Virginia . . . State 10
Virginia's official state flag was adopted in 1861. The flag has a deep blue background with a white circle in the center and "VIRGINIA," and "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS" which is Latin for "thus always to tyrants". Depicting the state's motto on the flag is the goddess Virtue who is holding a sword and a spear, who has defeated a tyrant and is lying on the ground holding a chain and a whip. Nearby is the tyrant's fallen crown. Virtue symbolizes Virginia and the tyrant symbolizes Britain. Red Virginia creepers and green leaves surround the scene. A white silk fringe is on the edge farthest from the flagstaff.
Virginia became a state on June 25, 1788 as the 10th state. The capital city is Richmond and largest city is Virginia Beach. Virginia is located in the southeastern part of the US and looks like a triangle. It is named Virginia after Queen Elizabeth I of England who was often called the Virgin Queen. Many cavaliers left England to come to Virginia during England’s Civil war.
Virginia is known as the mother of presidents because 4 or the first 5 presidents were born in Virginia. It also is known as the mother of states because six other states were created by using part of their original land.
Virginia is a very popular tourist destination for those who are interested in American history. There are famous spots where many battles took place. Visitors can tour the homes of where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson lived. Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement and Yorktown, the site of General Cornwallis' surrender in the American Revolution are also there.
Virginia’s climate is mild and pleasant and the temperature varies in different parts of the state because of the ocean breeze and also the Appalachians in the west. There is good amounts of precipitation throughout the state which means a long growing season. Because of this, the soils are great for growing tobacco, fruits and grains.
Economy:
Virginia Agriculture: Cattle, poultry,
dairy products, tobacco, hogs,
soybeans.
Virginia Industry: Transportation equipment, textiles, lumber, food processing, printing, electric equipment, chemicals.
Virginia has 95 counties:
Accomack Albemarle
Alleghany Amelia Amherst Appomattox
Arlington Augusta Bath Bedford
Bland Botetourt Brunswick Buchanan
Buckingham Campbell Caroline
Carroll Charles City Charlotte
Chesterfield Clarke Craig Culpeper
Cumberland Dickenson Dinwiddie
Essex Fairfax Fauquier Floyd
Fluvanna Franklin Frederick
Giles Gloucester Goochland Grayson
Greene Greensville Halifax Hanover
Henrico Henry Highland Isle
of Wight James City King and
Queen King George King William
Lancaster Lee Loudoun Louisa
Lunenburg Madison Mathews Mecklenburg
Middlesex Montgomery Nelson
New Kent Northampton Northumberland
Nottoway Orange Page Patrick
Pittsylvania Powhatan Prince
Edward Prince George Prince
William Pulaski Rappahannock
Richmond Roanoke Rockbridge
Rockingham Russell Scott Shenandoah
Smyth Southampton Spotsylvania
Stafford Surry Sussex Tazewell
Warren Washington Westmoreland
Wise Wythe York
