Whether you want some Virginia fun facts to use for a project or you want to impress people with your knowledge of the The Old Dominion, we’ve put together some facts about Virginia that cover everything from weird laws to natural wonder to strange history.
Virginia has plenty of history, natural views, and beautiful towns, and these interesting facts about Virginia are a real tribute to all of the fun Virginia facts to be found (we could have kept going, but kept it to the 51 best ones!).
Keep reading for weird facts about Virginia, amazing facts about Virginia, cool facts about Virginia, and plenty of fun Virginia facts to keep you guessing (or help you put together an awesome Virginia trivia quiz!)
Virginia Fun Facts
1. Virginia is located on the East Coast of the United States.
2. It is the 10th smallest state in the United States by land area.
3. Virginia is known as the “Old Dominion State.”
4. The state’s capital is Richmond, and its largest city is Virginia Beach.
5. Virginia is one of the original 13 colonies and played a significant role in the early history of the United States.
6. The state is known for its rich history, including its colonial settlements and role in the American Revolution.
7. Virginia is home to the Jamestown Settlement, the first permanent English settlement in North America.
8. The state is famous for its historic landmarks, including Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, and Mount Vernon.
9. Virginia is known as the “Mother of Presidents” because eight U.S. presidents were born there, more than any other state.
10. The state’s official state song is “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia.”
11. Virginia is home to the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense.
12. The state’s official state bird is the Northern cardinal.
Interesting Facts about Virginia
13. Virginia is often referred to as the “Birthplace of a Nation” due to its historical significance in the founding of the United States.
14. The state is famous for its scenic beauty, including the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley.
15. Virginia is known for its production of peanuts and is the largest peanut-producing state in the United States.
16. The state is home to several major military installations, including Naval Station Norfolk and Langley Air Force Base.
17. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States.
18. Virginia has a strong horse racing tradition and is home to the famous Kentucky Derby prep race, the Virginia Derby.
19. The state’s official tree is the flowering dogwood.
20. Virginia has a diverse climate, with the coastal areas experiencing a humid subtropical climate and the mountainous regions having a humid continental climate.
21. The state is known for its delicious seafood, including Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and oysters.
22. Virginia is home to the longest continuously operating English-speaking legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, the Virginia General Assembly.
23. The state’s official flower is the American dogwood.
Weird Facts about Virginia
24. Virginia Beach is home to the longest pleasure beach in the world, stretching over 35 miles.
25. The state is known for its vibrant music scene, particularly in genres such as bluegrass, country, and folk music.
26. Virginia is home to several prestigious universities, including the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
27. The state’s official state mammal is the American black bear.
Virginia has the highest concentration of technology workers in the United States.
28. The state is known for its numerous historic battlefields and Civil War sites, including Manassas National Battlefield Park and Petersburg National Battlefield.
29. The state’s official fish is the brook trout.
30. Virginia is home to the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk.
31. The state is famous for its production of wine, particularly in the Shenandoah Valley and the Northern Neck regions.
32. The state’s official state reptile is the eastern box turtle.
33. Virginia is home to the NASA Langley Research Center, where pioneering work in aerospace engineering and research has been conducted.
34. The state has a strong literary heritage and is the birthplace of several famous authors, including Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner.
35. The state’s official beverage is milk.
Random Facts about Virginia
36. Virginia is home to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a vast wetland ecosystem known for its biodiversity.
37. The state’s official fossil is the Chesapecten jeffersonius, a fossilized scallop shell.
38. Virginia has a diverse population, with a rich African American heritage and strong Native American and Hispanic communities.
39. The state’s official insect is the tiger swallowtail butterfly.
40. Virginia has the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, the House of Burgesses, established in 1619.
41. The state is known for its beautiful gardens, including the Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
42. The state’s official state dance is the square dance.
Amazing Facts about Virginia
43. Virginia is home to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, the principal training facility for the U.S. Marine Corps.
44. The state’s official state dog is the American foxhound.
45. Virginia is known for its stunning fall foliage, with vibrant colors covering the landscape.
46. The state’s official state shell is the eastern oyster.
47. Virginia has a strong tradition of horse racing, including the annual Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase race.
48. The state’s official state bat is the Virginia big-eared bat.
49. Virginia is home to the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States.
50. The state’s official state boat is the Chesapeake Bay deadrise, a type of fishing boat commonly used in the Chesapeake Bay region.
51. Virginia is home to the world’s largest naval shipbuilding facility, Newport News Shipbuilding. It has been in operation since 1886 and is a major contributor to the United States Navy’s fleet.
Hey! Want more fun facts about the states? Check these out!
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