially ratified on May 23, 1609.[22] That year many of the colonists died during the "starving time".[23]

To try to attract more settlers, Virginia used the headright system, in which each family of settlers got fifty acres per person.[24] The House of Burgesses was established in 1619 as the colony's elected governance.[25] Slavery was also first introduced to the colony in 1619.[26] with the founding of the colony. A dispute over how to deal with the natives led to Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. Jamestown remained capital of the Virginia Colony until the State House burned for the fourth time in 1698. the colonial capital then was moved to nearby Middle Plantation, renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III, where the College of William and Mary had been founded in 1693.[26] Virginia was given the title, "Dominion", by King Charles II of England at the time of The Restoration, because it had remained loyal to the crown during the English Civil War. The present moniker, "Old Dominion" is a reference to that title.[27]

Independence

Further information: [[:Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War]] and [[:Virginia Conventions]]
Patrick Henry before the House of Burgesses in an 1851 painting by Peter F. The subject is Patrick Henry's speech on the Virginia Resolves against the Stamp Act of 1765.

In 1769, the House of Burgesses, after speaking on the distresses of the British Taxation without representation in which Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee were leading the committee, was dissolved by the appointed governor Lord Botetourt.[citation needed]

Virginia sent delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, beginning in 1774. On May 12, 1776 the Virginia Convention called for independence from the British Empire, and Thomas Jefferson started working on a new constitution for Virginia.[28] Shortly thereafter, the Virginia Convention adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights written by George Mason, a document that influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.[29] Then on June 29, 1776, the convention enacted a constitution that formally declared Virginia as an independent commonwealth.[30]

Patrick Henry served as the first Governor of the new commonwealth from 1776 to 1779, and again from 1784 to 1786. In 1780, the capital was moved to Richmond at the urging of then-Governor Thomas Jefferson, who was afraid that Williamsburg's location made it vulnerable to a British attack during the American Revolutionary War.[31] In the autumn of 1781, the combined action of Continental and French land and naval forces trapped the British on the Yorktown peninsula, preventing reinforcement, resupply or escape. Troops under George Washington and French Comte de Rochambeau defeated British General Cornwallis in the crucial Battle of Yorktown. The subsequent British surrender on October 19, 1781 so shifted British public opinion that it led to the end of major hostilities and secured the independence of the former colonies.[32]

Virginians were involved in the writing of the United States Constitution. James Madison, considered Father of the Constitution, drafted the Virginia Plan in 1787, and the Bill of Rights in 1789. Virginia ratified the Constitution on June 25, 1788. The three-fifths compromise ensured that Virginia initially had the largest bloc in the House of Representatives, which with the Virginia dynasty of presidents gave the commonwealth national importance.[33] In 1790, both Virginia and Maryland ceded territory to form the new District of Columbia, but in an Act of the U.S. Congress dated July 9, 1846, the area south of the Potomac was retroceded to Virginia effective 1847.[34] Kentucky was also part of Virginia, but successfully petitioned for separation, and was admitted to the Union in 1792.

American Civil War

Main article: Virginia in the American Civil War
Richmond was the capital of the Confederate States of America.

Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831 and John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 showed deep social division and discontent over the issue of slavery in Virginia and its role in the plantation economy.[35] However, slave labor was increasingly used profitably not only in agriculture, but also in mining, shipbuilding and other industries.[36] By 1860, almost half a million people, roughly 31% of the total population of Virginia, were enslaved.[37]

Virginia seceded from the Union on April 17, 1861 after Lincoln's call for volunteers to attack the Confederate States of America (CSA) after its attack on Fort Sumter. Virginia briefly operated as an independent state. On June 8 it turned over its military and ratified the Constitution of the Confederate States on June 19. Upon Virginia's admission to the Confederacy, the CSA moved its capitol from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond. In 1863 forty-eight counties remaining loyal to the Union in the northwest of the state separated from Virginia to form the State of West Virginia, an act which was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in 1870.[38]

More battles were fought on Virginia soil than anywhere else in America during the Civil War including the First Battle of Bull Run, Second Battle of Bull Run, the Seven Days Battles, the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. After those major battles and the capture of Richmond, the confederate capitol was moved to Danville, Virginia.

With the work of the Committee of Nine, Virginia formally rejoined the union on January 26, 1870, during Reconstruction. The state legislature kept virtually unaltered for 32 years, the constitution which it adopted in 1870 during Reconstruction. It provided for Negro suffrage, a system of free public schools, homestead exemption and guarantee of civil and political rights.[39]

Twentieth century

Douglas Wilder campaigned for civil rights in Virginia, and became the first African American elected governor in the United States.

