4 VIRGINIA INTRODUCTION Virginia secured its place in U S history when it became one of the original 13 states Although Virginia is nicknamed the Old Dominion State it is often referred to as the Birthplace of Presidents Virginia was home to numerous historical figures who participated in the creation and early development of the United States Virginians George Washington Thomas Jefferson James Madison and James Monroe helped found the country during their terms as the first third fourth and fifth presidents of the United States respectively Before becoming president of the United States George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution In 1787 he led the Constitutional Convention the meeting at which the Constitution of the United States was drafted Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States He Virginia is sometimes known as the Mother of States because eight other states were formed from its land Virginia’s state flag has been flown since the 1830s The flag features the state seal against a blue background and was officially adopted in 1930 was nicknamed Father of His Country for his work in creating the country’s system of government During the early 1800s the steamboat was an important method of transporting goods in Virginia The state’s official name is the Commonwealth of Virginia Three other states are considered commonwealth states Kentucky Massachusetts and Pennsylvania Commonwealth is an honorary title meaning for the common good
INTRODUCTION 5 About 40,000 passengers use the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport each day The airport is situated on the west bank of the Potomac River Virginia has more than 57,000 miles of highways The Virginia Department of Transportation maintains more than 12,000 bridges Richmond has been the capital of Virginia since 1779 Williamsburg was the capital from 1699 to 1779 and Jamestown was the capital from 1607 to 1699 On June 26 1788 Virginia became the 10th state to join the Union Virginia is located on the eastern coast of the United States It is bordered by Maryland and Washington D C to the northeast the Atlantic Ocean to the east Kentucky and West Virginia to the west and North Carolina and Tennessee to the south The state has 11 commercial airports including four international airports Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling Va is one of the 50 busiest airports in the world and is especially important for transatlantic air service The airport serves nearly 20 million passengers each year One of the best ways to travel to and around Virginia is by automobile Major highways and smaller scenic roads provide access to all parts of the state Six interstate highways run through Virginia I-64 I-66 I-77 I-81 I-85 and I-95 The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel connects Virginia’s Eastern Shore with the state’s mainland Ferry service is also available across the James River and Chesapeake Bay Virginia Location Map Capital Richmond Interstate highways 25 0 0 Scale Population 7,078,515 40 50 80 Mi Km Size 40,598 square miles Highest point Mount Rogers 5,729 feet
6 VIRGINIA During the American Revolution many Virginians fought for independence from Great Britain Virginia was nicknamed the Old Dominion after King Charles II of England gave the colony the status of dominion in reward for its loyalty to Charles I during the English Civil War of the 1640s Virginia was named for Elizabeth I of England who was often called the Virgin Queen The American foxhound is the state dog George Washington first brought foxhounds into Virginia to hunt foxes Virginia played a crucial role in the American Revolution It was Virginian Thomas Jefferson who was responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence which announced the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain In 1781 the final battle of the American Revolution was fought on Virginia soil at Yorktown During the siege of Yorktown American and French troops led by General George Washington surrounded the British who were led by Lord Cornwallis The British forces surrendered after 20 days and the war was officially ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris In April 1861 Virginia decided to leave the Union and Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy from June 1861 to April 1865 The Confederacy won many important battles in Virginia including the first and second battles of Bull Run General Thomas Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley campaign and the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville The Confederate Army surrendered to Union troops under the command of General Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox Va on April 9 1865 Virginia was the site of nearly one third of the 384 principal battles fought during the American Civil War
INTRODUCTION 7 Virginia’s rich soils have helped to make agriculture a primary industry The tobacco industry was crucial to the success of the Virginia Colony Settlers in the colony began to grow tobacco in 1612 Tobacco became such an important moneymaking crop that without it the colony may not have survived In the 20th century the manufacturing of tobacco products was an essential part of the state’s economy A large part of Virginia’s population lives in the Washington D C metropolitan area The nation’s capital was formed in 1790 from parts of Virginia and Maryland Today Virginia’s close association with the national capital has an enormous impact on the state’s economy and culture Government offices and military bases in Virginia provide jobs for about one fifth of the state’s labor force Many of Virginia’s rivers can be navigated by small boats such as canoes Almost one third of Virginians live in the countryside The official salute to the state flag is I salute the flag of Virginia with reverence and patriotic devotion to the Mother of States and Statesmen which it represents the Old Dominion where liberty and independence were born The salute was adopted in 1954 Arlington National Cemetery is the federal burial ground for more than 260,000 veterans as well as important political leaders The cemetery contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is guarded 24 hours a day and the grave of John F Kennedy which is marked by an eternal flame The Virginia state shell is the oyster
