140 Weird Facts About Virginia

140 Weird Facts About Virginia

• The first iron furnace was built in 1619 in Virginia.
• The first peanuts grown in America were from Virginia. Did you know that peanut butter was first introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 and became a source of delicious protein during the first two world wars?
• The state on average gets affected by 7 tornadoes a year.
• Local tax collection per capita in Virginia in 2016 was $4,560, which puts it at 23rd overall of all the states.
• According to inc.com, the average life expectancy in Virginia is 77 years.
• “Virginia Is For Lovers” is one of the most well-known tourism campaigns ever. It was created by David N. Martin and George Woltz of Martin and Woltz Inc. in 1968. They created the slogan after winning the Virginia State Travel account in 1968. In 1969, when the agency unveiled the slogan, visitors to Virginia generated about $800 million.
• The first peanuts grown in the United States were grown in Virginia.
• The Blue Ridge Mountains are located in Virginia.
• The American Revolution ended with the surrender of Cornwallis in Yorktown.
• On March 9, 1862 at Hampton Roads, Virginia, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimac) met in one of the most famous naval engagements in US history. Their battle, the first of its kind between metal armored vessels, changed for all time the nature of naval warfare.
• 10th of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was admitted to the union June 25, 1788.
• West Virginia is located within a day’s drive from 75% of the U.S. population, yet remains an untouched gem among outdoor enthusiasts.
• The Golden Delicious Apple originated in Clay County in 1905.
• The USS West Virginia was hit during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy. The mast from the ship now lives on West Virginia University’s campus, in front of Oglebay Hall.
• The first brick street in the world was laid in Charleston on Summers Street.
• The Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, a National Historic Landmark, is the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America and second in the world to the Kremlin.
• The Pentagon has nearly 68,000 miles of internal telephone lines.
• Dulles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.
• General Thomas Jackson got his nickname “Stonewall” in Manassass. The site of 2 major Civil War Battles.
• The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in Virginia in 1619.
• Yorktown is the site of the final victory of the American Revolution.
• Virginia has been dubbed the “Internet Capital of the world”.
• The Atlantic headquarters of NATO is located in Norfolk.
• The Great Dismal Swamp is in Virginia near the North Carolina border.
• Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia. Its population is expected to surpass 500,000 residents by 2010.
• The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex.
• A Museum Where Airplanes Actually Fly: Virginia Beach introduces you to the Military Aviation Museum. Here, guests get an up-close experience with German, British, and American aircrafts that used to fly during World Wars I and II. Surprisingly, they still operate to date. Moreover, there are opportunities for visitors to ride with local pilots.
• The Military Aviation Museum’s P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, FM-2 Wildcat, and AD-4 Skyradier on the ramp getting ready for the mock battle of Midway during the Museums “Summer of flight” series!
• A True Path to History in Portsmouth: the old town of Portsmouth is a must-visit for history buffs. The Path to History takes you through the first naval hospital in America all the way to the oldest naval shipyard where USS Langley, the first aircraft carrier, was engineered. The path meanders through the Scenic Seawall, Naval Shipyard Museum, Hill House Museum, among other attractions.
• First Electric Street Cars In United States: the first city to successfully incorporate an electric street car into the transport industry was Richmond. The Richmond Union Passenger Railway is a reliable street car system that is still used today by members of the public.
• The Home of US football Heroes: a lot of football champions hail from Newport News. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers), Al Toon (New York Jets), Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles), and Larry Bethea (Dallas Cowboys) are just to mention a few.
• The Crater, Chesapeake: scientists discovered a massive crater at the Chesapeake Bay in 1983. The 53-mile wide crater is estimated to be 35 million years old. If it were to have an impact, the phenomenon would bring mass extinction of animal and plant life. It would destroy every living thing within a radius of 100 miles.
• The American Revolution ended in Yorktown and so did the Civil War in Appomattox.
• The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, with 17.6 miles span (shore to shore), is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex. Its official name is Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel.
• The Chesapeake Bay is one of the world’s richest marine-life estuaries. Finfish, blue crabs, oysters, and clams can be found here.
• Tennis Legend Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia. He was the first black man to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon tennis championships. He is also the first African-American man to be ranked as the No. 1 tennis player in the world.
• Virginia is also called the “Mother of the states“ because of its role in being carved into other states such as Kentucky.
• In the Civil War, more battles were fought on Virginia soil than in any other state.
• The first rural free delivery mail service took place in 1896 in Charles Town through the Post Office Department’s pilot program to determine the feasibility for rural delivery for the rest of the country.