By 1902, the Jim Crow era had taken root in Virginia, and the Constitution of Virginia was rewritten to include a poll tax and other measures that effectively disfranchised African Americans and reversed the progress they had made after the Civil War.[40] The 1902 constitution remained in force until again redrafted in 1971. In 1950 the first black students attended the University of Virginia School of Law and in 1952 they gained admission to Virginia Tech.[41] Despite the determination of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, Virginia declared in 1958 that desegregated schools would not receive state funding, under the policy of "massive resistance" spearheaded by Senator Harry F. Byrd.[42] In 1959 Prince Edward County closed their schools rather than integrate them.[41]

However, following a series of legal setbacks, the proponents of massive resistance were forced to concede defeat and Virginia schools began to very slowly integrate.[42] The Civil Rights Movement gained many participants in the 1960s and achieved the moral force to gain national legislation for suffrage and civil rights for African Americans in Virginia and throughout the South. By the time state legislators wrote the 1971 constitution, goals such as legal integration and the repeal of Jim Crow laws had been achieved. On January 13, 1990, Douglas Wilder was elected Governor of Virginia and became the first African American to achieve that office since Reconstruction.

World War II and the Cold War led to massive expansion of government programs in the areas near Washington, including the record-breaking rapid construction of the Pentagon, United States Department of Defense headquarters. These programs became the basis of the Northern Virginia economy, based on well-educated, professional work force.[43] Subsequent growth of defense projects has also generated a local information technology industry. The Hampton Roads region has also grown due to government and military expansion. Because of the Pentagon site, northern Virginia was targeted in the September 11, 2001 attacks. One hundred eighty-five people died in the attack on the Pentagon.

In 1926, Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Williamsburg's Bruton Parish Church, began restoration of colonial era buildings in the historic district with financial backing of John D. Rockefeller Jr. The resulting Colonial Williamsburg project is a major part of the Historic Triangle and Virginia's top tourist destination.[6] At Jamestown 2007, Virginia marked its quadricentennial year, celebrating four hundred years since the establishment of the Jamestown Colony. The far-reaching social changes of the mid- to late-20th century were expressed by broad-based celebrations marking contributions of three cultures to the state: Native American, European and African.[44]

Cities and towns

Main articles: List of cities in Virginia and List of towns in Virginia
See also: List of U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in Virginia and Political subdivisions of Virginia
Richmond skyline crossing the Manchester Bridge
Roanoke as seen at night from the Mill Mountain Star
Downtown Stauton

Virginia is divided into independent cities and counties, which function in the same manner. According to the US Census Bureau, independent cities are considered county-equivalent.[45] Under Virginia law, all municipalities incorporated as cities are independent of any county. As of 2006, thirty-nine of the forty-two independent cities in the United States are in Virginia. Virginia does not have any political subdivisions, such as villages or townships, for areas of counties that are not within the boundaries of incorporated towns. There are hundreds of other unincorporated communities in Virginia, sometimes informally called towns.[46]

Richmond, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia are the most populated areas of the state. Richmond is the capital of Virginia, and the Greater Richmond Region has a population of over 1.3 million people. Because Richmond is home to both a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and a Federal Reserve bank, as well as offices for international firms such as Hunton & Williams LLP, McGuireWoods LLP, Reed Smith LLP, Troutman Sanders LLP, CapitalOne, Philip Morris USA, and numerous other banks and brokerages, Richmond has been cited as having evidence of being a Global city.[47]

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the commonwealth, with Norfolk and Chesapeake second and third, respectively. Roanoke is the largest city in southwestern Virginia. Norfolk forms the urban core of this metropolitan area, which is home to over 1.6 million people and the world's largest naval base.[48] Some other municipalities are incorporated towns, which are not independent of a county but are located within one of the 95 counties in Virginia.

