The history of America is closely
tied to that of Virginia, particularly during the
Colonial period. Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the
first permanent English settlement in North America
and slavery was introduced there in 1619. The
surrenders ending both the American Revolution
(Yorktown) and the Civil War (Appomattox) occurred
in Virginia. The state is called the “Mother of
Presidents” because eight U.S. presidents were born
there.
Today, the service sector provides one-third of all
jobs in Virginia, generating as much income as the
manufacturing and retail industries combined in 1999
and accounting for 23% of gross state product. (The
largest component of the service sector is business
services, which includes computer and data
processing services.)
Virginia has a large number of manufacturing
industries, including transportation equipment, food
processing, electronic and other electrical
equipment, chemicals, textiles and apparel, lumber
and wood products, and furniture.
Agriculture remains an important sector, and the
state ranks among the top ten in a variety of
agricultural products, including tomatoes, tobacco,
peanuts, apples, summer potatoes, sweet potatoes,
snap beans, and turkeys and broilers. Virginia also
has a large dairy industry.
Virginia is one of the top ten coal producers in the
U.S. Coal accounts for roughly 70% of Virginia's
mineral value; crushed stone, sand and gravel, lime,
and kyanite are also mined.
Points of interest include Mt. Vernon, home of
George Washington; Monticello, home of Thomas
Jefferson; Stratford, home of the Lees; Richmond,
capital of the Confederacy and of Virginia; and
Williamsburg, the restored Colonial capital.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel spans the mouth of
Chesapeake Bay, connecting Cape Charles with
Norfolk. Consisting of a series of low trestles, two
bridges and two mile-long tunnels, the complex is 18
miles (29 km) long. It was opened in 1964.
Other attractions are the Shenandoah National Park,
Colonial National Historical Park, Fredericksburg
and Spotsylvania National Military Park, the Booker
T. Washington birthplace near Roanoke, Arlington
House (the Robert E. Lee Memorial), Luray Caverns,
the Skyline Drive, and the Blue Ridge National
Parkway.
Lieutenant governor Timothy Kaine was elected
governor in the Nov. 2005 election. |
