APRIL 2009
APRIL 2009
Information about Virginia for each letter of the alphabet.
Click on highlighted word for more information.
A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, AMISH, & ARCHEOLOGY
The
State Department of AGRICULTURE promotes the economic growth and development of agriculture in Virginia. Agriculural products include potatoes, tobacco, apples, and turkeys. Virginia produces about 50,000 tons of peanuts every year. The
State Soil of Virginia is Pamunkey. The State Beverage is milk. Rockingham County is one of the largest turkey raising centers in the country.
Agriculture in the Classroom has a Kids Page. Virginia has chapters of
Future Farmers of America and
4-H club are located thoughout the state.
The
Amish way of life largely revolves around working and socializing together as a family and community. An
Amish Mennonite Church is located near Kempsville.
Virginia celebrates
ARCHAEOLOGY Month in October, and there are several
archaeology and paleontology events. The
Virginia Museum of Natural History has permanent and temporary exhibits, festival weekends, and field trips.
The coast of Virginia has several beautiful
BEACHES and craggy projections called capes that jut out into the sea. The State Shell is the
Virginia Oyster. The
Oyster Heritage Program restores oyster reefs and the native oyster.
Oyster Museum on Chincoteague Island is the only oyster museum in the world.
Virginia has a variety of
BIRDS. Chesapeake Bay is on the Atlantic flyway path that many birds take when traveling north or south, and more than 200 species have been identified. Bird watching is popular and there are many
Birding Hotspots. The State Bird is the
Cardinal. Many birds inhabit the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The
Raptor Conservancy of Virginia rehabilitates birds of prey.
Virginia has many
BRIDGES including footbridges and
covered bridges.
Natural Bridge is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is the longest bridge-tunnel in the world.
Richmond is the CAPITAL of Virginia. The state claims many
capitals including Shipbuilding Capital of the World, Roanoke-Capital of the Blue Ridge, and
Rockingham County Turkey Capital. The island community of
Chincoteague calls itself the Clam Capital of the World,
Galax is known as the World's Capital of Old Time Mountain Music, and
Smithfield claims the title of Ham Capital of the World.
Over half of the battles of the
CIVIL WAR were fought in Virginia. The first sea battle between ironclad warships occurred at Hampton Road when the
Monitor and the Merrimack fought.
Manassas National Battlefield is the site of the first major battle of the Civil War.
Shirley Plantation is the oldest plantation in the country and served as a Union military house during the Civil War.
Virginia has all forms of
COMMUNICATION including newspapers, magazine, radio, and television. The state has several telephone
Area Codes, and Internet Service Providers.
Webcams are located throughout the state.
Virginia was one of the original
13 colonies and is one of 4 states that use the name COMMONWEALTH which is merely a name and has no legal effect. It has 95
counties and 40 independent cities that do not belong to specific counties. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states for the level of
government below the state government.
Arlington is a county without a city and the smallest county in the state.
Alexandria is a city without a county.
Fairfax is the largest county by population and area, and Highland is the smallest.
Virginia Beach is the largest city. The cities that are on
Hampton Roads make up one of the great parts of the country.
Virginia has over 1,300
DAMS and a
Dam Safety and Flood Plain Management Program. The
Bath County Dam is one of the largest capacity dams in the country. The
United States Society of Dams is involved in the maintenance, construction, operation, and safety of dams. Geothermal activity has created natural
hot springs in the Alleghenies. Virginia has a moderate amount of
hydropower resources and
solar power and
wind power are being investigated.
Fossilized footprints found near
Culpeper have been identified as those of DINOSAURS that roamed what is now Virginia around 200 million years ago.
A variety of other
fossils have also been found in the state and the State Fossil is the
Chesapecten Jefferrsonius. The
Virginia Museum of Natural History has computer-animated triceratops as well as other exhibits about the natural history of the state.
The State DOG is the
American Foxhound and 1 of 4 breeds of American origin. George Washington imported foxhounds for hunting purposes.
Virginia has experienced
EARTHQUAKES. The
largest earthquake was in Giles County in 1897. The USGS has a special page for kids about
earthquakes.
Free public
Public EDUCATION is provided for children from age 5 to 18. Hampton was the location of the first free school in America.
Schoolbug and
Great Schools provide information about public schools in Virginia.
A variety of
EVENTS are held in Virginia. The Memorial Day holiday originated in Virginia. Virginia celebrates public
holidays and other special days.
Lee/Jackson/King Da is a State Holiday and honors each of those people who were born in January. The
State Fair is held in Richmond, and there are 12
County Fairs. Several
Festivals are held throughout the state. Virginia has
Highland Games and Festivals and celebrates
National Tartan Day. One of the oldest festivals in Virginia is the
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.