Although it is not incorporated as a city, Fairfax County is the most populous locality in Virginia, with over one million residents.[49] Fairfax has a major urban business and shopping center in Tysons Corner, Virginia's largest office market.[50] Neighboring Loudoun County, with the county seat at Leesburg, is the fastest-growing county in the United States.[51] Arlington County, which lies across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and was originally part of the District of Columbia, is an urban community. It is much like a city but remains organized as a county, and has no towns within its borders. It is the smallest self-governing county in the United States, by land area.[52] The adjacent city of Alexandria has a historic seaport district.[53]

Demographics

See also: Virginia census statistical areas
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790691,737—
1800807,55716.7%
1810877,6838.7%
1820938,2616.9%
18301,044,05411.3%
18401,025,227−1.8%
18501,119,3489.2%
18601,219,6309.0%
18701,225,1630.5%
18801,512,56523.5%
18901,655,9809.5%
19001,854,18412.0%
19102,061,61211.2%
19202,309,18712.0%
19302,421,8514.9%
19402,677,77310.6%
19503,318,68023.9%
19603,966,94919.5%
19704,648,49417.2%
19805,346,81815.0%
19906,187,35815.7%
20007,078,51514.4%

As of 2006, Virginia had an estimated population of 7,642,884, which is an increase of 78,557, or 1.0%, from the prior year and an increase of 563,854, or 8.0%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 276,039 people (that is 633,794 births minus 357,755 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 276,292 people into the commonwealth. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 151,748 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 124,544 people. The commonwealth has 940,899 residents who were born outside the United States (8.14% of the population), while 99,104 were born in a different state. Also in 2006, 6.58% of Virginia's population were reported as under five years old, 24.6% under eighteen, and 11.2% were senior citizens-65+.[3] The center of population of Virginia is located in Goochland County.[54]

English was passed as the commonwealth's official language by statutes in 1981 and 1996, and by law in 2006, though the status is not mandated by the Constitution of Virginia.[55] English is the only language spoken by 6,201,784 (86.9%) Virginians, though it is spoken very well by an additional 536,508 (7.5%) for a total of 94.3% of the commonwealth which speaks English. Spanish has the most speakers of non-English languages, with 412,416 (5.8%). 240,332 (3.4%) speak Asian and Pacific Islander languages, including Vietnamese and Filipino.[56]

Ethnicity

Demographics of Virginia (csv)
By race White Black AIAN* Asian NHPI*
2000 (total population) 75.70% 20.54% 0.76% 4.32% 0.15%
2000 (Hispanic only) 4.17% 0.42% 0.09% 0.07% 0.02%
2005 (total population) 74.94% 20.65% 0.74% 5.20% 0.16%
2005 (Hispanic only) 5.44% 0.46% 0.10% 0.09% 0.03%
Growth 2000–05 (total population) 5.84% 7.49% 4.61% 28.64% 17.09%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only) 3.87% 7.27% 2.22% 28.47% 15.73%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only) 39.60% 18.30% 22.10% 38.58% 24.16%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Virginia Population Density Map

The five largest reported ancestry groups in Virginia are: African (19.6%), German (11.7%), unspecified American (11.4%), English (11.1%), Irish (9.8%).[57] Many of Virginia's African population are descended from enslaved Africans who worked its tobacco, cotton, and hemp plantations. Initially, these slaves were imported from west central Africa, primarily Angola. During the eighteenth century, however, about half of them were derived from various ethnicities located in the Niger Delta region of modern day Nigeria.[58] They contributed strongly to the development of Southern foodways, music, vernacular architecture, and religion. With continued immigration to Virginia of other European groups and the 19th century sales of tens of thousands of enslaved African Americans from Virginia to the Deep South, the percent of enslaved African Americans fell from once being half of the total population. By 1860 slaves comprised 31% of the state's population of 1.6 million.[37]

In colonial Virginia the majority of free people of color were descended from marriages or relationships of white women (servants or free) and black men (slave, servant or free), reflecting the fluid relationships among working people. Many free black families were well-established and headed by landowners by the Revolution.[59] From 1782 to 1818, a wave of slaveholders inspired by the Revolutionary ideals of equality freed slaves, until the legislature made manumissions more difficult. Some African Americans freed were those whose fathers were white masters, while others were freed for service.[60] By 1860 there were 58,042 free people of color (black or mulatto, as classified in the census) in Virginia.[37] Over the decades, many had gathered in the cities of Richmond and Petersburg where there were more job opportunities. Others were landowners who had working farms, or found acceptance from neighbors in the frontier areas of Virginia.[59]

The twentieth century Great Migration of blacks from the rural South to the urban North reduced Virginia's black population to about 20%.[3] Today, African-Americans are concentrated in the eastern and southern Tidewater and Piedmont regions where plantation agriculture was the most dominant.[61] The western mountains are populated primarily by people of heavily Scots-Irish ancestry. There are also sizable numbers of people of German descent in the northwestern mountains and Shenandoah Valley.

