VirginiaWikiBot: Create Virginia.wiki Commonwealth cornerstone

2026-10-20T07:27:23Z

Create Virginia.wiki Commonwealth cornerstone

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{{Text hero
|title=Virginia
|subtitle=The Commonwealth in context — its land, people, government, history, communities, and places.
|kind=place
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{{Place quick facts
|label1=Capital
|value1=Richmond
|label2=Largest city
|value2=Virginia Beach
|label3=Population
|value3=8,880,107 (2025 estimate)
|label4=Local structure
|value4=95 counties · 38 independent cities
}}

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'''Virginia''' is a U.S. state on the Atlantic seaboard that officially styles itself the '''Commonwealth of Virginia'''. Its landscapes run from Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay shorelines across the Coastal Plain and Piedmont to the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian highlands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/document/ncoverviewphys-veg.pdf |title=Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia |website=Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

Virginia's estimated population was 8,880,107 on July 1, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/VA/PST120222 |title=QuickFacts: Virginia |website=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref> The capital is Richmond, while Virginia Beach is the state's largest city by population. Virginia's local-government map is unusual: the Commonwealth has 95 counties and 38 independent cities, meaning those cities are not legally part of surrounding counties.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/about-virginia/statistics-emblems-and-symbols/ |title=Statistics, Emblems, and Symbols |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>
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== Virginia at a glance ==

Virginia reaches from sea level along the Atlantic coast and Eastern Shore to Mount Rogers, the state's highest point, in the southwestern Blue Ridge. The Department of Conservation and Recreation describes five major physiographic provinces crossing Virginia: the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, and Appalachian Plateaus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/document/ncoverviewphys-veg.pdf |title=Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia |website=Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

For travel and destination planning, Virginia's official tourism organization groups the Commonwealth into ten visitor regions, including Northern Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, Central and Southern Virginia, multiple mountain regions, Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, and the Chesapeake Bay region.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/ |title=Regions in Virginia |website=Virginia is for Lovers |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

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<h3>Atlantic to Appalachia</h3>
<p>Ocean beaches, tidal rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, rolling Piedmont, Blue Ridge ridges, long valleys, and the Appalachian highlands give Virginia unusually varied geography within one state.</p>
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<h3>133 county equivalents</h3>
<p>Virginia's 95 counties and 38 independent cities create a local-government structure unlike that of most states. Incorporated towns remain within counties.</p>
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<h3>A long civic history</h3>
<p>Jamestown was established in 1607, a representative assembly met in 1619, and Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution on June 25, 1788, becoming the tenth state.</p>
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<h3>Many Virginias in one</h3>
<p>Urban Northern Virginia, the Tidewater cities, historic Central Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge, the coalfields, farm country, and the Eastern Shore each have distinct landscapes and local identities.</p>
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== Land and regions ==

Virginia spans about 469 miles from east to west and includes coastal, piedmont, mountain, valley, and plateau landscapes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/document/ncoverviewphys-veg.pdf |title=Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia |website=Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

Useful starting points on Virginia.wiki include:
* [[Northern Virginia Travel Guide|Northern Virginia]]
* [[Central Virginia Travel Guide|Central Virginia]]
* [[Virginia’s Northern Neck|Northern Neck]]
* [[Shenandoah National Park|Shenandoah National Park]]
* [[Virginia Scenic Drives|Virginia scenic drives]]

== Cities, counties, and communities ==

Virginia's constitution distinguishes counties, independent cities, and incorporated towns. An independent city is legally separate from any county, while a town remains within a county.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article7/section1/ |title=Constitution of Virginia — Article VII, Section 1 |website=Virginia Law |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

The Commonwealth reports 95 counties, 38 independent cities, and 191 incorporated towns.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/about-virginia/statistics-emblems-and-symbols/ |title=Statistics, Emblems, and Symbols |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

Among the best-known urban and historic centers are [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]], [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], and communities across Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, the Shenandoah Valley, Southside, and Southwest Virginia.