• Harrisville is home to America’s oldest dime store, Berdine’s Five and Dime, which has been continuously operating since 1908.
• Cecil Underwood made history in 1956 when he became the state’s youngest governor at 34 – then again in 1996 when he became the state’s oldest governor after being reelected at 74.
• West Virginia is the third most forested state. In fact, the Monongahela National Forest covers nearly a million acres of land and spans across 10 counties.
• West Virginia is comparable in size to both Latvia and Lithuania.
• Contrary to its name, the New River is actually one of the oldest in the world and unusually flows south to north because it was formed before the mountains.
• In Virginia more people work for the United States government than any other industry. About 1/4 of Virginia’s workers.
• Virginia’s largest private employer is also the world’s largest ship building yard.
• Virginia is the home base for the United States Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.
• The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in Arlington National Cemetery.
• The Pentagon building in Arlington is the largest office building in the world.
• Wild Ponies have roamed freely on Assateague Island for centuries.
• The world’s only oyster museum is on Chincoteague Island.
• Busch Garden’s Old Country Theme Park is located near Williamsburg.
• President Thomas Jefferson designed his own home and called it Monticello.
• George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, is located in Virginia.
• Robert E. Lee, Commanding General of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his men to Ulysses Grant, General-in-Chief of all United States forces, on April 9, 1865 at the Appomattox Court House.
• Patrick Henry made his “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech in St. John’s Church in Richmond.
• Bristol is legally two cities but they share the same main street. One in Virginia and one in Tennessee each with its own government and city services.
• Did you know that before the beginning of the Civil War, Virginia has had the most number of slaves, followed by Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina? Each of these states has had more than 400,000 slaves.
• In some terms, Virginia can also be given the title of the “Home of the Internet.” Loudoun County hosts data centers that are responsible to cater to almost 3 quarters of the web’s traffic. The County has more than 10 million square feet of building space and more than 100 massive data centers. And there is no sign of this growth abating.
• Virginia is home to the largest office building in the world – the Pentagon. The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense including all three military services—Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Pentagon, however, has a Washington, D.C. mailing address. The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain.
• Did you know that the Pentagon has three times the floor space as the Empire State Building?
• The state motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis”. (Thus always to tyrants)
• Union Passenger Railway was the first successful electric street railway transit agency. It was formed in 1888 at Richmond.
• The states of Kentucky & West Virginia were formed from sections of the state of Virginia
• About 1/2 of all the people in the United States live within a 500 mile radius of the Capital of Virginia.
• Virginia has had 3 capital cities: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond.
• Richmond was also the capital of the Confederate States during the Civil War
• Over 1/2 the battles fought in the civil war were fought in Virginia. Over 2,200 of the 4,000 battles.
• Waynesboro was the site of the last major battle of the Civil War in central Virginia, the Battle of Waynesboro in 1865 between Generals Jubal Early and Philip Sheridan.
• The Great Dismal Swamp: close to the border of North Carolina in Chesapeake, you will find a wildlife refuge known as the Great Dismal Swamp. It is the biggest remaining habitat that once occupied a million acres of land. Today, it is a nature conservancy of 112,000 acres and home to hundreds of bird species, butterflies, and mammals. Within the premises is Lake Drummond, Virginia’s biggest natural lake that has been around for 4,000 years.
• The Mermaids of Norfolk: scattered around Norfolk city are references to mermaids. Even the symbol of the city is this mythical siren of the ocean. Legends have it that the mermaids would entertain soldiers after battling on harsh seas. And so they became symbols of commemorating the maritime roots of Norfolk. People pose for photos at the 100 statues scattered across the city.
• Hamn’s Favorite Ham: according to Virginal law, anything labelled Smithfield ham must be produced through a dry-salt method and aged for at least 6 months. The cured ham was among the first exports of the U.S.A that sold in Bermuda during the late 16th Century.
• A 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia in 2011 was felt by the almost 1/3rd of the population of the U.S. The Earthquake also did shake some neighboring Canadian provinces to some extent. The effect of the quake was so prominent that it cracked the Washington Monument.
• According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Virginia ranks at the second spot in the list of the states for total defense spending, followed by Texas, Maryland, and Florida. California tops the list with an expenditure of $49 billion.
• Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk Virginia, is the world’s largest naval base. The base is classified as America’s fifth most endangered military base. The base also serves as a major naval air center. It is estimated that the rise in sea level could be a potential threat to the base.
• After California, Virginia has the second highest concentration of tech workers of any state in the U.S.