Because of immigration in the late 20th century and early 21st century, there are rapidly growing populations of Hispanics (particularly Central Americans) and Asians in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. Northern Virginia has the largest Vietnamese population on the East Coast, with slightly more than 99,000 Vietnamese residents.[62] In addition, the Hampton Roads area, in particular, has a large Filipino population.[63]

Religion

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is located in the Richmond's Fan district.
Religious affiliation[64]
Christian: 76% Baptist: 30%
Protestant: 49% Methodist: 7%
Roman Catholic: 14% Lutheran: 2%
Other Christian: 13% Presbyterian: 3%
Judaism: 1% Episcopal: 3%
Islam: 1% Pentecostal: 2%
Other religions: 4% Congregational: 1%
Non-religious: 12% Other/general: 2%

Virginia is predominantly Protestant; Baptists account as the largest single group with 30% of the population being members.[65] Roman Catholics, are the second-largest group, and also the third fastest growing. Islam, the second fastest growing group, accounts for 0.99% of the population. About 50.0% of those practicing non-Christian faiths come from India, and Buddhism and Hinduism combined form the fastest group, and largest of the "Other Religions" group, accounting for 1.00% of the population.[66] Non-denominational megachurches in the state include McLean Bible Church and Immanuel Bible Church.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington includes most of Northern Virginia's Catholic churches, while the Diocese of Richmond covers the rest. Baptist denominational groups in Virginia include the Baptist General Association of Virginia, with about 1,400 member churches, which supports both the Southern Baptist Convention and the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia with over 500 affiliated churches, which supports the Southern Baptist Convention.[67][68] The Virginia Synod is responsible for the churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Southern Virginia, and Southwestern Virginia support the various Episcopal churches. In November 2006, fifteen conservative Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Virginia voted to split from the diocese and the larger Anglican Communion church over the issue of the sexuality and the ordination of openly gay clergy and bishops. Virginia law allows parishioners to determine their church's affiliation. The resulting property law case is a test for Episcopal churches nationwide, as the diocese claims the church properties of those congregations that want to secede.[69]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Virginia

Virginia's economy is well balanced with diverse sources of income. From the Hampton Roads area to Richmond and down to Lee County in the southwest, the economy is based on military installations, and cattle, tobacco and peanut farming in Southside Virginia. Tomatoes recently surpassed soy as the most profitable crop in Virginia. Tobacco, peanuts and hay are also important agricultural products.[70] Wineries and vineyards in the Northern Neck and along the Blue Ridge Mountains also have begun to generate income and attract tourists.[71]

As of the 2000 census, Virginia had the highest number of counties and independent cities, fifteen, in the top one-hundred wealthiest jurisdictions in the United States based upon median income. In addition, Virginia tied with Colorado as having the most counties, ten, in the top one-hundred based on per capita income.[72] As of 2007, seven Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Richmond area.[73] Virginia has seventeen total Fortune 500 companies, making it rank tenth nationwide. Additionally, ten Fortune 1000 companies are in Northern Virginia, with a total of twenty-nine in the state.[74]

The Pentagon, headquarters of the US Department of Defense in Arlington, is the largest office building on earth.

Once considered the state's dairy capital, Northern Virginia hosts software, communication technology, and consulting companies. Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia have the highest and second highest median household income, respectively, of all counties in the United States as of 2006.[75] Virginia has the highest concentration of technology workers of any state.[76] Computer chips became the state's highest-grossing export in 2006, surpassing its traditional top exports of coal and tobacco, combined.[7] The Dulles Technology Corridor near Dulles International Airport has a high concentration of Internet, communications and software engineering firms.

Many of Northern Virginia's well-educated population work directly for Federal agencies. Many others work for defense and security contractors.[43] Well-known government agencies headquartered in Northern Virginia include the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense, as well as the National Science Foundation, the United States Geological Survey and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Hampton Roads area has the largest concentration of military bases and facilities of any metropolitan area in the world. The largest of the bases is Naval Station Norfolk.[48] The state is second to Alaska and ahead of North Dakota and New Mexico in per capita defense spending.[77]

Virginia collects personal income tax in five income brackets, ranging from 3.0% to 5.75%. The sales and use tax rate is 5%. The tax rate on food is 2.5%. There is an additional 1% local tax, for a total of a 5% combined sales tax on most Virginia purchases and a combined tax rate of 2.5% on food.[78] Virginia's property tax is set and collected at the local government level and varies throughout the commonwealth. Real estate is taxed at the local level based on 100% of fair market value. Tangible personal property also is taxed at the local level and is based on a percentage or percentages of original cost.[79]

Culture

Colonial Virginian culture and style is reenacted in Williamsburg.

