What is Virginia Known For? 21 Things Virginians Love About Themselves

Each of the 50 states in the United States plays host to a colorful history and unique claims to fame. Virginia is no exception. The 10th state in the nation and one of the original 13 colonies, Virginia has over 400 years of colonial history to draw from, as well as centuries of indigenous history.  Let’s discover some of the things Virginia is known for and what the people who live there love about their home.

1. It was the First!

In 1607, John Smith and other colonists established Jamestown as the first permanent English settlement on U.S. soil. They came with the intention to farm and send valuable crops back to England, but few of the colonists actually had experience as farmers. Without the help and knowledge of the local collection of Powhatan people, the colony would have failed.

2. Pocahontas Actually Lived in Virginia

The Disney version of her story may be very simplified and romanticized, but Pocahontas was a real person who married one of the first colonists. The daughter of the Powhatan chief, Wahunsenacawh, Pocahontas was a pawn in the tensions between the colonists and the Powhatans. She converted to Christianity during her captivity, chose the name Rebecca, and married John Rolfe. She later traveled to England, where she died.

3. It’s Called the “Mother of Presidents”

Virginia has been called home by many powerful and influential people. Four of the nation’s first five presidents hailed from Virginia. In total, eight Virginians made it to that highest office. That’s the highest number of presidents to come from one state! Other important people also came from Virginia, including Patrick Henry, Nat Turner, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Mary Richards Bowser, Robert E. Lee, L. Douglas Wilder, Booker T. Washington, Henrietta Lacks, and many more.

4. “Virginia is for Lovers”

You may have heard that slogan before, but did you know it first started in 1969? The award-winning phrase has brought countless people to Virginia over the years and has been replicated or copied by many other states. In 2012, the “Virginia is for lovers” slogan was called “one of the most iconic ad campaigns in the last 50 years” by Advertising Age.

5. Hampton, Virginia is Old

The original colonists founded many towns once they put down roots on North American Soil. The town of Hampton dates back to 1610, and people have always lived there. Because of this, Hampton is the oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in North America.

6. The Virginia General Assembly is Old, Too

As one of the first colonies, Virginia established many systems that would go on to influence the nation. For example, the Virginia General Assembly and its early judicial system paved the way for today’s Supreme Court. Colonists implemented the Virginia General Assembly in 1619, making it the oldest law-making body in the Western Hemisphere! Also, it was the first legislative body in the new world to feature elected members.

7. Virginians Love How Eco-Friendly Their State is

Did you know that a Virginia retreat pioneered Earth Day ideals long before it became an official practice? The Airlie Center was established in 1961 and led the way in sustainability, civil rights, and progressive thought. Composting, recycling, and the conservation of natural habitats all played huge parts in the retreat and manor house operations since its inception. Senator Gaylord Nelson suggested the first Earth Day at the Airlie Center in 1969, later implemented worldwide.

That history is on full display as Virginians embody those practices and more in most major cities throughout the state. Also, the state boasts an incredible dedication to protecting its natural areas. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, 62% of the state is forested and hosts 26 state forests filled with hiking trails, campsites, and other ways to get out into nature.

8. West Virginia Used to be Part of the State

Virginia relied on slave labor to work its tobacco fields nearly since its inception, meaning much of the state sided with the Confederates regarding slavery. In 1861, the state voted to secede while armed pro-Confederate groups prevented many opposing votes from being cast. Many of the state’s northwestern counties voiced their dissent and soon voted to separate from the state. They soon formed the Union-backing West Virginia.

9. Virginia was Up Front and Center During the Civil War

Throughout the Civil War, Virginia saw many battles. The state served as one of the borders between the Union and the Confederation. Nearly half of all battles during the war took place on Virginian soil! In addition, Virginia is where the two sides met to end the war officially. Generals Lee and Grant signed their surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse, which is now a National Historic Park. 

10. Maggie Lena Walker Inspired Everyone

In 1903, Maggie Lena Walker became the first woman — and first Black woman — to found and run a bank. She established the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank as a safe haven for the Black community to invest and save during the Jim Crow era. She also paved an incredible path as a businesswoman, inspiring many to follow in her footsteps. 

11. Virginians Love Their Seafood

The Atlantic Ocean provides an abundance of seafood, and Virginians take full advantage. Specifically, their proximity to the Chesapeake Bay offers many opportunities to feast on the sea’s bounty — especially oysters. The Bay features a diverse ecosystem that has resulted in eight different oyster regions that each produce different flavors within the oysters. Overall, the Chesapeake Bay produces the most seafood on the East Coast and the third-most nationwide. That’s a lot of fish to enjoy!

