VIRGINIA
By: William
I chose Virginia because of it's fun places, Bush Gardens, historical battlefields, and it has great mining, fishing, and farming.
History
Virginia
long history of good times and bad, so let’s start in the beginning. In 1524,
Giovanni Da Verrazano sailed the coast of Virginia. Virginia got its name after
Queen Elizabeth I. In 1606, 104 men were sent to Virginia to find gold, jewels,
fur, and other good stuff to trade. In 1607, colonist set up camp in Virginia
and called their colony Jamestown. On that same year, John Smith was captured
and taken to Pocahontas’s village. Pocahontas stopped her dad from killing him. Then a few years later, Pocahontas was captured by English sailors. When she was held, she met John Rolfe. She and Rolfe got married in 1614. In 1612, John Rolfe had planted a new kind of tobacco and sold it to England to make money for the colony. In 1616, Pocahontas, Rolfe, and their son Thomas sailed to England to promote tobacco. After seven months in England, Pocahontas got sick and died. Now she lies in Gravesend, England since 1617.
Now we go all the way to 1772 where George Washington (General and 1st U.S. President) is getting his first portrait painted. He became U.S. President in 1789. He was president until 1797. People wanted him to serve a third term but George Washington didn’t. But now you can’t serve a third term. In 1814, Thomas Jefferson said “And it may be truly said, that never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great” about George Washington. Around the time George Washington was alive a lawyer named Patrick Henry spoke out against the taxes. In 1775, Patrick gave a speech against British taxes and at the end he said “Give me liberty or give me death!” It was one of his most famous sayings.
In the 1800s, slavery became an issue. In the North, they thought slavery was wrong, but the South thought different. In 1831, slave Nat Turner led a revolt in Southampton, Virginia. He and other slaves killed more than 50 white people before he was caught and hanged. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president and he was against slavery. The south was mad and 11 Southern states voted to leave the Union and they were called the Confederate States of America. Virginia was part of the 11 southern states. But part of Virginia was against slavery so West Virginia became a state and was against slavery. Abraham Lincoln could not stand losing 11 states so the Civil War began. Abraham Lincoln asked a man named Robert E. Lee to lead the Union army. Robert had a hard time deciding which side to join. Then he decided to join the Confederate army. In 1862, Confederate president Jefferson Davis gave him command of the Confederate army. Lee won many battles, but he was forced to surrender in 1865. After the war, he tried to bring the South and North together. He was the president of Washington College until 1870 when he died. Then the college was renamed Washington and Lee University. In 1870 Virginia rejoined the union. Virginia’s economy began to improve. People built cigarette factories, textile mills, railroads, coal mines, and shipbuilding plants.
Then came the Great Depression, it put people throughout the United States with no jobs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created jobs for people to build parks, roads, and buildings. Thousands of young men joined to build Shenandoah National Park which holds 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail, a hiking trail that goes from Georgia to Maine. World War II helped the Great Depression because it created jobs as soldiers. Thousands of people in Virginia got jobs as soldiers.
Equal rights for African Americans came slowly in Virginia. In the early 1900s, Virginia passed laws to keep whites and African Americans away from each other. In 1954 they made it so African Americans and whites could go to school together.
In the recent years, the growth of government jobs made Virginia’s economy strong. On September 11, 2001, the Pentagon (the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense) was attacked by terrorists. They crashed an American Airlines flight into the building damaged it and killed 189 people.
Now we go all the way to 1772 where George Washington (General and 1st U.S. President) is getting his first portrait painted. He became U.S. President in 1789. He was president until 1797. People wanted him to serve a third term but George Washington didn’t. But now you can’t serve a third term. In 1814, Thomas Jefferson said “And it may be truly said, that never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great” about George Washington. Around the time George Washington was alive a lawyer named Patrick Henry spoke out against the taxes. In 1775, Patrick gave a speech against British taxes and at the end he said “Give me liberty or give me death!” It was one of his most famous sayings.
In the 1800s, slavery became an issue. In the North, they thought slavery was wrong, but the South thought different. In 1831, slave Nat Turner led a revolt in Southampton, Virginia. He and other slaves killed more than 50 white people before he was caught and hanged. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president and he was against slavery. The south was mad and 11 Southern states voted to leave the Union and they were called the Confederate States of America. Virginia was part of the 11 southern states. But part of Virginia was against slavery so West Virginia became a state and was against slavery. Abraham Lincoln could not stand losing 11 states so the Civil War began. Abraham Lincoln asked a man named Robert E. Lee to lead the Union army. Robert had a hard time deciding which side to join. Then he decided to join the Confederate army. In 1862, Confederate president Jefferson Davis gave him command of the Confederate army. Lee won many battles, but he was forced to surrender in 1865. After the war, he tried to bring the South and North together. He was the president of Washington College until 1870 when he died. Then the college was renamed Washington and Lee University. In 1870 Virginia rejoined the union. Virginia’s economy began to improve. People built cigarette factories, textile mills, railroads, coal mines, and shipbuilding plants.