Virginia's historic culture was popularized and spread across America and the South by Washington, Jefferson, and Lee, and their homes represent Virginia as the birthplace of America and of the South.[80] Modern Virginia culture is a subculture in the wider culture of the Southern United States. Because of its historic heritage, and location on the Atlantic Ocean, the commonwealth has many unique cultural aspects. Although the Piedmont dialect is one of the most famous with its strong influence on Southern American English, a more homogenized American English is favored in Northern and urban areas.[81] The Tidewater dialect is also a distinct local accent.[82]

Besides the general cuisine of the Southern United States, Virginia maintains its own particular traditions. Virginia wine is made in made in many parts of the state, including the American Viticultural Areas (AVA) of the Monticello AVA, North Fork AVA, Eastern Shore AVA, Northern Neck AVA, and the Rocky Knob AVA.[71] Smithfield ham, sometimes called Virginia ham, is a type of country ham which is protected by state law, and can only be produced in the town of Smithfield.[83]

Virginia furniture and architecture are typical of American colonial architecture. Thomas Jefferson and many of the states early leaders favored the Neoclassical architecture style, leading to its use for important state buildings. The Pennsylvania Dutch and their style can also be found in parts of the state.[84]

Fine and performing arts

See also: Music of Virginia
The Meadow Pavilion is one of the theaters at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities in Charlottesville works with the National Endowment for the Humanities to improve commonwealth's civic, cultural, and intellectual life.[85] The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a state funded museum with multiple branches in Virginia's cities. The museum is home to the largest collection of Fabergé eggs outside of Russia.[86] The Chrysler Museum of Art is home to many pieces, stemming from the Chrysler family collection, including the final sculpture of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.[87] Other museums include the popular Science Museum of Virginia, the Frontier Culture Museum, the Mariners' Museum, and the Art Museum of Western Virginia. Besides these sites, many open air museums and battlefields are located in the state, such as Colonial Williamsburg, Richmond National Battlefield, and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is located in Vienna and is the only national park intended for use as a performing arts center. Wolf Trap hosts the Wolf Trap Opera Company, which produces an opera festival every summer. The Harrison Opera House in the Ghent district of Norfolk is home to the official Virginia Opera. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is based in Hampton Roads. The American Shakespeare Center is located in Staunton, and home to resident and touring theater troupes. Other notable theaters include the Ferguson Center for the Arts, the Barter Theatre, and the Landmark Theater.

Besides native music, like Piedmont blues, bluegrass, and the traditional mountain music, Virginia has also launched many internationally successful popular music acts. Hip hop acts like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Clipse hail from the commonwealth. As does Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, and jam bands like the Pat McGee Band and Dave Matthews Band, who continue their strong charitable connection to Charlottesville, Virginia.[88] Influential stage-rock group GWAR also began in Virginia, at Virginia Commonwealth University. Major performance venues in the state include The Birchmere, Nissan Pavilion, the Patriot Center, and the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

Festivals

The annual Celebrate Fairfax! Festival attracts more than 70,000 visitors.

Many counties and localities host county fairs and festivals. The Virginia State Fair is held at the Richmond International Raceway every September. Fairfax County sponsors the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival the second weekend after Memorial Day.[89] In Virginia Beach, the end of September brings the Neptune Festival, celebrating the city, the waterfront, and regional artists.[90]

On the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague the annual Pony Swim & Auction of the feral Chincoteague Ponies on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July is a unique local tradition which has expanded to a week long carnival.[91] The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is a six day festival held annually in Winchester that includes parades and bluegrass music concerts. From 2005 to 2007, Richmond was chosen as host of the National Folk Festival. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is held over four days in May in Reston.[92]

Two important film festivals, the Virginia Film Festival and the VCU French Film Festival, are held annually. Annual fan conventions in the commonwealth include Anime USA, the national anime convention held in Crystal City, Anime Mid-Atlantic held in various cities, and RavenCon, a science fiction convention in Richmond.

Education

Public schools

See also: List of school divisions in Virginia and List of high schools in Virginia
The University of Virginia is located in the city of Charlottesville.

