Virginia

Virginia is a southeastern US state with a foundational place in American history, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Appalachian Mountains. Its capital is Richmond, while Virginia Beach is the most populous city and the northern suburbs adjoin Washington, D.C. Nicknamed the Old Dominion, it is called the birthplace of a nation.

Virginia ranges from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic shore through the rolling Piedmont to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley in the west. The climate is humid subtropical, milder in the mountains.

Virginia blends deep colonial and Revolutionary heritage with the modern, affluent technology corridor of Northern Virginia. Historic sites, universities, and a mix of Southern and mid-Atlantic traditions shape its character.

Site of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in 1607, Virginia was the largest of the original Thirteen Colonies and home to four of the first five US presidents. It became the 10th state in 1788, was the capital of the Confederacy, and saw decisive Civil War battles.

This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.