Virginia Vacation Guide System
Virginia Fun Facts
Capital: Richmond
State abbreviation/Postal code: Va./VA
Governor: Bob McDonnell, R (to Jan. 2014)Lieut. Governor: Bill Bolling, R (to Jan. 2014)
Senators: Mark Warner, D (to Jan. 2015); Jim Webb, D (to Jan. 2013)
U.S. Representatives: 11
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of the Commonwealth: Janet Polarek, R (apptd. by gov.)
Treasurer: Manju Ganeriwala, D (apptd. by gov.)
Atty. General: Ken Cuccinelli, R (to Jan. 2014)
Entered Union (rank): June 25, 1788 (10)
Present constitution adopted: 1970
Motto: Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)
State symbols:
| flower | American dogwood (1918) |
| bird | cardinal (1950) |
| dog | American foxhound (1966) |
| shell | oyster shell (1974) |
| tree | dogwood (1956) |
Nicknames: The Old Dominion; Mother of Presidents
Origin of name: In honor of Elizabeth “Virgin Queen” of England
10 largest cities (2005 est.): Virginia Beach, 438,415; Norfolk, 231,954; Chesapeake, 218,968; Arlington, 195,965; Richmond, 193,777; Newport News, 179,899; Hampton, 145,579; Alexandria, 135,337; Portsmouth, 100,169; Roanoke, 92,631
Land area: 39,594 sq mi. (102,558 sq km)
Geographic center: In Buckingham Co., 5 mi. SW of Buckingham
Number of counties: 95, plus 39 independent cities
Largest county by population and area: Fairfax, 1,006,529 (2005); Pittsylvania 978 sq mi.
State forests: 16 (50,000+ ac.)
State parks/natural areas: 34
Residents: Virginian
2005 resident population est.: 7,567,465
2000 resident census population (rank):
7,078,515 (12). Male: 3,471,895 (49.0%); Female:
3,606,620 (51.0%). White: 5,120,110 (72.3%); Black:
1,390,293 (19.6%); American Indian: 21,172 (0.3%); Asian:
261,025 (3.7%); Other race: 138,900 (2.0%); Two
or more races: 143,069 (2.0%); Hispanic/Latino:
329,540 (4.7%). 2000 percent population 18 and over:
75.4; 65 and over: 11.2; median age:
35.7.
From the Virginia tourism site:
Location:
Located midway between New York and
Florida, Virginia is the gateway to the South. It is also sometimes
classified in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Commonwealth is bordered by
Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, and Maryland to the north; the
Atlantic Ocean to the east; North Carolina and Tennessee to the south;
and West Virginia and Kentucky to the west.
Geography:
Western Virginia is mountainous,
covered by the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains with the great
Shenandoah Valley falling between the ranges. The central piedmont
region, with its rolling hills, flattens out into the sandy coastal
plain toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Climate:
Mild with four distinct seasons
Area:
42,767 square miles
Population:
6,872,900 in 1999
Major Industries:
Manufacturing, exports,
tourism, which accounted for $13.1 billion in 2000 - up from $12.4
billion in 1999 - and employed more than 200,000 workers, high
technology and agriculture
Capital:
Richmond (since 1780)
Popular Tourist Attractions:
Western:
Abingdon, Blue Ridge Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, Bristol, Cumberland
Gap National Historic Park, Lexington, Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge,
Roanoke, Shenandoah National Park, Shenandoah Valley, Skyline Drive,
Staunton, Winchester
Central: Charlottesville and Monticello, Danville, Kings Dominion, Petersburg, Richmond
Northern: Alexandria, Arlington and Arlington National Cemetery, Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg National Battlefield Parks, Mount Vernon, Potomac Mills
Tidewater: Williamsburg area, including Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Williamsburg Pottery and Yorktown; Norfolk; Virginia Beach; and Chincoteague/Assateague on the Eastern Shore
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