Then came the Great Depression, it put people throughout the United States with no jobs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created jobs for people to build parks, roads, and buildings. Thousands of young men joined to build Shenandoah National Park which holds 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail, a hiking trail that goes from Georgia to Maine. World War II helped the Great Depression because it created jobs as soldiers. Thousands of people in Virginia got jobs as soldiers.
Equal rights for African Americans came slowly in Virginia. In the early 1900s, Virginia passed laws to keep whites and African Americans away from each other. In 1954 they made it so African Americans and whites could go to school together.
In the recent years, the growth of government jobs made Virginia’s economy strong. On September 11, 2001, the Pentagon (the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense) was attacked by terrorists. They crashed an American Airlines flight into the building damaged it and killed 189 people.
Geography
Virginia has really good geography, rivers, mountains, parks, and more! Virginia’s highest peak is Mount Rogers which is 5,729 feet above sea level. Mount Rogers is in the Blue Ridge Mountains which are amazing mountains; each mountain is averagely about 4,000 feet tall. People often vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Luray Caverns are also in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can see colorful mineral formations. The Appalachian Trail is partly in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail that goes from Georgia to Maine; Shenandoah National Park holds 161 kilometers of the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is so big they needed to put about 250 shelters along the path. There is the Appalachian Plateau the flat, high land is 2,000 to 3,000 feet above sea level. It has mountains, streams, forests, and coal deposits. You can walk under the towering Arch of the Natural Bridge. Scientists believe the rock is over 100 million years old.
Virginia’s Eastern Shoreline is 112 miles long. Along all the peninsulas, it covers 3,315 miles of shoreline. The state’s largest natural lake covers 3,142 acres (1,272 hectares) The Great Dismal Swamp is in southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina. Over the Chesapeake Bay there is a bridge that is 17.6 miles long. It connects from the mainland to Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Trees cover 60 percent of Virginia. Virginia has Oak, pine, tupelo, cypress, and many other trees. The American Dogwood is the state tree. Black bears climb trees in Shenandoah National Park.
Virginia’s climate is good; warm in the summer cool in winter. The average temperature in the summer is 73 degrees. The average winter temperature is above freezing but in the mountains can get about -30 degrees. Virginia has a lot of animals, including more than 200 kinds of birds, over 80 types of snakes, deer, elk, black bears, bobcats, mink, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and much more.
Virginia’s Eastern Shoreline is 112 miles long. Along all the peninsulas, it covers 3,315 miles of shoreline. The state’s largest natural lake covers 3,142 acres (1,272 hectares) The Great Dismal Swamp is in southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina. Over the Chesapeake Bay there is a bridge that is 17.6 miles long. It connects from the mainland to Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Trees cover 60 percent of Virginia. Virginia has Oak, pine, tupelo, cypress, and many other trees. The American Dogwood is the state tree. Black bears climb trees in Shenandoah National Park.
Virginia’s climate is good; warm in the summer cool in winter. The average temperature in the summer is 73 degrees. The average winter temperature is above freezing but in the mountains can get about -30 degrees. Virginia has a lot of animals, including more than 200 kinds of birds, over 80 types of snakes, deer, elk, black bears, bobcats, mink, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and much more.
Economy
Virginia has a very strong economy. Virginia has good farming, mining, fishing, and more. Virginia has a lot of farms. Virginia’s main crop is tobacco, second place is soybeans. Tomatoes and corn are also big crops in Virginia. Vegetables grown in Virginia are potatoes, snap beans, cucumbers, and sweet corn. Fruits grown in Virginia are grapes and apples. Other crops include cotton, peanuts, hay, wheat, and barley. Virginia’s top meat product is broilers which are young chickens (5 – 12 weeks old) other livestock are turkeys, horses, sheep and lambs, pigs, milk, eggs and aquaculture.
Virginia’s mining is very good. Virginia produces about 30 million tons of coal a year, and Virginia also produces sand, gravel, clay, cobblestone, limestone, and kyanite. Kyanite is used to make bricks.
Virginia has good fishing because it has a long shoreline. Virginia produces mostly oysters, but also scallops, crabs, summer flounder, Atlantic croaker, striped bass, menhaden and spot. Other products that are made in Virginia are soft drinks and beer. Production of boats, cars, and other transportation devices are very popular in Virginia. They are ranked third in the state. Virginia is second in manufacturing chemicals like synthetic fibers. Virginia has a very strong economy, lately there has been rapid population growth in Virginia so that has increased their houses, stores, and other buildings.
Ranking third in the state is wholesale trade (coal, farming products, groceries) Government services include public schools, hospitals, military bases, and the Pentagon, the Pentagon is the headquarters for the CIA, and all military bases in Virginia.
Virginia’s mining is very good. Virginia produces about 30 million tons of coal a year, and Virginia also produces sand, gravel, clay, cobblestone, limestone, and kyanite. Kyanite is used to make bricks.
