*** Welcome to piglix ***

Virginia (state)

Commonwealth of Virginia
Navy blue flag with the circular Seal of Virginia centered on it. A circular seal with the words "Virginia" on the top and "Sic Semper Tyrannis" on the bottom. In the center, a woman wearing a blue toga and Athenian helmet stands on the chest of dead man wearing a purple breastplate and skirt. The woman holds a spear and sheathed sword. The man holds a broken chain while his crown lies away from the figures. Orange leaves encircle the seal.
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents, Mother of States
Motto(s): Sic semper tyrannis
(English: Thus Always to Tyrants)
Virginia is located on the Atlantic coast along the line that divides the northern and southern halves of the United States. It runs mostly east to west. It includes a small peninsula across a bay which is discontinuous with the rest of the state.
Official language English
Spoken languages English 85.87%,
Spanish 6.41%
Other 7.72%
Demonym Virginian
Capital Richmond
Largest city Virginia Beach
Largest metro Washington metropolitan area
Area Ranked 35th
 • Total 42,774.2 sq mi
(110,785.67 km2)
 • Width 200 miles (320 km)
 • Length 430 miles (690 km)
 • % water 7.4
 • Latitude 36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N
 • Longitude 75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W
Population Ranked 12th
 • Total 8,382,993 (2015 est)
 • Density 206.7/sq mi  (79.8/km2)
Ranked 14th
 • Median household income $61,486 (14th)
Elevation
 • Highest point Mount Rogers
5,729 ft (1746 m)
 • Mean 950 ft  (290 m)
 • Lowest point Atlantic Ocean
sea level
Before statehood Colony of Virginia
Admission to Union June 25, 1788 (10th)
Governor Terry McAuliffe (D)
Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam (D)
Legislature General Assembly
 • Upper house Senate
 • Lower house House of Delegates
U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D)
Tim Kaine (D)
U.S. House delegation 7 Republicans,
4 Democrats (list)
Time zone Eastern: UTC −5/−4
ISO 3166 US-VA
Abbreviations VA, Va.
Website www.virginia.gov
Virginia state symbols
Flag of Virginia.svg
Seal of Virginia.svg
Living insignia
Bird Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Butterfly Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus)
Dog breed American Foxhound (Canis lupis familiaris)
Fish Brook trout, striped bass
Flower Flowering Dogwood
Insect Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus)
Tree Flowering Dogwood
Inanimate insignia
Beverage Milk
Dance Square dance
Fossil Chesapecten jeffersonius
Rock Nelsonite
Shell Eastern oyster
Slogan Virginia is for lovers
Song "Our Great Virginia"
Tartan Virginia Quadcentennial Tartan
State route marker
Virginia state route marker
State quarter
Virginia quarter dollar coin
Released in 2000
Lists of United States state symbols
Virginia state-wide averages
Climate chart ()
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
3.1
 
 
46
26
 
 
3.1
 
 
48
27
 
 
3.7
 
 
57
34
 
 
3.3
 
 
67
43
 
 
4
 
 
76
52
 
 
3.7
 
 
83
60
 
 
4.3
 
 
86
64
 
 
4.1
 
 
85
63
 
 
3.5
 
 
79
57
 
 
3.4
 
 
69
45
 
 
3.2
 
 
58
35
 
 
3.2
 
 
48
28
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: University of Virginia data 1895–1998
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
3.1
 
 
46
26
 
 
3.1
 
 
48
27
 
 
3.7
 
 
57
34
 
 
3.3
 
 
67
43
 
 
4
 
 
76
52
 
 
3.7
 
 
83
60
 
 
4.3
 
 
86
64
 
 
4.1
 
 
85
63
 
 
3.5
 
 
79
57
 
 
3.4
 
 
69
45
 
 
3.2
 

...