Virginia Facts

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Discover fascinating Virginia facts! From its rich history to stunning natural beauty, explore the highlights of the Old Dominion State in this informative compilation of Virginia’s unique features and heritage.

Virginia is a beautiful state on the east coast of the United States. It has lots of history because it was one of the first places people lived when they came to America a long time ago. Virginia has many mountains, forests, and beaches, making it a great place for outdoor adventures. One cool fact is that Virginia is nicknamed the “Mother of Presidents” because eight U.S. Presidents were born there!

Want to learn more interesting facts about Viriginia then keep reading! If you love learning new facts check out Over 100 Fun Facts about North Carolina and Mt. Rushmore Facts: Carving History in Stone

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Virginia Facts

  1. The first peanuts grown in America were from Virginia. 
  2. The official state motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis“, which means “Thus Always to Tyrants” in Latin.
  3. Virginia is believed to have been the home of the very first Thanksgiving. 
  4. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes into Virginia from North Carolina and offers unmatched views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 
  5. John Tyler was the first United States President to marry while in office
  6. “Virginia Is For Lovers” is one of the most well-known tourism campaigns ever.
  7. The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World. 
  8. More than 400,000 people are buried at Arlington National Cemetery
  9. John Smith was saved by Pocahontas in 1607
  10. Virginia Tech graduate Benjamin Rubin invented the bifurcated needle, which allowed for correct doses of vaccines to be administered. 
  11. Virginia is also called the “Mother of the States “ because of its role in being carved into other states such as Kentucky.
  12. Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk Virginia, is the world’s largest naval base. The base is classified as America’s fifth most endangered military base. 
  13. Wines have been produced in Virginia since the 17th century. 
  14. After California, Virginia has the second-highest concentration of tech workers of any state in the U.S.
  15. The state was given the nickname “Old Dominion”, which refers to the fact that Virginia was the first and oldest of the overseas dominions of England.
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  1. In the early days, Virginia was also known as the “Birthplace of Presidents.”
  2. Virginia is the 35th largest state and the 12th most populous state, with 8.6 million residents. 
  3. Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.[
  4. Virginia is home to the largest office building in the world
  5. The state on average gets affected by 7 tornadoes a year.
  6. Virginia is the only place on the Appalachian Trail where wild ponies can be seen.
  7. In fact, the state’s major cash crop was tobacco, which was also the first export of the Virginia colony.
  8. Before the Civil War began, Virginia had more slaves than any other state.
  9. The 1st rotary-dial telephones were installed in Norfolk, Virginia in 1919.
  10. The Appalachian Trail in VA is home to more miles than any other state it passes through.
  11. Virginia’s motto, sic semper tyrannis, means “thus always to tyrants”
  12. Local tax collection per capita in Virginia in 2016 was $4,560, which puts it at 23rd overall of all the states.
  13. Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution.
  14. Chesapeake Bay could fill more than 50 billion bathtubs
  15. The Jamestown landing site is now a state park
  16. Half a million people in Virginia work for the US Army, making it the state’s largest employer.
  17. The Chesapeake Bay is one of the world’s richest marine life estuaries.
  18. The state experienced its largest earthquake of 5.9 magnitude in 1897 near Blacksburg.
  19. Richmond is the capital city of Virginia. With a population of 226,000, it just barely makes the list of 100 largest cities in the US.
  20. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Virginia ranks at the second spot in the list of states for total defense spending
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  1. Virginia has 132 miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean
  2. Pocahontas State Park is the largest state park in Virginia
  3. Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains have the best fall color change in the region
  4. Virginia shares borders with five other states
  5. Williamsburg, Virginia, houses the first theater built in America. It was completed in 1716.
  6. Virginia’s state flower is the flowering dogwood, and its state bird is the cardinal. 
  7. Virginia is a leader in the eco-friendly movement
  8. Virginia: Home to the largest Naval Base
  9. The Virginia State Fair was first held before the Civil War
  10. Virginia became the 10th state on June 25, 1788
  11. The highest peak in Virginia is Mount Rogers, at 5,729 feet
  12. The Pentagon has three times the floor space as the Empire State Building
  13. Virginia-born Zachary Taylor was the second president to die while in office
  14. The American Revolution ended in Yorktown and the Civil War in Appomattox.
  15. 1991 Virginia designated the Square Dance as the Official State Folk Dance.
  16. Virginia is the 3rd largest seafood producer in the country, known for its hardshell clams, oysters, menhaden, sea scallops, and Chesapeake blue crabs.
  17. The tourism industry plays a significant role in the state’s economy.
  18. Floyd Fest is a huge 5-day music festival that has been happening near the town of Floyd, VA, since 2002.
  19. “Mother of States” is another of Virginia’s nicknames
  20. Golfing legend Sam Snead grew up in Virginia
  21. Virginia’s state fossil, Chesapecten jeffersonius, was discovered in 1687
  22. The quote “Give me liberty, or give me death” comes from Virginia
  23. There are 11 state-recognized Native American tribes in Virginia
  24. Virginia’s state dog is the American foxhound
  25. Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I
  26. More Virginians work for the government than in any other industry. 
  27. According to Insure.com, an insurance information website, Virginia and Iowa have the country’s 8th cheapest average car insurance premium ($1,321). 
  28. The billion-dollar seafood industry is an important part of Virginia’s economy.
  29. Earthquakes in Virginia are rarely devastating because of their weak magnitude. 
  30. Dr. Charles Browne Fleet of Lynchburg, Virginia, invented the Chapstick in the early 1880s.
  31. In 1607, Jamestown–the first English colony in what would become the United States–was founded in Virginia.
  32. In the Civil War, more battles were fought on Virginia soil than in any other state.
  33. The first iron furnace was built in 1619 in Virginia.
  34. The official beverage of Virginia is milk, the same as 21 other US states.
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Are you looking for more fun and engaging facts to share with your family? Check out these other posts for more facts!

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