Virginia has a wide variety of FISH and both
freshwater and saltwater
fishing are popular. The State Fish is the
Brook Trout. The
Fish and Wildlife Service works to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Virginia has several
fish hatcheries.
The state FLAG shows the State Seal on a blue background. The State Seal has 2 sides. One side shows Virtua as the Roman Goddess, and the other side shows Virtua as a warrior. Several
Municipalities and Counties have their own flag.
Virginia has
FOOD Festivals, Events, and Shows. The
Food Timeline of the Commonwealth dates back to
colonial days. The Commonwealth has a variety of
Foods and is most famous for
ham and
peanuts. The
Federation of Virgina Food Banks is a association of food banks affiliated with America's Second Harvest and is one of the largest hunger relief networks in the Commonwealth.
The
GEOLOGY of Virginia spans thousand of millions of years time. Some of the minerals that have been mined in Virginia are gold, copper, and iron. The state has many famous and unique
Minerals currently mined include clay, limestone, and granite. The
Department of Mines Minerals and Energy provides information about mineral resources in the state. William and Mary College provides a
geological map of the state.
Gemstones Found in Virginia are Amethyst, Garnet, Beryl, Moonstone. Buckingham Virginia
slate is one of the hardest slates in the world.
The
GLOBAL POSTION of Virginia is approximately 37.53 latitude north and 77.47 longitude west. The geographic center is 5 miles southwest of
Buckingham. The highest point is
Mount Rogers, and the lowest point is the Atlantic coast.
Geocaching is a high-tech sport using a Global Positioning Finder and Virgina has many
Geocaches. NOAA provides information about the
topography of Virginia.
Virginia has more
HISTORIC SITES than any other state. The birthplace of George Washington is a
National Monument, and
Stratford Hall Plantation was the birthplace of Robert E. Lee.
Arlington National Cemetery is the 2nd largest national cemetery in the country.
Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the world.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is a village that has been restored to look as it did in 1865. Monticello was the home of Thomas Jefferson. The
Booker T. Washington National Monument re-creates the daily life he would have know in his early years. The
National Trust helps protect historic places in Virginia.
The
HISTORY of Virginia dates back to 11,000 B.C.
Flint Run has the ruins of the earliest structure built in the western hemisphere and has been dated as being at least 10,000 year old.
Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European to pass through Virginia in about 1529. Virginia participates in
National History Day.
Virginia has a variety of
INSECTS including many
butterflies and moths. The State Insect is the
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. The
Museum of Natural History has interesting facts about insects in the state.
Virginia has over 30
Islands. The
Barrier Islands give Virginia some protection from Atlantic storms.
Lauck's Island was first plotted in 1608.
Chincoteague is the largest island in Virginia.
JAMESTOWN was the first permanent English settlement in Virginia.
JAZZ is popular in Virginia. There are several
Jazz Clubs. Galax has the oldest and largest fiddler�s convention in the world. The State Folk Dance is the
Square Dance. Virginia has several Opera companies including Capital City Opera in Alexandria, Opera Theater of Northern Virginia in Arlington, Virginia Opera in Norfolk, Opera Roanoke, Wolf Trap Opera Company in Vienna, and Shenandoah Opera in Winchester.
Virginia has
KARST, caves, caverns, and sinkholes including several
show caves. A Karst Program protects groundwater and habitats.
Endless Caverns has formations named Snowdrift, Fairyland, and Grand Canyon.
Luray Caverns has gigantic rock formations and stalactites that produce music on the �stalacpipe Organ�. It is also the headquarters of the Shenandoah National Park. The Virginia Cave Board is involved in the protection of caves and karst. The
Karst Waters Institute provides information about karst water systems. The
National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program. The
National Speleological Society has chapters in Virginia.
Many aspects of life in Virginia focus on KIDS.
Kids Commonwealth provides information for kids about their state.
Fun For Kids has information about special places in the state kids enjoy.
Arlington Library and the
Science Museum of Virginia each have a special Kids section.
NOAA has a special page for kids. The
Virginia Air & Space Center hosts overnight Camp-ins for several groups of kids.
L IS FOR LAKES, LIBRARIES, & LIGHTHOUSES
Virginia has many, many
LAKES, and nearly all of them were man made. The largest lakes were created by daming the Roanoke River. The 2 natural lakes are
Drummond Lake and
Mountain Lake.
Public
LIBRARIES are located throughout Virginia. The
State Library is in Richmond.
One of the best-loved children�s books,
Misty of Chincoteague, tells the story of the ponies along the Eastern shore of Virginia.
Virginia has a number of
LIGHTHOUSES. Some of the lighthouses are
historic including Old Cape Henry Light house which is the 3rd oldest, still standing, lighthouse in the country.
lighthouse is an important aspect to the mariner.
