| The Commonwealth of Virginia is a state | | | | panhandle. Conversely, Lee County, at |
| in the Southern United States. Named | | | | the tip of the panhandle, is closer to |
| after Queen Elizabeth I of England, who | | | | eight other state capitals than it is to |
| was known as the Virgin Queen, this | | | | Richmond, Virginia's own capital. |
| commonwealth was one of the thirteen | | | | Virginia has a number of National Park |
| colonies that revolted against British | | | | Service units, including one national |
| rule in the American Revolution. | | | | park, the Shenandoah National Park. For |
| Virginia was the first part of the | | | | a list of all areas managed by the |
| Americas to be continuously inhabited by | | | | National Park Service within Virginia, |
| British colonists from its founding as a | | | | see: List of areas in the National Park |
| European colony up to the American | | | | System of the United States in Virginia. |
| Revolution. It included area explored by | | | | Climate |
| the 1584 expedition of Sir Walter | | | | The climate is considered mild compared |
| Raleigh along the coast of North | | | | to other areas of the United States. |
| America, and at one time it also | | | | Most of the state east of the Blue |
| included Bermuda (or Virgineola). The | | | | Ridge, plus the southern part of the |
| London Virginia Company became | | | | Shenandoah Valley, has a humid |
| incorporated as a joint stock company by | | | | subtropical climate (Koppen climate |
| a proprietary charter drawn up on April | | | | classification Cfa). In the mountainous |
| 10, 1606. The charter granted lands | | | | areas west of the Blue Ridge, the |
| stretching from approximately the 34th | | | | climate becomes humid continental |
| parallel (North Carolina) north to | | | | (Koppen Dfa). |
| approximately the 45th parallel (New | | | | However, substantial variations occur |
| York) and from the Atlantic Ocean | | | | because of the state's significant |
| westward (although the Third Charter of | | | | relief. Elevations in Virginia vary from |
| 1612 extended its boundaries far enough | | | | sea level to Mount Rogers at 5,729 ft |
| across the Atlantic to incorporate | | | | (1,746 m) above sea level with major |
| Bermuda, which the company had been in | | | | gradations occurring at the edges of the |
| possession of since 1609). The capital | | | | Atlantic Ocean, the end of the Piedmont, |
| is Richmond and the most populous city | | | | and the Blue Ridge and Allegheny chains |
| is Virginia Beach. | | | | of the Appalachian Mountains. The |
| Virginia is known as the "Mother of | | | | usually moderating influence of the |
| Presidents", because it is the | | | | ocean from the east, powered by the Gulf |
| birthplace of eight U.S. presidents | | | | Stream, is interspersed with brief |
| (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, | | | | moments of danger due to the potential |
| James Madison, James Monroe, William | | | | for hurricanes near the mouth of |
| Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary | | | | Chesapeake Bay. On the other hand, cold |
| Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson), exceeded by | | | | air masses arrive over the mountains, |
| no other state. Most of the United | | | | especially in winter, leading to |
| States' early presidents were from the | | | | significant snowfalls. However, in |
| state. Virginia has also been known as | | | | something of an anomaly, much of the |
| the "Mother of States", because portions | | | | state south of Northern Virginia has not |
| of the original Colony subsequently | | | | had over one foot of snow in a single |
| became Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and | | | | storm since the Blizzard of 1996. The |
| West Virginia as well as some portions | | | | interaction of these elements with the |
| of Ohio. Additionally, most of what is | | | | state's topography create micro-climates |
| now Wisconsin and Michigan was also | | | | in the Shenandoah Valley, the |
| briefly claimed by Virginia during the | | | | mountainous southwest, and the coastal |
| Revolutionary War. | | | | plains that are slightly but noticeably |
| Virginia is bordered by West Virginia, | | | | distinct from each other.[2] An |
| Maryland, and the District of Columbia | | | | additional element in recent years is |
| (across the Potomac River) to the north; | | | | the expansion of the southern suburbs of |
| by Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean | | | | Washington into Northern Virginia, |
| to the east; by North Carolina and | | | | creating an urban heat island due to the |
| Tennessee to the south; and by Kentucky | | | | increased energy output of the city. |
| and West Virginia to the west. | | | | However, aside from the urban stations, |
| The Chesapeake Bay divides the | | | | no global warming effects have been |
| commonwealth, with Virginia's Eastern | | | | noted by Virginia weather stations by |
| Shore, a part of the Delmarva Peninsula, | | | | 2001. |
| completely separate (an exclave) from | | | | Severe weather is occasionally a concern |
| the rest of the Commonwealth. | | | | in Virginia. As mentioned above, |
| Geographically, Virginia is divided into | | | | hurricanes make the coastal area of |
| the following six regions: | | | | Virginia somewhat vulnerable, although |
| Ridge and Valley—between the | | | | it is rare for a major hurricane to |
| Appalachian Plateau and Allegheny | | | | threaten the Virginia coast as |
| Plateau to the west and the Blue Ridge | | | | hurricanes this far north tend to become |
| Mountains to the east. Sometimes | | | | somewhat weakened. More often, Virginia |
| referred to as Valley and Ridge. | | | | is struck with the remnants of systems |
| Shenandoah Valley—located within the | | | | which hit further south bringing |
| Ridge and Valley Region; it is referred | | | | torrential rain to the state. |
| to geographically—and culturally— as | | | | Thunderstorms are an occasional concern |
| its own region. | | | | with the state averaging anywhere from |
| Blue Ridge Mountains—between the Ridge | | | | 30-50 days of thunderstorm activity |
| and Valley Region to the west and the | | | | annually, with the highest area of |
| Piedmont region to the east. | | | | occurrence going towards the west. |
| Foothills—area now recognized directly | | | | Conversely, eastern Virginia has a lower |
| between the Piedmont and the Blue Ridge | | | | rate of tornadoes, and the state |
| Mountains. Pertaining to the counties of | | | | averages around 2 tornadoes per year. |
| Madison, Green, Albemarle, and Nelson. | | | | The last tornado that Virginia |
| Denotes a region just west of the | | | | experienced was around November 2006. |
| Carters Mountain range and north of the | | | | Faults and quakes |
| James river subject to its own unique | | | | Virginia has not had a history of major |
| microclimate. | | | | seismic activity: earthquakes here are |
| Piedmont—between the Blue Ridge | | | | rarely above 4.5 on the Richter |
| Mountains to the west and the Tidewater | | | | magnitude scale. There is no volcanic |
| region to the east. | | | | activity in the state, and it is located |
| Tidewater—between the fall line to the | | | | centrally on the North American |
| west and the Atlantic coast to the east; | | | | Plate—where the Earth's crust is |
| it includes the Eastern Shore. | | | | thicker than at the edges—which leads |
| Virginia's long east-west axis means | | | | to fewer strong earthquakes. The |
| that metropolitan northern Virginia lies | | | | largest, at 6.0 magnitude, came in 1897 |
| as close to New York City and New | | | | in Blacksburg. |
| England as to its own rural western | | | | |