10 Interesting Facts About Virginia

When people think of Virginia, there isn’t a lot that comes to mind. Even though Virginia was one of the most important states in our national history, people look at it as just another state. If you are a history buff, then you might be interested in Virginia, but other than that, you may not know what it has to offer.

Below is a list of fun and interesting facts about Virginia that may spark your interest. Who knows, maybe something on this list will attach to your memory.

The Old Dominion

The State of Virginia is commonly known as the Old Dominion. King Charle II gave the state that nickname during the civil war in England.

Mother of Presidents

Another common nickname that Virginia gets presented with is Mother of Presidents. This nickname is fairly self-explanatory, but there were more United States Presidents born in Virginia than any other U.S. state.

Name of Origin

The state of Virginia’s name comes from the thirteen original colonies. It means “Virgin Queen,” this, of course, is about queen Elizabeth.

Chincoteague

There is an island off the coast of Virginia called Chincoteague, and this island is home to free-range horses. There are horses on this island that live free-range, and people can come and visit and look at them.

Heads or Tails?

Did you know that is it illegal for people to flip a coin in a coffee shop to see who pays for coffee in Richmond? So hopefully, you aren’t in front of your friend when you are waiting in line for Starbucks.

Watch Your Mouth!

Continuing on the theme of strange and obscure laws, it is also illegal to curse on the phone in Virginia. If a police officer hears you cursing on the phone, it is a legal misdemeanor.

What’s a Shire?

Most people call the larger community around them a county, but not Virginia. Before everyone started naming their larger community, a county, Virginia used the term Shire.

Civil War

Over half of the entire Civil War was fought in Virginia. Richmond and Washington were the Confederate and the Union capitals, so Richmond was a very strategic point in the Civil War. There are many memorials and places you can go to learn more about Richmond.

Virginia Makes up Three States

Most people know that Virginia used to be much bigger than it was, but a common misconception is that Virginia just split into Virginia and West Virginia. Virginia was much larger, and it divided into Kentucky, West Virginia, and what is now Virginia.

Originally a Silk State

Virginia is popularly known as a tobacco state, but it was originally supposed to be a silk state, but a fungus destroyed all the trees that were home to the silkworms.

These cool and unique facts about Virginia are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to explore and learn about in this historical state. Plus, there are many houses if you are in the market for a new home. The possibilities are endless.