Virginia overview

The Commonwealth of Virginia is a state in thenorthern Virginia lies as close to New York City and
Southern United States. Named after Queen ElizabethNew England as to its own rural western panhandle.
I of England, who was known as the Virgin Queen, thisConversely, Lee County, at the tip of the panhandle, is
commonwealth was one of the thirteen colonies thatcloser to eight other state capitals than it is to
revolted against British rule in the American Revolution.Richmond, Virginia's own capital.
Virginia was the first part of the Americas to beVirginia has a number of National Park Service units,
continuously inhabited by British colonists from itsincluding one national park, the Shenandoah National
founding as a European colony up to the AmericanPark. For a list of all areas managed by the National
Revolution. It included area explored by the 1584Park Service within Virginia, see: List of areas in the
expedition of Sir Walter Raleigh along the coast ofNational Park System of the United States in Virginia.
North America, and at one time it also includedClimate
Bermuda (or Virgineola). The London Virginia CompanyThe climate is considered mild compared to other
became incorporated as a joint stock company by aareas of the United States. Most of the state east of
proprietary charter drawn up on April 10, 1606. Thethe Blue Ridge, plus the southern part of the
charter granted lands stretching from approximatelyShenandoah Valley, has a humid subtropical climate
the 34th parallel (North Carolina) north to approximately(Koppen climate classification Cfa). In the mountainous
the 45th parallel (New York) and from the Atlanticareas west of the Blue Ridge, the climate becomes
Ocean westward (although the Third Charter of 1612humid continental (Koppen Dfa).
extended its boundaries far enough across the AtlanticHowever, substantial variations occur because of the
to incorporate Bermuda, which the company had beenstate's significant relief. Elevations in Virginia vary from
in possession of since 1609). The capital is Richmondsea level to Mount Rogers at 5,729 ft (1,746 m) above
and the most populous city is Virginia Beach.sea level with major gradations occurring at the edges
Virginia is known as the "Mother of Presidents",of the Atlantic Ocean, the end of the Piedmont, and
because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidentsthe Blue Ridge and Allegheny chains of the
(George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, JamesAppalachian Mountains. The usually moderating
Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, Johninfluence of the ocean from the east, powered by the
Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson),Gulf Stream, is interspersed with brief moments of
exceeded by no other state. Most of the Uniteddanger due to the potential for hurricanes near the
States' early presidents were from the state. Virginiamouth of Chesapeake Bay. On the other hand, cold air
has also been known as the "Mother of States",masses arrive over the mountains, especially in winter,
because portions of the original Colony subsequentlyleading to significant snowfalls. However, in something
became Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia asof an anomaly, much of the state south of Northern
well as some portions of Ohio. Additionally, most ofVirginia has not had over one foot of snow in a single
what is now Wisconsin and Michigan was also brieflystorm since the Blizzard of 1996. The interaction of
claimed by Virginia during the Revolutionary War.these elements with the state's topography create
Virginia is bordered by West Virginia, Maryland, and themicro-climates in the Shenandoah Valley, the
District of Columbia (across the Potomac River) to themountainous southwest, and the coastal plains that are
north; by Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean toslightly but noticeably distinct from each other.[2] An
the east; by North Carolina and Tennessee to theadditional element in recent years is the expansion of
south; and by Kentucky and West Virginia to the west.the southern suburbs of Washington into Northern
The Chesapeake Bay divides the commonwealth, withVirginia, creating an urban heat island due to the
Virginia's Eastern Shore, a part of the Delmarvaincreased energy output of the city. However, aside
Peninsula, completely separate (an exclave) from thefrom the urban stations, no global warming effects
rest of the Commonwealth. Geographically, Virginia ishave been noted by Virginia weather stations by 2001.
divided into the following six regions:Severe weather is occasionally a concern in Virginia.
Ridge and Valley—between the AppalachianAs mentioned above, hurricanes make the coastal
Plateau and Allegheny Plateau to the west and thearea of Virginia somewhat vulnerable, although it is rare
Blue Ridge Mountains to the east. Sometimes referredfor a major hurricane to threaten the Virginia coast as
to as Valley and Ridge.hurricanes this far north tend to become somewhat
Shenandoah Valley—located within the Ridgeweakened. More often, Virginia is struck with the
and Valley Region; it is referred toremnants of systems which hit further south bringing
geographically—and culturally— as itstorrential rain to the state. Thunderstorms are an
own region.occasional concern with the state averaging anywhere
Blue Ridge Mountains—between the Ridgefrom 30-50 days of thunderstorm activity annually, with
and Valley Region to the west and the Piedmontthe highest area of occurrence going towards the
region to the east.west. Conversely, eastern Virginia has a lower rate of
Foothills—area now recognized directlytornadoes, and the state averages around 2
between the Piedmont and the Blue Ridge Mountains.tornadoes per year. The last tornado that Virginia
Pertaining to the counties of Madison, Green,experienced was around November 2006.
Albemarle, and Nelson. Denotes a region just west ofFaults and quakes
the Carters Mountain range and north of the JamesVirginia has not had a history of major seismic activity:
river subject to its own unique microclimate.earthquakes here are rarely above 4.5 on the Richter
Piedmont—between the Blue Ridge Mountainsmagnitude scale. There is no volcanic activity in the
to the west and the Tidewater region to the east.state, and it is located centrally on the North American
Tidewater—between the fall line to the westPlate—where the Earth's crust is thicker than
and the Atlantic coast to the east; it includes theat the edges—which leads to fewer strong
Eastern Shore.earthquakes. The largest, at 6.0 magnitude, came in
Virginia's long east-west axis means that metropolitan1897 in Blacksburg.