Virginia is a state in the southeastern United States with an area of 42,775 square miles and population of 8,631,393 (2022 estimated). The capital city is Richmond. It is bordered by Maryland to the northeast, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the northwest, as well as being on the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
The state contains the coastal plain, or Tidewater, in the east; the Piedmont province, a region of rolling hills, in the middle; and the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains to the west. Additionally, the Potomac, Shenandoah, James, and Roanoke rivers flow through the state.
Virginia has a rich history, with its citizens playing a large role in the American Revolution, and four of the country’s first five presidents hailing from the state. On
June 25, 1788, it became the tenth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
The state is often referred to as "Old Dominion State" or "Mother of Presidents," and its motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis” meaning “Thus Always to Tyrants.” The state bird is the northern cardinal and the state flower is the flowering dogwood. The official state songs are “Sweet Virginia Breeze" and “Our Great Virginia.” Currently, Virginia has 11 seats in the US House of Representatives out of 435 total. It is part of the Eastern time zone, GMT-5.