Virginia has MILITARY
facilities and
bases. The
NASA Langley Research Center has the Virginia Air and Space Center. The
Pentagon is one of the largest office buildings in the world. The
Norfolk Naval Base is the largest naval base in the world.
Fort Myer was the last Army fort to house horses for cavalry officers and the 1st military base to have military aircraft. It was here that the
Wright brothers demonstrated the military version of their airplane. Policemen from all over the country come to train at the
Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Training School at Quantico. The
Army Corps of Engineers has projects in Virginia. The Virginia
National Guard has been active since 1607.
Virginia has several
MOUNTAIN ranges. The
Allegheny mountains are on the border with Kentucky. The
Blue Ridge Mountains are so named because from a distance the trees that cover them appear to be blue.
Virginia has a variety of
MUSEUMSand some of them have
unusual and unknown treasures. The
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has unique collections. The
Museum of the Confederacy includes equipment and clothing belonging to Confederate Leaders. The
Yorktown Victory Center includes a Continental Army camp and a timeline walkway called Road to Revolution. The
Mariners Museum includes special exhibits on the Civil War ironclad ship the Monitor. At the
National Maritime Center visitors can take a Virtual Adventures submarine ride or command a navy ship in a battle simulation. At the
Virginia Marine Science Museum, visitors can explore a Chesapeake Bay habitat through an aquarium exhibit. Working farms from England, Ireland, and Germany are re-created at The
Museum of American Frontier Culture.
Virginia was named for
Queeen Elizabeth I of England. It was the first of the 13 colonies and subsequently made into many states giving it the nickname Mother of States. Another nickname is Old Dominion State. It is known as the Mother of Presidents because more U.S. Presidents were born in Virginia than in any other state.
Chesapeake Bay formed when the glaciers of the Ice Age retreated and the name means Great Shellfish Bay. It is one of the largest estuaries in the country.
Highland County is called Virginia's Little Switzerland.
The first people arrived in Virginia about 7,000 years ago. Among
NATIVE AMERICANS living in what is now Virgina were the Powhatan, Nottaway, Meherrin, Phohick, Manacan, Saponi, and Cherokee. Virginia has 8
Tribes and 2
Indian Reservations. The
Pamunkey Reservation in King William and the
Mattaponi Reservation in West Point are monuments to the great Powhattan Confederacy. In a custom that dates back to the 1600s, Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indians present the governor with a number of gifts every year instead of paying taxes. There are several Native American
events during the year.
Virginia is bordered to the east by the
Atlantic OCEAN. The state is dominated by the Chesapeake Bay a huge arm of the Atlantic Ocean. A broad inlet connects it with the James River to form
Hampton Roads one of the largest natural harbors in the world.
Delmarva Peninsula was created out of the 3 states that occupy it � Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The State Boat is the
Chesapeake Bay Deadrise.
Virginia has 5
OBSERVATORIES, 11
Planetariums, and 24
Astronomy Clubs & Organizations. The
Stokesville Observatory has a Clear Sky Clock. The
Chesapeake Planetarium is the first of its kind built by a public school system in Virginia. The state participates in
National Astronomy Day
P IS FOR PARKS & PEOPLE
Virgina has many PARKS including National Parks,
State Parks and
Amusement Parks, Theme Parks, and Water Parks. There are also
Canal & Locks Parks.
Shenandoah National Park has hundreds of miles of paths, and some parts have been inhabited by people since the Stone Age. A road through
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park closely follows the one blazed by
Daniel Boone.
Over 7 million PEOPLE live in Virginia, and many
famous people have called Virginia their home. Eight
presidents came from Virginia including 4 of the first 5. Other important people include
Pearl Bailey-singer;
Warren Beatty-actor;
Ella Fitzgerald-singer;
Patrick Henry-statesman; Booker T. Washington- educator/author; and
Cyrus McCormick- inventor.
The United States Mint issued a
QUARTER for each state in the order that it became part of the Union.
Virginia became a State in 1677 and a quarter was issued for it in 2000. The U.S. Mint has a special
Kids Page.
QUILTING is popular in Virgina and there are many
Quilting Guilds. There are also several
Knitting Guilds and
Weaving Guilds
Take a
QUIZ about Virginia.
There are different ways to classify the
REGIONS in Virginia. Basically, there are 3 major regions.
Tidewater Region stretches from the Atlantic coast to the fall line. The
Piedmont Region is east of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Tidewater Region. The Blue Ridge Mountains Region is East of the Appalachian Mountains to the Blue Ridge Mountain Region. The
Valley and Ridge Regions include the Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah.
Virginia has a variety of
REPTILES and
Snakes including 3 species of poisonous snakes and many species of
salamanders. The
Virginia Herpetological Society provides information about conservation and research of amphibians and reptiles. Virginia is part of the
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Program.
