Federated state of the Eastern USA, 105,586 km², 7,642,884 residents (2006 estimate), 72 residents/km², capital: Richmond. Borders: Maryland (NE), West Virginia (NW), Atlantic Ocean (Chesapeake Bay) (E), Tennessee and North Carolina (S), Kentucky (W).
TOPSCHOOLSINTHEUSA: Lists of ACT, SAT, TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT test centers of Virginia. Also includes best graduate schools in Business, Law, Medical, and Engineering in Virginia.
State Overview
Chesapeake Bay divides Virginia into two parts, separating a strip of the Delmarva Peninsula from the state. The coast is low and engraved by the estuaries of the Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James rivers; the Piedmontese plains succeed the coastal plain, limited within the Appalachian chain of the Blue Ridge, beyond which the wide and flat valleys alternating with the long mountain ridges of the Great Appalachian Valley extend in a NE-SW direction. This large valley is bounded W by the Allegheny Mountains, raised edge of the Appalachian Plateau, which marginally affects Virginia. In addition to those already mentioned, the major rivers are Appomattox, Roanoke, Holston and New River. The economy is based on agriculture (cereals, potatoes, tobacco, fruit, peanuts), breeding (cattle, pigs, sheep), fishing, exploitation of forests and subsoil (coal, lead, zinc, titanium, building materials); the industries (mechanical, chemical, food, tobacco, textile, paper, building materials) are located in the capital and cities of Norfolk, Newport News, Arlington, Hampton, Alexandria, Portsmouth, Roanoke, Virginia Beach and Lynchburg. Military installations (Pentagon headquarters, Arlington; Norfolk naval base) are of considerable importance, with the related services, in particular transport and research centers.
AbbreviationFinder.org: Offers list of phrases and slangs abbreviated as VA including Virginia, and other most commonly used acronyms besides Virginia.
COUNTRYAAH: Interested in doing research on towns or cities in Virginia? This link below will take you to a full list of cities and complete profiles of each in Virginia.
History
One of the thirteen colonies originally, was ruled at first with a markedly absolutist system of government (all powers to the King of England), but already in 1619 it obtained concessions in the liberal sense (meeting of the first representative Assembly of North America), which positively influenced its economic development. For a whole century the colony passed from periods of relative freedom to others of greater authoritarianism. In Virginia, on the economic basis of the large plantations cultivated by black slaves, a peculiar society, latifundist and aristocratic, was formed, yet pervaded by democratic and liberal ferments that developed a lively opposition to English domination, for which it was among the first to adhere to the declaration independence. During the revolution it played an important role and on its territory it fought bitterly. In 1779 the British commander Ch. Cornwallis occupied its capital, Richmond, which it maintained until the end of the war (Yorktown surrender). A prosperous and evolved state, Virginia gave the Union some of its most illustrious men, Presidents G. Washington, Th. Jefferson, J. Madison, J. Monroe, Judge J. Marshall; moreover, in 1693 the second American university, William and Mary, had been founded there. Directly involved in the debate on slavery and state rights, Virginia was among the main supporters of the secession, which voted in 1861, losing its western region (West Virginia), which remained loyal to the Union and became an autonomous state. During the Civil War Richmond, which had become the capital of the Confederacy, was almost completely destroyed and General E. Lee surrendered in Virginia (Appomattox, April 9, 1865). Entrusted to the government of the carpet baggers (immigrants from the North supported by blacks), got rid of it in 1869 following a popular uprising. She was readmitted to the Union the following year and in 1876 endowed herself with a new Constitution, replaced several times in the following years. Traditionally loyal to the Democratic party, Virginia has experienced only short periods of republican administration.
Below you will see top cities in Virginia.
Lynchburg
City (66,700 residents) of the State of Virginia (USA), 150 km WSW of Richmond, on the James River, at the foot of the Blue Ridge. Road and railway junction, it is an important agricultural market (tobacco) and home to textile, mechanical, food, wood, leather and electrotechnical industries. Airport.
