Map of Virginia
The state of Virginia is located in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered by Maryland and Washington, D.C. to the north and east, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the north and west.
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About the map:
This map of Virginia State shows the state borders, states, state capital, county borders, counties, islands, county seats, independent cities and important cities.
County seats are indicated by a red circle, white circles indicate cities, and the capital of Virginia is indicated by a star in the red circle. The larger the city in terms of population, the larger the circle on the map and the larger the font of the city name.
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Virginia State Profile
The Great Seal of the State of Virginia |
Flag of Virginia |
| Capital: | Richmond |
| Largest city: | Virginia Beach |
| Largest metropolitan area: | Washington metropolitan area |
| Largest county by population: | Fairfax County |
| Largest county by area: | Pittsylvania County |
| Area: | 42,774.59 sq mi (110,785.67 km2) |
| Population (2025): | 8,880,107[1] |
| Density: | 219/sq mi (84.7/km2) |
| Dimensions: |
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| Latitude: | 36° 32′ N to 39° 28′ N |
| Longitude: | 75° 15′ W to 83° 41′ W |
| Elevation: |
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| Official language: |
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| Religion (2025): |
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| Racial/ethnic groups (2025):[1] |
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| Median household income (2024): | $93,170[1] |
| USPS abbreviation: | VA |
| ISO 3166 code: | US-VA |
| Time zone: | UTC−05:00 (Eastern) Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| The Official Website of the State of Virginia: | www.virginia.gov |
About the State of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state located in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered by Maryland and Washington, D.C. to the north and east, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the north and west. The geography and climate of Virginia 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; Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision.
Etymology and Nomenclature
Virginia was named after Elizabeth I, Queen of England from 1558 to 1603, who was known as the "Virgin Queen" because she never married. The name was originally applied by Sir Walter Raleigh to the entire coastal region of North America claimed by England. Virginia is one of four U.S. states designated as a commonwealth, along with Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania; the term carries no legal distinction from the other states but reflects the political philosophy prevalent at the time of the state's founding.
History
The area now known as Virginia was inhabited for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples, including the Powhatan, Monacan, Nottoway, and Cherokee. In 1607, the London Company established Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, on the banks of the James River. Virginia became one of the original Thirteen Colonies and played a central role in the American Revolution.
Virginia was the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents, more than any other state. These include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Virginia seceded from the Union and became a key battleground; its capital, Richmond, served as the capital of the Confederacy. The western counties that opposed secession separated to form the state of West Virginia in 1863. The surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant took place at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865.
Geography
Virginia has a total area of approximately 42,774 square miles (110,785 km²), making it the 35th-largest state by area. The Commonwealth is divided into five distinct geographic regions:
- Atlantic Coastal Plain (Tidewater) — a low-lying region along the coast, including the Eastern Shore.
- Piedmont — a region of rolling hills between the coastal plain and the mountains.
- Blue Ridge Mountains — a chain containing the state's highest point, Mount Rogers, at 5,729 feet (1,746 m).
- Ridge and Valley — characterized by long valleys including the Shenandoah Valley.
- Appalachian Plateau (Cumberland Plateau) — located in the southwestern corner of the state.
The Chesapeake Bay separates the contiguous portion of the Commonwealth from the two-county peninsula of Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Major Rivers in Virginia
- Roanoke River - 410 mi (660 km)
- Potomac River - 405 mi (652 km)
- New River - 360 mi (580 km)
- James River - 348 mi (560 km)
- Clinch River - 300 mi (480 km)
- Dan River - 214 mi (344 km)
- Rappahannock River - 195 mi (314 km)
- Levisa Fork - 164 mi (264 km)
- Tug Fork - 159 mi (256 km)
- Appomattox River - 157 mi (253 km)
- Shenandoah River - 150 mi (240 km)
- Holston River - 136 mi (219 km)
- Meherrin River - 130 mi (209 km)
- Mattaponi River - 125 mi (201 km)
- Powell River - 120 mi (193 km)
- Pamunkey River - 114 mi (183 km)
- North Fork Shenandoah River - 107 mi (172 km)
- Nottoway River - 106 mi (171 km)
- South Fork Shenandoah River - 97 mi (156 km)
- Jackson River - 95 mi (153 km)
Major Lakes in Virginia
- John H. Kerr Reservoir - 78.1 sq mi (202.3 km2)
- Smith Mountain Lake - 32.2 sq mi (83.4 km2)
- Lake Gaston - 31.7 sq mi (82.1 km2)
- Lake Anna - 20.3 sq mi (52.6 km2)
- South Holston Lake - 11.84 sq mi (30.7 km2)
- Claytor Lake - 6.99 sq mi (18.1 km2)
- Leesville Lake - 5.31 sq mi (13.8 km2)
- Lake Chesdin - 4.84 sq mi (12.5 km2)
