While the capital of the United States is technically located in Washington D.C., the majority of the most significant offices of the government are actually in Virginia. The most famous of all of these buildings are actually on record as the largest office building across the entire globe – the Pentagon. Not only that but the United States Navy Atlantic fleet is docked in Virginia in what has been deemed the world's business shipyard.
If you're looking to grab a job within the federal government and take advantage of the awesome benefit packages that come with that, Virginia is the perfect place for you to make your home. Astonishingly, 25% of all employed Virginians work for the federal government in some capacity. Whether you want to get started in politics or find an administrative job that is tailored to your particular skill set, you can't do much better than Old Dominion.
That’s not the only industry booming in Virginia. California may be credited as the American centerpiece of the tech industry, but Virginia isn’t that far behind. Because of the many essential government offices within the state, the tech industry in Virginia began to flourish catering to those offices and then to regular citizens. The strides made by tech industry stalwarts in Old Dominion played a pivotal part in the nascent stages of creating and monetizing the World Wide Web.
Agriculture also has a strong financial impact on Virginia's bottom line. While tobacco is less of a cash crop than it used to be due to associated health concerns, it still accounts for 4% of the state's total agricultural receipts. Virginia is an industry leader in nursery and greenhouse products. It also has strong export capital in tomatoes, corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, peanuts, barley, cotton, cucumbers, potatoes, and snap beans.
If meat is more of your taste or industry of choice, there’s also a very strong beef and poultry industry within the bounds of Old Dominion. Virginia is also ranked sixth in the nation in turkey production and distribution, meaning there’s a good chance you have the Mother of Presidents to thank for one of your past Thanksgiving feasts. Virginia is also a solid contributor of eggs, hogs, sheep, and lamb.
Virginia's tourism industry is also a massive part of its bottom line, and it's even associated with one of the most infamous slogans in United States history – "Virginia is for Lovers." The first iteration of the campaign was going to be "Virginia is for Mountain Lovers" because of the many attractions and scenic points associated with mountain ranges in the state. This includes Mount Vernon which was the home of America's first president, George Washington.
Virginia's place in American history simply cannot be denied. A lion's share of the state's tourism industry dollars centers around historical sites associated with pivotal moments and people in United States history. There's Monticello, the estate of America's third president, Thomas Jefferson. There's also the historic town of Williamsburg which was the Colonial capital of Virginia before statehood was a thing.
That's not it for tourist attractions in Virginia. Not by a long shot. Other must-see places for your Old Dominion bucket list include Shenandoah National Park, Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg National Military Park, Arlington House, Luray Caverns, the Blue Ridge National Parkway, and the Skyline Drive. And if you're near Roanoke, you need to check out Booker T. Washington's birthplace. It's an amazing tribute to one of the nation's foremost minds.
One of the coolest tourist attractions in all of the world is actually in Virginia as well, but it will cost you a ton of money to make it happen. Have you ever wanted to tour space? Based out of Vienna, Space Adventures offers you that opportunity for a pretty penny. If you just want to travel normally around Virginia and don’t have the money to make space travel happen, Virginia’s highways are super comprehensive and there’s also five major airports, one of the nation’s busiest seaports (the Virginia Port Authority), and Amtrak service which goes up and down the East Coast.
Moving along to food and cuisine within the Commonwealth of Virginia, you probably guessed that Virginia's miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean mean there's some amazing seafood to be had. The one seafood specialty most synonymous with Virginia is oysters. Oysters are the oldest documented foodstuff in the state, dating back to 1607. If you love oysters on the half shell, you're probably going to dig all the different kinds of pasta and other uses for oysters at restaurants up and down the coastline.
That's not all for cuisine in Virginia. Virginia's Southern charm is evident in the different styles of barbecue available all around the state. There are also plenty of different diners which serve up a host of different regional stews and hearty Appalachian food which will warm you to your bones. And if you make a trip to downtown Virginia Beach or other urban centers within the state, you'll find a wide selection of different cuisines from around the world. Virginia has been growing thanks to a diverse influx of people from both around the United States and the world, and the food has started to reflect that.
With all this food for thought, it’s no wonder why Virginia’s public education system is consistently ranked at or near the top of the nation when comes to student assessments through the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress. Virginia’s students are primed for success through their K-12 adventure, with 91.6 percent of high school students graduating on time as recently as 2018.
Higher education is also a top priority in Old Dominion with 169 different colleges and universities spread throughout the state. In 2019, the U.S. News & World Report mentioned six different Virginia universities in its list of the best in the nation – the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and George Mason University in Fairfax City. If you’re a college student shipping your car to start your higher education in Old Dominion, you have a ton of options.
Now that you’ve got a good feel for what Virginia’s all about, it’s time to boost your trivia knowledge about the state! Let’s take a look at some of the official living and inanimate symbols of Virginia:
That's not all for trivia nuggets about Old Dominion! Here are a few other interesting tidbits for you to recite at your next (or first) Virginia dinner party:
Virginia’s moniker of the Mother of Presidents is because eight different presidents were born in the state – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison, John Tyler, Woodrow Wilson, Zachary Taylor, and William Harrison.
When you ship a car, van, or truck to the state of Virginia through Nexus Auto Transport, you’re opening up a world of possibilities within a single, amazing state. Whether you want to check out the various shops and eateries in Virginia Beach or want to experience the history of Williamsburg, there’s so much that your vehicle can do for you when you have shipped into the state. As soon as you’re on the road, you’ll know just why Virginia is definitely for lovers.