• In the early days, Virginia was also known as the “Birthplace of Presidents.”
• Eight United States Presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.
• Six Presidents’ wives were born in Virginia: Martha Washington, Martha Jefferson, Rachel Jackson, Letitia Tyler, Ellen Arthur, Edith Wilson.
• Seven Presidents are buried in Virginia: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Taft and Kennedy.
• The present state capital in Richmond was also the capital of the Confederacy.
• The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is the second oldest in the United States, it was founded in 1693.
• The State nickname is “Old Dominion”.
• The State flower is not really a flower, but the blossom of the dogwood tree, which is also the state tree.
• Standing tall at 292 feet, the State Capitol dome is higher than the dome at the nation’s capital.
• The largest sycamore tree in the world was located in Webster Springs until it fell in 2010 when it was estimated to be over 500 years old!
• The Phil G. McDonald Bridge in Beckley is the highest truss bridge in the world at 700 feet tall, although it’s often overshadowed by the famous New River Gorge Bridge.
• West Virginia was home to the first land battle of the Civil War at the Battle of Philippi in 1861.
• You don’t have to travel far to see the world – West Virginia holds the record for having the most towns named after cities in other countries, including Athens, Berlin, Cairo, Calcutta, Geneva and Shanghai.
• Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.
• Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution.
• The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World. And it prohibits the governors from serving two consecutive terms.
• Earthquakes in Virginia are rarely devastating because of their weak magnitude. The state experienced its largest earthquake of 5.9 magnitude in 1897 near Blacksburg.
• The tourism industry plays a significant role in the state’s economy.
• In 1607, Jamestown–the first English colony in what would become the United States–was founded in Virginia. Jamestown was also Virginia’s first capital. The town was established on the bank of the James River.
• Did you know that eight U.S. presidents (more than any other state) were born in Virginia? Interestingly, four of the first five presidents were Virginians.
• According to Insure.com, an insurance information website, Virginia has the 5th cheapest average car insurance premium ($1,063) in the country. States with the cheapest average insurance are Maine ($845), Wisconsin ($951), Idaho ($1,040), and Iowa ($1,047).
• Downtown Piers for Sea Lovers: a stroll through Downtown Hampton Public Piers links to the Maritime Center where a wide range of water activities happen. There are harbor tours that expose tourists to fishing at the Chesapeake Bay. The amenities at the marina include outdoor pools, boats, clean showers, and fitness centers.
• Aerial Forest Park: still at Virginia Beach, there is an innovative garden- the Adventure Park that offers zip-lining through hop bridges, trees, and aerial trails. There are various levels of parkour to choose from. The best fun happens during the twilight hours. Often, the park hosts glow lights or stranded lights, making it a spectacularly lit sanctuary.
• Dirty Dancing!: the state of Virginia is for lovers and so you can expect a lot of fun. At Pembroke town, which is referred to as the gateway to cascades, is a site where the classic movie “Dirty Dancing” was shot. There is a monumental stone that was erected in remembrance of the late actor Patrick Swayze.
• Virginia was named for England’s “Virgin Queen,” Elizabeth I.
• The major cash crop of Virginia is tobacco and many of the people who live there earn their living from the tobacco industry.
• Jamestown, the first of the original 13 Colonies was founded for the purpose of silk cultivation. Silk to be traded with the Court of King James. After blight fungus destroyed the mulberry trees (silkworm food), sericulturist planted tobacco as a cash crop.
• Jamestown was the first English settlement in the U.S. It was also the first capital of Virginia.
• Virginia is known as “the birthplace of a nation”.
• Arlington County was originally part of the ten-mile square parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be part of Washington, DC. The U.S. Congress returned that portion of the land to the “Commonwealth of Virginia” following a referendum among its citizens.
• Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls has an early 19-century wooden water wheel and operating gristmill. The old Miller’s House features an exhibit about the process of milling and the families who operated the mill.
• Let’s start with the fact that it almost wasn’t named West Virginia. The state was originally going to be named “Kanawha” to honor a Native American tribe; however,  after its succession from the Commonwealth of Virginia, officials still wanted Virginia to be part of its name.
• West Virginia is the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain range, aptly given the nickname the Mountain State.
• North America’s largest alluvial diamond was found in Peterstown. It is known as the Punch Jones Diamond after William “Punch” Jones and his father Grover found the diamond in 1928.
• Outdoor advertising got its start in Wheeling when the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company painted bridges and barns with “Treat Yourself to the Best, Chew Mail Pouch.”

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