- Philpott Lake - 4.50 sq mi (11.7 km2)
- Lake Moomaw - 3.95 sq mi (10.2 km2)
The Highest Mountains in Virginia
- Mount Rogers — 5,729 ft (1,746 m)
- Pine Mountain — 5,526 ft (1,684 m)
- Whitetop Mountain — 5,520 ft (1,683 m)
- Haw Orchard Mountain — 5,507 ft (1,679 m)
- Stone Mountain — 4,928 ft (1,502 m)
- Beartown Mountain — 4,688 ft (1,429 m)
- Elliott Knob — 4,463 ft (1,360 m)
- Reddish Knob — 4,397 ft (1,340 m)
- Bald Knob — 4,364 ft (1,330 m)
- Apple Orchard Mountain — 4,225 ft (1,288 m)
- High Knob — 4,162 ft (1,269 m)
- The Priest — 4,063 ft (1,238 m)
- Hawksbill Mountain — 4,051 ft (1,235 m)
- Cole Mountain — 4,022 ft (1,226 m)
- Stony Man — 4,011 ft (1,223 m)
- Flat Top — 4,004 ft (1,220 m)
- Three Ridges — 3,970 ft (1,210 m)
- Sharp Top — 3,875 ft (1,181 m)
- The Pinnacle — 3,730 ft (1,137 m)
- Hightop Mountain — 3,587 ft (1,093 m)
Climate
Virginia's climate is predominantly humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa), transitioning to humid continental (Dfa and Dfb) at higher elevations in the western mountains. The state experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. Coastal areas are occasionally affected by Atlantic tropical cyclones, particularly between August and October.
Demographics
According to the 2020 United States Census, Virginia had a population of 8,631,393, making it the 12th-most populous state. The most densely populated region is Northern Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C., which includes Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties. Other major metropolitan areas include Hampton Roads (which includes Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News) and Greater Richmond.
English is the official language of Virginia, though a significant minority of residents speak Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and other languages at home. The state's population is religiously diverse, with Christianity being the predominant faith, primarily Baptist, Methodist, and Roman Catholic traditions.
Government and Politics
Virginia's government operates under the Constitution of Virginia, which has been revised several times since the original was adopted in 1776. The government consists of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The General Assembly of Virginia is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World, established in 1619 as the House of Burgesses. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the 100-member House of Delegates and the 40-member Senate.
The Governor of Virginia is elected to a four-year term and, uniquely among U.S. states, cannot serve consecutive terms. Virginia is divided into 95 counties and 38 independent cities; independent cities are not part of any county, a distinction found almost exclusively in Virginia.
Economy
Virginia has a diverse economy that includes significant sectors in government, military, agriculture, and technology. The Commonwealth has the largest concentration of technology workers of any state, and Northern Virginia hosts a significant proportion of the world's internet traffic, particularly in Loudoun County's "Data Center Alley." Major federal installations include The Pentagon in Arlington County, Naval Station Norfolk (the world's largest naval base), and the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley.
Agriculture remains economically important; Virginia is a leading producer of tobacco, peanuts, tomatoes, and seafood, particularly blue crabs and oysters from the Chesapeake Bay. Wine production has grown significantly, with over 300 wineries operating statewide.
Education
Virginia has a well-developed system of higher education. Notable institutions include the University of Virginia (founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819), the College of William & Mary (founded in 1693, the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States), Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Both the University of Virginia and Monticello, Jefferson's plantation home, are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Transportation
Virginia's transportation network includes extensive interstate highways, including I-95, I-64, I-66, and I-81. The state is served by major airports such as Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Norfolk International Airport. The Port of Virginia, centered on Hampton Roads, is one of the largest and deepest natural harbors in the world and a major container shipping hub on the East Coast.
Culture and Symbols
Virginia has a rich cultural heritage reflecting its colonial, Civil War, and modern histories. The state motto is "Sic semper tyrannis" (Latin for "Thus always to tyrants"), and its nickname is "The Old Dominion," a title granted by King Charles II of England. Official state symbols include:
- State bird: Northern cardinal
- State flower and tree: Flowering dogwood
- State dog: American Foxhound
- State fish: Brook trout (freshwater) and striped bass (saltwater)
- State shell: Eastern oyster
The slogan "Virginia is for Lovers" has been used by the state's tourism department since 1969 and is one of the most recognized tourism slogans in the United States.
Major cities in Virginia
- Virginia Beach
- Chesapeake
- Richmond
- Norfolk
- Newport News
- Alexandria
- Hampton
- Suffolk
- Roanoke
- Portsmouth
- Lynchburg
- Harrisonburg
- Charlottesville
- Manassas
- Danville
- Petersburg
- Fredericksburg
- Winchester
- Staunton
- Fairfax
Counties in Virginia
There are 95 counties, along with 38 independent cities that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes in the U.S. state of Virginia.
List of counties and independent cities in VirginiaVirginia County Map
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