Virginia

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The cardinal is the state bird of Virginia.

The flowering dogwood is the state flower of Virginia.

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Virginia summary

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Virginia

state, United States

Also known as: Old Dominion State

Written by Charles Loreaux Quittmeyer, Robert J. Norrell•All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Apr 9, 2025 • Article History

News •

4 charged after Virginia shooting that killed 3, authorities say • Apr. 9, 2025, 3:26 PM ET (AP)

3 dead and 3 wounded in mass shooting in Virginia in which at least 1 shooter is on the loose • Apr. 9, 2025, 12:35 AM ET (AP)

Judge blocks firing of intelligence agency employees who worked on DEI programs • Apr. 1, 2025, 4:51 PM ET (AP)

Denny Hamlin ends 10-year win drought at Martinsville Speedway • Mar. 30, 2025, 8:50 PM ET (AP)

Alleged leader of MS-13 street gang on the East Coast is arrested in Virginia • Mar. 27, 2025, 3:05 PM ET (AP)

Virginia, constituent state of the United States of America, one of the original 13 colonies. It is bordered by Maryland to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, North Carolina and Tennessee to the south, Kentucky to the west, and West Virginia to the northwest. The state capital is Richmond. Virginia was nicknamed the Old Dominion for its loyalty to the exiled Charles II of England during the Puritan Commonwealth and Protectorate (1653–59). It has one of the longest continuous histories among the American states, dating from the settlement of Jamestown in the early 17th century. It was named ...(100 of 6361 words)

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