Public schools in Virginia are generally operated by the counties and cities, and not by the state. All school divisions however must adhere to educational standards set forth by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). There are a total of 1,863 local and regional schools in the commonwealth, including three charter schools, and an additional 104 alternative and special education centers in 134 school divisions.[93] Virginia's educational system consistently ranks in the top 10 states on the U.S. Department of Education's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as "the Nation's Report Card," with Virginia students outperforming the U.S. average in all subject areas and grade levels tested.[94] To ensure accountability among Virginia's public schools, the commonwealth's Department of Education maintains a comprehensive statewide assessment and accreditation regime known as the Standards of Learning, allowing parents and other stakeholders to obtain detailed achievement data for each and every school and school division in the state.[95]

Individual Virginia public school are often well rated, with public Langley High School ranked thirty-seventh best public high school in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report, and H-B Woodlawn in Arlington was twelfth according to The Washington Post Challenge Index.[96][97] Northern Virginia schools also pay the test fees for students to take Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, and Alexandria and Arlington Counties lead the nation in college course tests.[98].

Besides the general public schools in Virginia, there are Governor's Schools and selective magnet schools. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a public school which requires an application, is ranked as the best public high school in the nation.[96] The Governor's Schools are a collection of more than forty regional selective magnet high schools and summer programs intended for gifted students.[99] The Virginia Council for Private Education oversees the regulation of private schools.

Colleges and universities

Main article: List of colleges and universities in Virginia

According to the U.S. News and World Report annual college rankings, two of the top ten public national universities in the United States are located in Virginia, with only California having more in the top 10.[100] The University of Virginia, a World Heritage Site founded by Thomas Jefferson, is ranked #2 and the College of William and Mary, the second-oldest college in America, is ranked #6.[101] Additionally, James Madison University is consistently named the #1 public master's level university in The South.[101] Virginia is also home to the Virginia Military Institute, the oldest state military college in the U.S. and a perennial top public liberal arts college.[102][103] Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest university in Virginia with over 30,000 students,[104] followed closely by George Mason University. Virginia Tech and Virginia State University are the land-grant universities of the state. The state also operates twenty-three community colleges on forty campuses serving over 240,000 students.[105]

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Virginia
File:PA300043.JPG
Virginia is home to many shortline railroads such as the Buckingham Branch Railroad.

Virginia has five major airports: Washington Dulles, Washington Reagan National, Richmond International, Norfolk International and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.[106] Virginia is unique among most states in that the state government, instead of the local city or county authority, owns and operates about 82% of the 68,429 miles (110,126 km) of road in the state.[107] Run by the Virginia Department of Transportation, this is the third largest highway system in the United States.[108]

In the Hampton Roads area, there are three bridge-tunnel complexes known as the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Two tunnels and numerous bridges span portions of the Elizabeth River. The James River Bridge, opened in 1928, and rebuilt in the 1970s, spans the James River near its mouth and north of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.[109]

Interstate 95 and Interstate 81 are the two major north-south highways through Virginia. The Capital Beltway, Interstate 495, which allows through traffic to avoid passing through Washington, DC crosses the Potomac River in Alexandria and McLean. The Springfield Interchange at the junction of I95, Interstate 395, and the Capital Beltway (I495) in Springfield, Virginia, south of Washington, D.C. has recently been reconstructed to improve traffic flow; widening of Woodrow Wilson Bridge will finish in mid-2008.[110] Interstate 66, another heavily traveled route into Washington, DC, connects the Capital Beltway to I81 at Front Royal, Virginia. Interstate 64 runs east-west through the state, from the terminus in Virginia's southeast in Chesapeake running northwest into Richmond, then west through Charlottesville and into West Virginia and beyond, to just over the Mississippi River into St. Louis.

Virginia has Amtrak passenger rail service along several corridors, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) maintains two commuter lines into Washington, D.C. from Fredericksburg and Manassas. The Washington Metro rapid transit system currently serves Northern Virginia as far west as Fairfax County, although expansion plans call for Metro to reach Dulles Airport in Loudoun County by 2015.[111] The Virginia Department of Transportation operates several free ferries throughout Virginia, the most notable being the Jamestown-Scotland ferry which crosses the James River between historic Jamestown and the community of Scotland in Surry County.

Law and government

Main article: Government of Virginia
The Virginia State Capitol building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, recently underwent massive renovations.

