State of the Month – Virginia

Here is the next instalment of my monthly feature going through the States of the United States in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest.  The official name of the state is Commonwealth of Virginia.

Location – about half way up the Eastern Mainland

Nicknames – Old Dominion, The Cavalier State, Mother of Presidents

Flag

Capital – Richmond (Virginia Beach has the most people)

Unusual town name – Bumpass

State Flower & Tree – Flowering Dogwood

State bird – Cardinal

Signature foods – Smithfield ham, Chesapeake Bay oysters & crabs, Ham biscuits

Famous places to visit in Virginia – Virginia State Capitol, Washington Dulles International Airport, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg

Famous people from Virginia – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Woodrow Wilson, Arthur Ashe, Ella Fitzgerald, June Carter Cash, Patsy Cline, Shirley MacLaine, Pharell Williams, Missy Elliot, Rob Lowe, Adriana Trigiani, Tom Wolfe

Go to this Pinboard to see the States of the Month so far.