Virginia has
RIVERS and Watersheds. Many of the rivers empty into the Chesapeake Bay. The
New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world. The Cheat River is the largest dam-free watershed east of the Mississippi and has an annual
Festival. The
Potomac is an American Heritage River. The James River was used by English settlers to sail westward.
Virginia has a variety of SEA LIFE including giant seat turtle, dolphins, and whales. Chesapeake Bay is the largest marine-life estuary in the country. The
Virginia Marine Resources Commission provides information related to marine resources.
Virginia has many
SPORTS teams including high school, college, league, and professional. The oldest sporting event in the country is the
Natural Chimneys Jousting Tournament.
Virginia has many species of
TREES. There are 2
National Forests and 17
State Forests. The state tree is the
Flowering Dogwood. Coal deposits in the western part of the state are the fossilized remains of a large primordial forest. Virginia has a
Big Tree Program
Virginia has a variety of
TRAILS including
Horse Trails and participates in
National Trails Day. Part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail goes through Virginia. The
New River Trail State Park is a National Recreation Trail. The state has a
Scenic Byway Program and
Roadside Attractions.
Virginia has all forms of TRANSPORTATION and an
an Adopt-a-Highway Program. The Virgina
Department of Transportaion is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating road, bridges, and tunnels in the state and offers many special
License Plates Designs. The
Federal Highway Administration provides information about traffic and road closures in Virginia. The
Transportation Museum in Roanoke traces history of the railroads.
Virgina has many
UNIVERSITIES and colleges. Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute was created for African-Americans and became
Hampton University. The campus of the
University of Virginia was designed by Thomas Jefferson and is a World Heritage Site. The University of Lexington is home to the
Virginia Military Institute and
Washington and Lee University.
Ten Ships have been named
USS Virginia. The
1st USS Virginia was a sailing frigate. The
2nd Uss Virginia was a revenue cutter. The
3rd USS Virginia was a ship of line. The
4th USS Virginia was a captured Spanish blockade runner. The
5th USS Virginia (BB-13) was a yacht. The
6th USS Virginia SP 274) was a battleship. The
7th USS Virginia (SP-746) was a motorboat. The
8th USS Virginia (SP-1965) was a schooner. The
9th USS Virginia (CGN-38) was a guided missile cruiser. The
10th USS Virginia (SSN-774) is a nuclear submarine.
The
Flora of Virginia Project is preparing information about VEGETATION in the state. The State Flower is the
Dogwood. Colonists gave the name �Virginia� to several plants they discovered including the
Virginia Creeper and
Virginia Bluebell. There are several endangered plants. The state has a
Vegetation Mapping Program. The
Nature Conservancy Program helps preserve land in Virginia.
There is evidence that at one time Virginia had active
VOLCANOS. There are 50-million-year-old lava flows in the Shenandoah National Park. Near Richmond much bedrock consists of granite which forms if lava cools slowly underground without being erupted.
Virginia has many
WATERFALLS. Cumberland Gap has waterfalls and mineral springs.
Fall Ridge Preserve has a spring-fed waterfall.
The
WEATHER in Virginia is influenced by the ocean. Summers near the ocean are cooler than farther inland. The current weather is provided by
Weather Underground and
NOAA. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about
Global Warming in Virginia. The
Virginia Department of Emergency Management works to protect people, property, and communities.
Virginia has a variety of
WILDLIFE. Large animals include white-tailed deer, black bear, and bobcat. Small animals include fox, opossum, skunk, raccoon, rabbit, weasel, mink, squirrel, beaver, and river otter. Wild ponies live on an island. There are many endangered animals. Virginia Division of Wildlife tracks animal species. Virginia has 14
Wildlife Refuges and is part of the
Wildlife Protection Program.
XMAS is the abbreviation for Christmas which is celebrated in
Virginia much as it is in the rest of the
country and around the
world. Virginia ranks 8th in the country in the production of
Christmas tree production.
Virginia has
YMCA and
YWCA organizations. They promote leadership and civic responsibility. There are also
Boy Scout and
Girl Scout organizations.
Virginia has several
YOUTH HOSTELS and
Elderhostels. The
Virginia Beach Youth Hostel is 1 block from the beach. There is an Elder Hostel at
William and Mary College
The use of postal
ZIPCODES began in 1963.
Zipcodes in Virginia start with the number 2. The mailing code is VA.
Virginia has several
Plant Hardiness ZONES. The state is in the Eastern Time Zone
ZONE.
Virginia has
ZOOS and Aquariums.
Leesburg Animal Park has special events and educational programs.
Virginia Zoological Park has 350 animals representing 110 species.
The
Luray Reptile Center, Dinosaur Park, and Petting Zoo has a variety of attractions.
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