== History ==

Virginia's recorded history is far older than the Commonwealth itself and includes the histories of Indigenous peoples, English colonization, slavery, revolution, civil war, industrialization, migration, and modern growth.

The English settlement at [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]] was established in 1607. Virginia's first representative legislative assembly met at Jamestown in 1619. The colonial capital later moved to [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], and in 1779 the capital moved to Richmond.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/about-virginia/history-and-facts-on-virginia/ |title=History and Facts on Virginia |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

On June 25, 1788, Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution and became the tenth state to join the Union.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/states/VA/timeline.shtml |title=Virginia State Timeline |website=United States Senate |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

For a fuller chronology and topic guide, see [[History of Virginia|History of Virginia]].

== Government ==

Virginia's constitution separates legislative, executive, and judicial power.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article3/section1/ |title=Constitution of Virginia — Article III, Section 1 |website=Virginia Law |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

The legislative branch is the Virginia General Assembly. It consists of a 100-member House of Delegates and a 40-member Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.virginia.gov/state-government/ |title=Virginia Government |website=Virginia.gov |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref> The judicial system is headed by the Supreme Court of Virginia, with other appellate and trial courts established under the Constitution and state law.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article6/section1/ |title=Constitution of Virginia — Article VI, Section 1 |website=Virginia Law |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

Richmond is the seat of state government and home to the Virginia State Capitol.

== Economy and institutions ==

Virginia's economy is diversified across government, defense, technology, business and financial services, manufacturing, logistics, life sciences, agriculture, tourism, and other sectors. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership identifies aerospace and defense, advanced materials manufacturing, business and financial services, life sciences, and supply-chain industries among the Commonwealth's major targeted sectors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vedp.org/key-industries |title=Key Industries |website=Virginia Economic Development Partnership |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

Virginia also has a large public higher-education system. The Office of the Secretary of Education reports 16 public colleges and universities and 23 community colleges.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.education.virginia.gov/ |title=Secretary of Education |website=Commonwealth of Virginia |access-date=2026-10-20}}</ref>

== Culture and everyday Virginia ==

Virginia's identity is regional as much as statewide. The Chesapeake and Tidewater are shaped by water and maritime industries; the Piedmont and central regions contain major political, educational, and historic centers; the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley connect mountain landscapes with agriculture and tourism; and Southwest Virginia carries strong Appalachian traditions.

Food, outdoor recreation, historic sites, colleges, military communities, ports, festivals, arts institutions, and local traditions all contribute to a Commonwealth that changes noticeably from one region to another.

== Explore Virginia ==

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<h3>[[History of Virginia|History of Virginia]]</h3>
<p>Follow Virginia from Indigenous history and colonial settlement through revolution, civil war, industrial change, and the modern Commonwealth.</p>
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<h3>[[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]]</h3>
<p>Explore the restored colonial capital, museums, major attractions, restaurants, and the Historic Triangle.</p>
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<h3>[[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]]</h3>
<p>Atlantic beaches, Chesapeake Bay shoreline, parks, neighborhoods, dining, and coastal recreation.</p>
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<h3>[[Shenandoah National Park|Shenandoah National Park]]</h3>
<p>Blue Ridge scenery, Skyline Drive, waterfalls, overlooks, wildlife, and extensive hiking.</p>
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<h3>[[Virginia Rail Trails|Virginia rail trails]]</h3>
<p>Rail-trail routes and long-distance recreation corridors across the Commonwealth.</p>
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<h3>[[Virginia Scenic Drives|Virginia scenic drives]]</h3>
<p>Roads, byways, mountain routes, and scenic corridors for exploring Virginia by car.</p>
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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.virginia.gov/ Virginia.gov]
* [https://www.virginia.org/ Virginia tourism — Virginia is for Lovers]
* [https://law.lis.virginia.gov/ Virginia Law]
* [https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/VA/PST120222 U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — Virginia]

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Virginia - Revision history

VirginiaWikiBot: Create Virginia.wiki Commonwealth cornerstone