In colonial Virginia, the lower house of the legislature was called the House of Burgesses. The burgesses were elected by free men in the colony. The idea of electing burgesses was important and new, and gave Virginians a chance to control their own government. Together with the Governor's Council, the House of Burgesses made up the "General Assembly". Founded in 1619, the Virginia General Assembly is still in existence as the oldest legislature in the Western Hemisphere.[25] The State Capitol building in Richmond was designed by Thomas Jefferson, and the cornerstone was laid by Governor Patrick Henry in 1785. By the time of the Constitution of 1901, which lasted longer than any other state constitution, was amended many times, notably in the 1930s and 1950s, before it was abandoned in favor of more modern government, with fewer elected officials, reformed local governments and a more streamlined judiciary.[112]

Virginia currently functions under the 1971 Constitution of Virginia, modeled on the federal government of the United States. It is the commonwealth's seventh constitution. Under the Constitution, the government is composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch or state legislature is the General Assembly, a bicameral body whose 140 members make all laws of the commonwealth. The current governor of Virginia is Tim Kaine. Under the state constitution, incumbent governors cannot run for re-election. Other members of the executive branch include the Lieutenant Governor, and the Attorney General. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Virginia Court of Appeals, the General District Courts and the Circuit Courts.

Eight Virginia men have served as President of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.[5]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Virginia
Governor Tim Kaine with U.S. Senator John Warner and former Senator and Governor George Allen, and current Representative Thelma Drake.

Virginia's politics reflect a commonwealth in shift from a largely rural, politically Southern and conservative state. The urban and growing suburban areas are politically moderate to progressive.[113] Though Northern Virginia trends Democratic, rural Virginia, once a Democratic stronghold, swung Republican with the Southern strategy, and balances the state's political map.[114] Portions of Southwest Virginia influenced by unionized coal mines, college towns such as Charlottesville and Blacksburg, and southeastern counties in the Black Belt Region have remained more likely to vote Democratic.[115][citation needed]

While Virginia's Governor is a Democrat, the Lieutenant Governor is a Republican, and Republican Robert McDonnell became Attorney General by 360 votes following a legally mandated recount of ballots for that race in 2005.[116] Fairfax County, and other Northern Virginia areas, voted for the Democrat in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election for the first time in forty years.[117][118] Virginia could become a more competitive state in future presidential elections, and is classified as a "swing state."[4] In the 2007 state elections, the Democrats regained control of the State Senate, and narrowed the Republican majority in the House of Delegates to eight votes.[119]

2006 Senate election majority results by county, with GOP in red and DNC in blue.

The election of Jim Webb as one of Virginia's two U.S. Senators in the Congressional midterm elections of 2006 seemed to reinforce this shift. His election also demonstrated the disaffection of independent voters with the Republican Party.[120] In that midterm election, the Virginia Senate race was the last decided. Through it the Democratic Party secured a majority in the United States Senate. John Warner, a Republican, holds Virginia's other seat in the U.S. Senate, though he has announced his intention not to seek reelection in 2008.[121] Both of Virginia's Senators are former Secretaries of the Navy.

Republicans also hold eight out of eleven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Northern Virginia, the sole Democratic district is the 8th congressional district represented by Jim Moran while the other two districts in Northern Virginia are the Republican leaning districts of the 11th congressional district represented by Thomas M. Davis and the 10th congressional district represented by Frank Wolf. The predominately African American and thus Democratic controlled 3rd congressional district, which is represented by Robert C. Scott, stretches from the Richmond metropolitan area to Hampton Roads while the rest of the state's districts are controlled by Republicans.

Sports

See also: List of professional sports teams in Virginia
Harbor Park is home to the Norfolk Tides.

Virginia is by far the most populous U.S. state without a major professional sports league franchise.[122] The reasons for this include the lack of any dominant city or market within the state and the proximity of teams in Washington, D.C. and from North Carolina, which include franchises in all four major sports.[123] Virginia is home to many minor league clubs, especially in baseball and soccer.[124] Virginia has many professional caliber golf courses including the Greg Norman course at Lansdowne Resort and Upper Cascades, Kingsmill Resort, home of the Michelob ULTRA Open. Other fairways include Old Trail GC, Winton Country Club, and Devils Knob at Wintergreen Resort.

The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles also have followings due to their proximity to the state, and both are broadcast in the state on MASN.[125] When the New York Mets ended their long affiliation with the Norfolk Tides in 2007, the Orioles took over the affiliation.[126] Other regional teams include the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves, whose top farm team, the Richmond Braves, is located in the capital.

Virginia has been a hub of NASCAR racing since the series' inception. NASCAR Grand National (now NEXTEL Cup) Champion of 1962 and 1963 Rex White was born in Norfolk. Current Virginia drivers in the series include brothers Jeff Burton and Ward Burton of South Boston, Chesterfield's Denny Hamlin, Chesapeake's Ricky Rudd, and Emporia's Elliot Sadler. Virginia is also home to two tracks currently on the Cup schedule, Martinsville Speedway and Richmond International Raceway.[127] Former Virginia Cup tracks include South Boston Speedway, Langley Speedway, Southside Speedway, and Old Dominion Speedway.

