Virginia, a middle Atlantic state of the American Union, separated from Maryland by the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, and also by an arbitrary line 25 miles in length across the eastern shore; on the south it adjoins North Carolina for 326 miles and Tennessee for 114 miles; on the west and north-west are Kentucky (115 miles) and West Virginia (450 miles, in a very irregular line). The greatest length from east to west is 475 miles, and the greatest width from north to south 190 to 200 miles. It has a land area of 40,125 sq. m. and a water area of 2325 sq. m.
The surface of the state consists of a series of belts extending from north-east to south-west parallel to the trend of the coast on the east and the ranges of the Appalachian Mountains on the west. These divisions rise one above another from the coast westward, forming a stairway of ascending elevations. They differ in aspect, soil, climate, geological structure, and products. The tidewater region, penetrated by the waters of the ocean, of Chesapeake Bay and its inlets, and of the tributary streams, is divided into numerous peninsulas, and has a coast-line of nearly 1500 miles. The peninsula of the eastern shore and the Norfolk peninsula are low, rising but 20 or 30 feet above sea-level, and form the first in the series of ascending steps. The other peninsulas rise higher, forming the second and third terraces. Westward from the head of tidewater lies the middle country, an undulating plain from 25 to 100 miles wide, broken in places into ridges by outliers of the Appalachian Mountains and by the transverse valleys of the streams. The fifth ascent is the Piedmont plateau, having an elevation of from 300 to 500 feet, and diversified by numerous valleys and 'coves' formed by the broken coast-ranges and projecting spurs of the Blue Ridge. This eastern range of the Appalachians forms the next division, and for two-thirds of its length within the state simply constitutes the divide between the Piedmont country and the Great Valley to the west. In the south-west it expands into a broad plateau, which, extending into North Carolina, forms the culminating portion of this mountain-system. The range consists of a series of domes connected by long ridges with many side spurs. The height of the mountains increases toward the south-west, as does that of the surrounding country. The Great Valley lies between the Blue Ridge and the western Kittatinny or North Mountains. Though this valley is continuous it has four watersheds and contains the minor valleys of the Shenandoah, the James, the Roanoke, the Kanawha, and the Holston or Tennessee rivers. The last of the belts belongs to the Appalachian mountain-region, and is styled 'Appalachia.' It may be described as a series of long narrow valleys 2000 feet or more above the sea, enclosed between the long parallel ranges of the Alleghany Mountains. About six-sevenths of the state is drained by the streams of the Atlantic system. The important rivers are the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, James, Blackwater, and Roanoke. The remaining seventh is drained mainly by the Kanawha or New River, the Holston, and the Clinch, which are tributary to the Ohio. Virginia is famous for the number and value of its mineral springs. The Natural Bridge, in Rockbridge county, and the many caverns are among the objects of interest to tourists.
With its diversified surface and its position near the sea Virginia has a climate which varies with the locality. Except in the swampy portions of the tidewater district it is remarkably pleasant and healthful. The mean annual rainfall is from 40 to 45 inches, and is well distributed throughout the year. The soils are mostly fertile, and the state contains extensive forests. Along the shores of the tidewater region and in the marshes waterfowl of various kinds are abundant, and elsewhere partridges or quails, pigeons, grouse, wild turkeys, and other game birds are found. Deer are numerous in many sections. The fisheries are important, and supply large quantities of fish, which are slipped to other states. Oyster-culture is engaged in. Indian corn, oats, and barley are extensively grown. The products of market-gardens and orchards are especially valuable on account of the facility with which they may be carried to the great Atlantic seaports. Tobacco has always been a staple crop in this state, and the 'Virginia leaf' is noted throughout the world for its excellence. Among the mineral products are marls, choice sands and clays, granites, limestones, marbles, and other building stones, iron, lead, and zinc ores in abundance, gold in the middle region, at one time worked quite extensively, and bituminous and anthracite coal. The coal-field which occurs in the Triassic sandstones in the vicinity of Richmond yields, besides a bright, black, bituminous coal, a remarkable natural coke; but the most thoroughly worked coal area is the Pocahontas field in the south-west. The mining and manufacturing interests of the state are rapidly increasing. Facilities for transportation are excellent. The enormous water-front affords ample opportunities for reaching all the leading markets by steamers and sailing-vessels, and in 1898 there were within the state 3668 miles of railroad.
Virginia has 100 counties. There are thirty towns having a population of more than 2000. The most important cities are Richmond, the capital, Norfolk, Petersburg, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Alexandria, Portsmouth, and Danville. The state maintains an excellent system of public schools, and private schools, academies, and colleges are numerous. Among the more important institutions of higher learning are the University of Virginia, the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Virginia Military Institute, Emery and Henry College, Roanoke College, Hampden and Sydney College, Washington and Lee University, and Richmond College.
The history of Virginia is perhaps more romantic and heroic than that of any other state of the Union. It was here that the first lasting colony was established by the English. At Jamestown was held the first representative assembly in America. With its early period are associated the names of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas. Such was the prosperity of the colony that at the end of the colonial period Virginia was the most populous and wealthy of the thirteen colonies. In the protest against the Stamp Act and the encroachments of Great Britain Virginia took the lead, and in the revolutionary struggle furnished such noted sons as Washington, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, the Lees, and Madison. At Yorktown the surrender of Cornwallis put an end to the contest. In the civil war Virginia furnished the commander of the Confederate forces, General Robert E. Lee, and on its soil the last battle was fought, and the final surrender was made. Of the first twenty-one presidents of the country seven were natives of Virginia. Pop. (1800) 880,200; (1860) 1,596,318; (1870, after the separation of West Virginia) 1,225,163; (1880) 1,512,565; (1890) 1,655,980 (640,867 coloured); (1900) 1,854,184.
See books on the history of Virginia by R. R. Howison (1846-48), Campbell (1860), Stith (1866), Cooke (1883), O'Neill (1885), Drake (1894), and P. A. Bruce (1896).