Virginia Beach
City (432,380 residents in 1998) of the state of Virginia (USA), in the southeastern part of the state, 150 km SE of Richmond, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, just S of Cape Henry. It is a popular and well-equipped seaside resort, with fish processing industries.
Roanoke
City (229,105 residents in 1996) of the State of Virginia (USA), 220 km to WSW of Richmond, 276 m at the western slopes of the Blue Ridge, on the homonymous river (612 km). Important road and rail junction and active livestock and agricultural market, it is home to textile, chemical, metalworking, food and wood industries. Airport. Nearby, coal mines.
Portsmouth (Virginia)
City (101,308 residents in 1996) of the State of Virginia (USA), 110 km SE of Richmond, on the southern shore of Hampton Roads. Important railway junction and active commercial and fishing port, it is home to the food, textile, chemical, footwear, timber and tobacco industries. Military base. Founded in 1750 on the site of an Indian village, during the Secession war Union troops had to evacuate it after setting the arsenal on fire.
Arlington (county of Virginia)
Urban county (175,334 residents in 1996) of northeastern Virginia (USA), on the right of the Potomac River, opposite Washington, to which it is connected by 5 bridges and in whose metropolitan area it is included. In 1864, not far from the river bank, the national cemetery was created where the tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located and where, in addition to the remains of 60,000 fallen in the war, some personalities of particular importance rest, including JF Kennedy. In the county, home to Washington National Airport and the Pentagon buildings (the Department of Defense), metallurgical, mechanical, glass, construction, wood and food industries are active.
Newport News
City (176,122 residents in 1996) of the State of Virginia (USA), on the estuary of the James River. Commercial and fishing port on Hampton Roads, it is home to shipbuilding, mechanical, textile, food and paper industries. Airport.
Norfolk (Virginia)
City (215,215 residents in 1998; 1,540,252 residents the metropolitan area in 1996) of the State of Virginia (USA), 130 km SE of Richmond, on the Elizabeth River, opposite Portsmouth and Newport News. Important commercial port on Hampton Roads and Intracoastal Waterway (export of coal, agricultural and chemical products; import of coffee and oil), it is home to metalworking, shipbuilding, automotive, electrotechnical, food, textile and wood industries. Airport. Old Dominion University (1930). Norfolk has an Atlantic Fleet neighborhood and a U.S. Navy military base.
Richmond (Virginia)
City (194,173 residents in 1998; 935,174 residents the metropolitan area in 1996) and capital of the State of Virginia (USA), located 40 m on the James River, 160 km SSW of Washington. Main city of the state for demographic and economic importance, it developed rapidly thanks to its position on the New York – Miami railway and the point where the navigability of the James River ends, being Richmond on the Fall Line(Cascade Line). The wide availability of electricity has led to the emergence of numerous industries active in the tobacco, food, textile, iron and steel, graphic and chemical sectors. As well as being an active river port, the city is also a vibrant cultural center, home to two universities (University of Richmond, 1830, and Virginia Union University, 1865) and numerous colleges and research institutes (Medical College of Virginia, 1838). Airport. § Founded around 1737, just over forty years later (1779) it became the capital of Virginia. It was sacked and set on fire by the British during the war of independence (1781). With the Secession, it became the capital of the Confederation (1861). Attacked by overwhelming Unionist forces in 1862, she was brilliantly defended by General Lee who forced them to fall back with serious losses (Battle of the Seven Days). The final campaign of the war took place around the city defended once again, with great skill, by Lee against the unionists commanded by Grant. For a whole year (May 1864-April 1865) Lee managed to keep the opposing forces besieging Richmond in check. Before falling into the enemy’s hand the city was set on fire.
Va. – For Owners, Property Managers and Landlords
Fair Housing Office aims to keep property owners in check with state law via guidelines, tips and suggestions set out in this publication.
