According to answermba.com, the name Virginia derives from that of the Queen of England Elizabeth I, called the Virgin Queen.
The State of Virginia is one of the southern states of the USA, bordered to the north with Maryland and the District of Columbia, to the south with Tennessee and North Carolina, to the west with Kentucky, to the east it is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Virginia is rich in history, it has been the ground of several wars for both Independence and secession, it also boasts a peculiar topography that makes it very attractive to visitors. Inside, there is still the dividing line between what was the northern and southern states, starting with the different cadence of the language spoken by the citizens. It is also called the Mother of Presidents as it was the homeland of eight American presidents.
Background
According to answerresume.com, Virginia was a land of conquest by the British colonists, saw the birth and flourishing of numerous tobacco plantations, managed by the aristocrats who exploited the manpower reduced to slavery. The divergences between the agricultural south and the plantations are deep and the north is more oriented towards industry and commerce. There are numerous battles for independence before and then during the Civil War that took place in Virginia.
The racial laws were abolished only in the 1960s despite the fact that the population still demonstrates a great mix of races, especially with peoples who come from the southern hemisphere, both from Latin America and Africa.
Places to visit
The capital of Virginia is Richmond and the Virginia State Capitol is the oldest government building in all of the United States of America. Alongside historic buildings, statues of presidents, Richmond flanks buildings in perfect modern style, to characterize their city life between a glorious past and a growing future. However, there remains a melting pot of races that make daily life lively.
The historic triangle, in which almost all the battles of the state were fought, is located between Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg. Here the ranges and guides dress in traditional clothes with an ancient flavor and guide the large groups of tourists through paths to discover the history of Virginia.
In the part overlooking the ocean, instead, Virginia Beach is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the state. Facing the Chesapeake Bay is Norfolk, an urban center known for its harbor and the Chrysler Museum, a major contemporary art gallery.
Northern Virginia is full of prairies, where once there were plantations with slaves, but also country churches, large farms, well-preserved barns and taverns that fill with tourists.
Nature
The Appalachian Mountains run across the western side of the state and, having low peaks as well as forest-covered slopes, are an excellent destination for mountain hikes. Along the range you can also visit Shenandoah National Park with a peak up to 1700 meters high.
| NAMED: “The Old Dominion State” |
| ORIGIN NAME: According to historians it was W. Raleigh who suggested the name for the colony in honor of the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. |
| CAPITAL: Richmond |
| OTHER CITIES: – |
| MEMBER UNION FROM: 25 June 1788 (10th state) |
| POPULATION: 6,872,912 |
| CAPITAL POPULATION: 226,622 residents |
| COUNTY NUMBER: 95 |
| POOR PEOPLE: 11.6% |
| MOTTO: “Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)” |
| TREE: Dogwood |
| BIRD: Cardinal |
| FLOWER: American Dogwood |
| SONG: Carry Me Back to Old Virginny |
| THE FLAG: The Virginia flag has a blue background with the state coat of arms and the Latin motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis”, adopted in 1776. The two figures represent the meaning of the motto. Both are dressed as warriors. The woman, a virtue, represents Virginia. The man holding a whip and a chain represents the tyrant. His defeat is imminent. |
| ECONOMY – AGRICULTURE: Livestock, poultry, dairy products, tobacco, pigs, soy. – INDUSTRY: Textiles, food processing, electrical equipment, chemicals |
Economy Virginia
About a quarter of Virginia’s nonfarm labor is employed in administrative or military activities. The industrial, tertiary, services, transport, construction and financial-insurance-real estate sectors follow as a percentage of employed persons.
Virginia’s main agricultural products are tobacco, apples, maize, soybeans, cattle, pigs, sheep and fowl, especially turkeys.
About two thirds of the state’s territory is covered with forests which contribute significantly to the development of a thriving wood industry and related sectors. Commercial fishing mainly concerns crustaceans.
In southwestern Virginia, there are large deposits of bituminous coal and small quantities of oil and natural gas. Other minerals mined are zinc and lead, as well as building materials such as gravel, sand, limestone, clay and pumice stone.
Major manufacturing activities include tobacco processing, chemical manufacturing, foodstuffs, electrical equipment, textiles and furniture.