12. Virginians Love Their Mountains

The state is home to multiple mountain ranges, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Cumberland Mountains, the Southwest Mountains, and the Appalachian Mountains. More than any other state, Virginia hosts 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail! It’s also home to the McAfee Knob, the most photographed place on the Trail.

13. Virginia is Home to the “Ham Capital of the World”

When the first colonists landed, they brought pigs with them. Those pigs and their descendants created the iconic and famous ham we know and love today. In fact, Virginia ham found its way to the table of Queen Victoria! Thomas Jefferson also had Virginia ham shipped to him while he lived in France. This delicious, legally protected cured ham can only be produced in Smithfield, Virginia, now known as the “ham capital of the world.”

14. Virginians Love Their Rivalries

Like a sibling you love to pick on, Virginians have a couple healthy rivalries going on. Football fans statewide draw lines in the sand while rooting for the Virginia Cavaliers or the Virginia Tech Hokies. You know the feeling — it’s just as fun to watch your team win as it is to watch your rivals lose! Meanwhile, the divide between Northern Virginia (NoVa) and Southern Virginia (SoVa) plays out in political, economic, social, and cultural differences; each loves to hate the other. This division even occurs with stores and brands, with some choosing to be exclusive to one region. Just take Piggly Wiggly and Harris Teeter stores as examples. 

15. Virginia has a Natural Bridge

This awe-inspiring rock formation sits within the Shenandoah Valley and features a 215-foot tall limestone arch carved by Cedar Creek. Now part of a state park with seven miles of hiking trails, the Natural Bridge is a gateway to the area’s natural beauty. The park also offers living history programs that detail the bridge’s history, including its time in the ownership of Thomas Jefferson. 

16. Virginia has a Really Long, Beautiful Road

The Blue Ridge Parkway winds its way through both Virginia and North Carolina, spanning 469 miles. The country’s longest linear park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, features breathtaking views of the area’s diverse flora, fauna, and geological sights. During the fall, the parkway offers exceptional leaf-peeping opportunities. The parkway also serves as a connection between Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

17. Virginia Welcomes Techies

Our modern world relies on technology and Virginia helps meet that need. The state currently houses the highest concentration of tech workers nationwide, and the data centers in Northern Virginia support over 70% of the U.S.’s internet traffic. You might be relying on them right now!

18. The Military Tradition Continues

Within its borders, Virginia holds the Pentagon, a National Guard facility, a Marine base, two Air Force bases, four Coast Guard stations, seven Navy bases, and eight Army posts. The state also features Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The state also has one of the highest concentrations of war veterans. Soldiers, both past and present, are honored in Virginia.

19. Virginians Love Their Peanuts

In addition to all the seafood and ham, Virginia produces 15% of the peanuts in the United States. Enslaved Africans brought peanuts to the U.S., and researchers believe Virginia was the location of the first North American peanut crop. The state’s peanuts are thought to be some of the best in the world! Virginia Peanuts make up the largest share of the state’s peanut crop. They are the largest peanuts and the peanut favored all baseball stadiums, which earns them the nickname “Ballpark Peanuts.”

21. Virginia Takes College Very Seriously

Not only is Virginia home to the second-oldest college in the U.S. — right behind Harvard — but it also hosted many collegiate firsts. The College of William & Mary was founded in 1693 and is today recognized as a premiere research university. The first fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, can be traced back to William & Mary’s campus in 1776, making it the first known frat. 

Streaking, another collegiate mainstay, also began in Virginia at what would become Washington & Lee College in Lexington. The first reported student arrested for streaking occurred in 1804. The student, George William Crump, would have a successful political career, securing heats in the Virginia House of Delegates and the 19th United States Congress. 

20. The First Thanksgiving Probably Took Place in Virginia

Though the stories claim that the pilgrims of Plymouth, MA, hosted the first Thanksgiving, it’s more likely that attribution belongs to colonists in Virginia. Colonies in Virginia predated the settlement of Plymouth by 13 years — in fact, the ship captain credited with the first Thanksgiving was one of the original Jamestown colonists. Captain John Woodlief had sailed back to England and returned with more settlers to land at Berkeley Hundred, today’s Berkeley Plantation, on December 4th. However, this first Thanksgiving focused more on prayer as the settlers gave thanks for their safe passage across the ocean. 

The charter carried by the colonists ordered that their arrival “must be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God.” If not for a Powhatan attack that left Berkeley Hundred abandoned two years later, we might still celebrate Thanksgiving on December 4th. The survivors of the attack had more pressing concerns than upholding the budding tradition, and now everyone remembers the celebration at Plymouth as the first Thanksgiving.