Tag: Virginia

According to Allcitycodes, Virginia is known by many nicknames, the most popular of which is “The Old Dominion”. This nickname was adopted in the early 1600s, when Virginia became a British colony and subsequently the 10th state. The name references the state’s long history and its status as one of the original 13 colonies. Another popular nickname for Virginia is “The Mother of Presidents”. This nickname originated in the late 1700s, when eight US presidents were born in Virginia. The name also references Virginia’s commitment to democracy and leadership, making it an ideal place for producing influential politicians. In addition to these two popular nicknames, there are several other nicknames for Virginia that are less well known but still widely used. These include “The Land of Ancient Wonders”, referencing its rich cultural heritage; “The Birthplace of America”, commemorating its role in US history; and “The Heartbeat of the Confederacy”, which notes its strategic importance during the Civil War. According to citypopulationreview, Virginia, one of the original 13 colonies, is steeped in American history and culture. The first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown in 1607. Over the next century, Virginia would become a major hub for trade and commerce on the east coast of America. Virginia was also home to some of the most important events leading up to the Revolutionary War and eventual independence from Britain. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in Virginia which declared America’s independence from Great Britain. During the American Revolution, George Washington and his army camped at Valley Forge near present-day Manassas. In 1781, General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown which effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Virginia was also home to many prominent figures during this time such as James Madison who wrote much of the U.S Constitution along with Thomas Jefferson; Patrick Henry who delivered his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech; and George Mason who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights which served as a model for many other states’ declarations of rights. In 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union to join forces with 11 other Southern states to form The Confederate States of America thus beginning The Civil War. During this time, Richmond became both the capital city of The Confederacy as well as a major target for Union forces culminating in its capture by Union troops in April 1865 effectively ending The Civil War. After The Civil War ended, Virginia slowly began to rebuild itself with an emphasis on industry and agriculture while still maintaining its strong ties to its colonial past through its historic sites such as Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home) and Mount Vernon (George Washington’s home). Today, Virginia is known for its rich history but has also become a major economic force due to its large technology sector which includes companies such as Amazon Web Services; Capital One Financial Corporation; Northrup Grumman Corporation; Orbital ATK; Booz Allen Hamilton; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation; Raytheon Company; Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC); General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT); CACI International Inc.; SAIC Inc.; CGI Federal Inc.; DynCorp International LLC; BAE Systems Inc.; Leidos Holdings Inc.; KBRwyle Technology Solutions LLC.; Neustar Inc., among others. Additionally, tourism is another important part of Virginia’s economy due to its many historical sites and natural beauty throughout the state drawing millions of visitors each year from around the world.