Virginia has good fishing because it has a long shoreline. Virginia produces mostly oysters, but also scallops, crabs, summer flounder, Atlantic croaker, striped bass, menhaden and spot. Other products that are made in Virginia are soft drinks and beer. Production of boats, cars, and other transportation devices are very popular in Virginia. They are ranked third in the state. Virginia is second in manufacturing chemicals like synthetic fibers. Virginia has a very strong economy, lately there has been rapid population growth in Virginia so that has increased their houses, stores, and other buildings.
Ranking third in the state is wholesale trade (coal, farming products, groceries) Government services include public schools, hospitals, military bases, and the Pentagon, the Pentagon is the headquarters for the CIA, and all military bases in Virginia.
People and Culture
Virginia has many festivals and traditions. In Virginia’s early days it was mostly farms, but now Virginia is about two-thirds city. African Americans make up about 20 percent of the population. Virginia’s total population is 8,096,604 people. Virginia has a great school system. The first schools in Virginia were created in 1634. Private schools were built in the 1700s. Virginia also has a lot of great colleges like the University of Virginia. Virginia currently has 39 public colleges and 50 private colleges.
Virginia also has very great food. Virginia ham, sweet potato pie, peanut soup, oyster stew, crab cakes, and pecan pie are favorite dishes in Virginia. In Virginia people gather around for the Dogwood Festival Parade in Charlottesville. It has awesome floats and is a lot of fun. Virginia has no professional sports teams, they follow the Washington D.C. teams. But people usually follow college basketball or football, there are also over 100 golf courses in Virginia. Virginia has 2 NASCAR tracks, the Martinsville Speedway and the Richmond International Raceway.
Art is important to Virginia. There are several art museums in Virginia. There is the Boardwalk Art Festival in Virginia Beach, and the Highlands Festival in Abingdon.
Music is also very important to Virginia. There are some famous jazz singers in Virginia such as Pearl Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald. In Eastern Virginia are historical Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown; it is called the Historic Triangle. In Williamsburg people dress up and act like people in the 1700s. There are a bunch of historical museums in Virginia and Civil War battlefields. People love visiting these battlefields.
Virginia also has very great food. Virginia ham, sweet potato pie, peanut soup, oyster stew, crab cakes, and pecan pie are favorite dishes in Virginia. In Virginia people gather around for the Dogwood Festival Parade in Charlottesville. It has awesome floats and is a lot of fun. Virginia has no professional sports teams, they follow the Washington D.C. teams. But people usually follow college basketball or football, there are also over 100 golf courses in Virginia. Virginia has 2 NASCAR tracks, the Martinsville Speedway and the Richmond International Raceway.
Art is important to Virginia. There are several art museums in Virginia. There is the Boardwalk Art Festival in Virginia Beach, and the Highlands Festival in Abingdon.
Music is also very important to Virginia. There are some famous jazz singers in Virginia such as Pearl Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald. In Eastern Virginia are historical Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown; it is called the Historic Triangle. In Williamsburg people dress up and act like people in the 1700s. There are a bunch of historical museums in Virginia and Civil War battlefields. People love visiting these battlefields.
Government
Virginia has a great government, the governor leads the
Executive Branch. People call Virginia the mother of presidents because eight
different presidents have lived in Virginia counting George Washington. On
Mount Vernon you can visit George Washington’s mansion. Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and
Woodrow Wilson were also presidents from Virginia. Also, famous Virginia
governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder grew up in Richmond. He went to public schools
and later got a degree in chemistry from Virginia Union University. In the
1950s, he joined the army; he earned a bronze star of heroism during the Korean
War. After the war he got a law degree from Howard University. He became the
first African American Governor from 1900 to 1904. Virginia has 95 counties and
40 independent cities. The Capital of Virginia is Richmond
State Symbols
Bird: Cardinal
Boat: Chesapeake Bay Deadrise Dance: Square Dance Dog: American Foxhound Tree: American Dogwood Shell: Oyster Beverage: Milk Fresh Water Fish: Brook Trout Fossil: Chesapectan Jeffersonius Insect: Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Flower: American Dogwood Song: Carry Me Back To Old Virginny Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis Toy: Slinky Animal: Black Bear Bat: Virginia Big Eared Bat |
War Memorial Museum: Virginia War Museum
Coal Miners Memorial: The Richland Coal Miners MemorialCabin Capital of Virginia: Page County Sports Hall of Fame: Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Historical Outdoor Drama: The Long Way Home Outdoor Drama: The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Salt Water Fish: Striped Bass Fleet: Replicas of the Three Ships Covered Bridge Festival: Virginia Covered Bridge Festival Artisan Center: Artisans Center of Virginia Motor Sports Museum: Wood Brothers Racing Museum and Virginia Motor Sports Hall of Fame Emergency Medical Service Museum: To the Rescue Covered Bridge Capital of the Commonwealth: Patrick County Emblem of Service and Sacrifice: Honor and Remember Flag Blue Ridge Folklore State Center: Blue Ridge Institute Gold Mining Interpretive Center: Monroe Park |