Welcome to Virginia
If you are teaching about the US states, here are some facts about Virginia you may want to know.
Virginia is located in the southeastern United States. It borders North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and the Atlantic Ocean. Richmond is the capital.
Let’s learn a little more about this great state.
And be sure to scroll to the end to get a free picture recipe from Virginia.

A brief history of Virginia
Virginia became a state in 1788 and was the 10th state to join the United States.
Virginia is known as the Old Dominion. The name likely comes from the recognition that Virginia was the first and oldest of the English dominions in the US.
In 1607, the first English colony in America was established in Jamestown, Virginia.
Both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars ended in Virginia. The British troops surrendered in Yorktown, ending the Revolutionary War, and the Confederate troops surrendered at the Appomattox Courthouse, ending the Civil War. More than half the battles fought in the Civil War took place in Virginia.

In recent history, on September 11, 2001, a plane crashed into the Pentagon Building in Arlington, killing 189 people. This was one of the planes hijacked in the nation’s worst terrorist attack.
The geography of Virginia
Virginia has 5 main geographical regions: the Appalachian Plateau, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

The Appalachian Plateau is the farthest west and is covered with forests, rivers, and flat-topped rock.
The Appalachian Ridge and Valley has caverns, sinkholes, and valleys. This is where Shenandoah National Park is located.

The steeper part of the Appalachian Mountains covers the Blue Ridge region. Here, you will find Mt. Rogers, the highest point in the state, at 5729 feet tall.
The Piedmont region covers most of the central portion of the state, including Richmond, the state capitol.
Finally, the Atlantic Coastal Plain is a flat, low region that stretches to the Atlantic Ocean, where swamps and salt marshes are found.
Virginia's resources and industries
One of Virginia’s most important natural resources is forests. They cover more than 60% of the state, and timber from these forests contributes over $15 billion to the economy yearly.

Virginia is also a significant fishing state in the US. It is the third largest producer of fish, especially shellfish like scallops and blue crabs.
Virginia is also a big coal producer in the US.

The military and government services are large contributors to the economy of this state. There are many military bases, including all the different branches, and of course, the Pentagon is located in Virginia.
Lastly, Virginia also has some of the most visited historical sites in the country, and tourism is a big component of this state’s economy.

Fun places to visit in Virginia
If you plan to visit Virginia, there are some things you will want to know and make sure you get to see. This state has a rich history and fun sites to see.
When you come to Jamestown, you will feel like you have walked back in time. It acts as a living museum, with actors throughout the town playing the parts of settlers and famous historical figures. The buildings have been reconstructed, and the remains of a fort still stand. You will learn a lot about early colonial life here.
Williamsburg, another colonial town set up as a living museum, is not far away. Williamsburg served as the capital of the Virginia colony for most of the 1700s. It also played a vital role in the Revolutionary War. It was the site of several important conventions and was the site where Virginia officially declared independence from England.

Two past presidents had homes in Virginia. Mount Vernon is over 200 years old and was the home of George Washington. It sits near the Potomac River in Fairfax County. This is one of the most popular historic estates in the US. It opened in 1860, and more than 80 million visitors have come here.

Monticello was Thomas Jefferson’s previous home. Built in 1772, it sits on top of an 867-foot mountain and is known for its unique architecture. This three-story brick mansion has 35 rooms, each a different shape, and a distinctive 8-sided dome on top.

Another popular spot to visit is Arlington Cemetery. This famous cemetery covers over 600 acres and is where soldiers who have died in every war since the Revolutionary War have been buried.
Several monuments and memorials are within the cemetery. One of the most famous is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Established in 1921, this monument honors the unidentified soldiers who were killed during combat.

Luray Caverns is another interesting place to visit. It was discovered in 1878 and is a series of caves in northwest Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was formed millions of years ago by underground rivers sweeping through clay and limestone. The clay was washed away, leaving the limestone behind, which formed amazing stalactites and stalagmites.

Finally, Assateague Island is located on a small island off the coast of Virginia. This island is shared with Maryland and is home to two herds of wild horses. No one is sure how the horses got there. Many believe a ship wrecked off the island’s shores, and the horses swam to the island for safety.

Fun facts about Virginia
Here are a few fun facts you might not know about Virginia. The American Dogwood is the state flower, and the Cardinal is the state bird.

Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was known as the virgin queen.
The Pentagon is the world’s largest office building, with seven floors, and is the headquarters for the US Department of Defense. Approximately 23,000 people work in the Pentagon.

Eight US presidents were born in Virginia, more than in any other state.
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
- James Monroe
- William Henry Harrison
- John Tyler
- Zachery Taylor
- Woodrow Wilson
Virginia is sometimes called the Internet Capital of the world. It handles more than 70% of the world’s internet traffic.
Finally, many people believe the first Thanksgiving in the US was held in Berkley, Virginia. On December 4, 1619, the British settlers had just arrived from England and declared it a day of Thanksgiving. This was two years before the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth.
Virginia is a great state with so much to see. Next time you go on a trip, consider visiting this state and seeing what you can find.
To get a complete 2 week unit about Virginia that includes:
- 2 PowerPoints
- Vocabulary
- Bingo cards
- Daily Activities
- Picture recipe: Cookies
- Assessment
Then check out the complete unit below.