Virginia is a popular tourist spot in more recent times, where people can visit historic places such as Alexandria, Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate. The state flower is the Dogwood, and the Cardinal is the state bird of the "Old Dominion" (Virginia's nickname). In colonial times, Virginia was officially known as the Colony and Dominion of Virginia. You will often hear the state called the Commonwealth of Virginia. This does not mean Virginia has a different form of government than any other state. It could be said that all 50 states, as well as the national government, are commonwealths. Besides Virginia, three other states - Kentucky, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania - use the term commonwealth as part of their official names.

Virginia Census 2000 information confirms a steady population growth rate of 5.4% between the 2000 population of 7,078,515 and the 2004 estimate of 7,459,827. Average growth per year has held at 1.4%, a steady yet manageable rate. Median household income for 1999 was $46,677 statewide compared to the national average of $41,994. Per capita money income for the same period was $23,975, again ahead of the U.S. national mean average of $21,587.

Virginia is bordered by West Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia (across the Potomac River) to the north; the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean form the eastern border; North Carolina and Tennessee edge the south; and Kentucky and West Virginia lie to the west. The Chesapeake Bay divides the state. The eastern portion of Virginia, called 'the Eastern Shore of Virginia', is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is completely separate from the rest of the state.

Geographically, Virginia is divided into the following 5 regions:

• Tidewater - Stretching from the Atlantic coast to the fall line. 
• Piedmont - East of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Tidewater Region. 
• Blue Ridge Mountains - East of the Appalachian Mountains to the Blue Ridge Mountain Region. 
• Valley and Ridge - Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah Valley Region. 
• Appalachian Plateau - West of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Virginia's long east-west axis has metropolitan northern Virginia closer to New York and New England than to the rural western panhandle of its own state. Conversely, Lee County, at the tip of the panhandle, is closer to 8 state capitals than its own capital of Richmond.

Virginia State Parks offers an abundance of recreation. Parks and other natural areas are plentiful and accommodate travelers, campers, hikers, boaters and all around adventurers of all skill and endurance levels. White water rafting in all three categories can be found in a number of rivers throughout Virginia with one of the best being a two-day, twenty-five mile stretch of the Rappahannock River in Essex County. Hunters will find the state rife with game. And if all you hunt is history, then you're in the richest historical area of our country - Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Parks are a great place to start.

Virginia's economy is so diverse that it's difficult to round out the sources of income to a few main areas. Manufacturing, farming, cattle, defense contracting, military installations and a sizeable share of the U.S. government's professional corps all contribute considerable quantities of jobs and money to the state. The state is rich with innovative communications companies, information technology firms, hardware and software firms and consultants. Additionally, the Tobacco Industry, unique to only a few states, thrives here in Virginia.

Virginia was the wealthiest southern state before the Civil War. It recovered from the Civil War and the Great Depression much faster than the rest of the south. Today it's still significantly wealthier than the rest of the south, although much of that is from the northern influence around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. In fact, for being a southern state, the economy and demographic trends tie it more closely to the mid-Atlantic states then to its cousins to the west and south.

Virginia truly runs the gauntlet in diversity, strength of economy, and solid outlooks toward continued future growth. It also has a sense of balance with nature and its residents. Being a Virginian imparts a secure feeling, that in itself, perpetuates the strong steady growth that the state experiences.

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