Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a
state in the
Mid-Atlantic and
Southeastern regions of the
United States, between the
Atlantic Coast and the
Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
are shaped by the
Blue Ridge Mountains and the
Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States
* Richmond, London, a part of London
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, ...
;
Virginia Beach is the most-populous city, and
Fairfax County is the most-populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's population was over 8.65million, with 36% of them living in the
Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area.
The area's history begins with
several indigenous groups, including the
Powhatan. In 1607, the
London Company
The London Company, officially known as the Virginia Company of London, was a division of the Virginia Company with responsibility for colonizing the east coast of North America between latitudes 34° and 41° N.
History Origins
The territor ...
established the
Colony of Virginia
The Colony of Virginia, chartered in 1606 and settled in 1607, was the first enduring English colonial empire, English colony in North America, following failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey GilbertG ...
as the first permanent