Virginia does not allow state appropriated funds to be used for either operational or capital expenses for intercollegiate athletics.[128] Despite this, both the University of Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies have been able to field competitive teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference and maintain modern facilities. Both regularly have attendance of 60,000 at home football games.[129][130] Virginia has several other universities that compete in Division I of the NCAA, particularly in the Colonial Athletic Association. Notable successes include James Madison University's Division I-AA national championship in football in 2004 and George Mason University's advancement to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 2006. Three historically black schools compete in the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and two others compete in Division I MEAC. Several smaller schools compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the USA South Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III. The NCAA currently holds its Division III championships in football, men's basketball, volleyball and softball in Salem.

State symbols

Main article: List of Virginia state symbols
File:Welcometovasign.JPG
The Virginia welcome sign on State Route 32 employs the state bird, the cardinal, and the state tree and flower, the dogwood.

See also

References

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  99. ^ "Virginia Governor's School Program". Virginia Department of Education. October 6, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  100. ^ "Top Public National Universities". U.S. News and World Report. 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
  101. ^ a b Graham, Chris (August 17, 2007). "Virginia colleges, universities place well in national rankings". Augusta Free Press. Retrieved 2007-11-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  102. ^ "Virginia Military Institute; Academic Tradition". Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  103. ^ "America's Best Colleges 2007; Top Public Liberal Arts Colleges". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  104. ^ "2006-2007 Fall Headcount Enrollment". State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  105. ^ "Fast Facts". Virginia’s Community Colleges. 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  106. ^ "Airports in Virginia - Major and Regional Commercial Airports". About.com. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  107. ^ "Resource Library: Virginia". Rural Transportation. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  108. ^ "About VDOT". Virginia Department of Transportation. July 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  109. ^ "James River Bridge (US-17)". Roads to the Future. June 5, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  110. ^ "Project Overview - Schedule". October 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  111. ^ "Timeline". Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  112. ^ Strum, Albert L. (1977). "Commentaries on the Constitution of Virginia by A. E. Dick Howard". The American Political Science Review. 71 (2): 714–715. Retrieved 2007-12-08. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  113. ^ Craig, Tim (December 11, 2007). "Tensions Could Hurt Majority in Va. Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  114. ^ Miller, Gary (2003). "Activists and Partisan Realignment in the United States". The American Political Science Review. 97 (2): 245–260. Retrieved 2007-12-23. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  115. ^ Associated Press (2006). "State Political Profile: Virginia". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  116. ^ Morello, Carol (December 22, 2005). "McDonnell Clinches Attorney General Race". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  117. ^ Rein, Lisa (November 4, 2004). "Fairfax No Longer a GOP Given". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  118. ^ "2004 Presidential General Election Results - Virginia". US Election Atlas. 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  119. ^ Craig, Tim (November 8, 2007). "Kaine Hails 'Balance' in New Political Landscape". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  120. ^ Page, Susan (November 26, 2006). "Election '06: Lessons learned by dissecting votes". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-12-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  121. ^ Turque, Bill (September 2, 2007). "Va. Sen. John Warner Announces Upcoming Retirement". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-12-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  122. ^ Minium, Harry (July 19, 2001). "Region Works to Attract Franchise Area Makes "Short List" for Existing Team's Move" (pdf). The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  123. ^ Little, Robert (April 21, 1996). "Lawmakers Ready for a Major-League Pitch the State Must Decide if it will Play Ball and Help Fund a Stadium for Northern Virginia". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  124. ^ "Virginia Sports Teams". 50states.com. Retrieved 2007-12-11. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  125. ^ "Find MASN on your TV". MASN. September 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  126. ^ "O's are Norfolkin': Good". The Orioles Warehouse. September 26, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  127. ^ "NASCAR in Virginia". Virginia is for Lovers. September 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  128. ^ "Athletics Task Force Report Recommends Restructuring Of Sports Program, Finances, Academic Support". University of Virginia. April 6, 2001. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  129. ^ "Virginia - Cumulative Season Statistics". Virginia Cavaliers. November 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  130. ^ Stewart, Will (January 16, 2004). "Hokies Win Final Big East Football Attendance Crown". TechSideline.com. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |work= (help)


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 United States

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37°30′N 79°00′W / 37.5°N 79°W / 37.5; -79

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