Virginia is a state with a rich history, but it’s not officially called the state of Virginia; it’s called the commonwealth of Virginia.
Commonwealth is a traditional English word that means the place was founded for the common good of all people who live there. Four of the 50 states are commonwealths: Those states are Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Before there was a United States of America, there was a tiny English community in what is now Virginia. That little village was called Jamestown where, in 1607, the first English community was established in what would eventually become the good old U. S. of A.
Virginia was one of the 13 colonies in the American Revolution. The colonies got help from France, and they finally won the war in 1783.
Eight U.S. Presidents Were Born in Virginia
There’s a long list of U.S. presidents who were born in Virginia. They are:
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
- James Monroe
- William Henry Harrison
- John Tyler
- Zachary Taylor
- Woodrow Wilson.
The two presidents who are most mentioned whenever there’s a discussion about the Virginia history are George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Fact #1: The major cash crop of Virginia is tobacco and many of the people who live there earn their living from the tobacco industry.
Fact #1A: Of course, you should never start smoking. And, you shouldn’t even experiment with a single cigarette because you might like it, and if you did, you’d have a hard time quitting. Smoking is a very expensive habit; it takes years off your life, and it’s a very hard habit to break. The easiest way to stop is to never start.
Fact #2: There’s a place in Virginia where actors recreate life in the 1700’s. It’s called Colonial Williamsburg, and it’s a working 18th-century village. When you go there, it’s like you stepped back in history.
Fact #3: Because so many presidents were born there, Virginia is sometimes called the “Mother of Presidents.”
Fact #4: The Pentagon, which the military headquarters for the Department of Defense, is located in Arlington, Virginia just outside of Washington D. C. The Pentagon is the world’s largest office building. It has seven floors and has about three times more office space than the Empire State Building in New York City.
Fact #5: The lagest city in Virginia is Virginia Beach.
Fact #6: Forests cover over 60 percent of the state, so it’s no surprise that Virginia has a big timber industry.
Just for fun, see if you can answer these questions.
What is the capital of Virgina? Is it Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, Richmond, or Williamsburg?
Richmond is the capital of Virgina. Virginia Beach is the state’s largest city.
How many United States presidents were born in Virginia? Was it 4, 6., 8, or 10?
8 United States presidents were born in Virginia.
The first English-speaking community in America was located in Virgina? Was that community named Williamsburg or Jamestown?
Jamestown. It was established in 1607.
Is the Pentagon a fort, an office building, a factory, or a staduim?
The Pentagon, which is located in Arlington, Virginia, is the largest office building in the world.
If you have time, you can write a story of your own.
Here are a couple of story ideas you can choose from.
Idea #1: You can write a brief story about some of the cool things you learned about the Commonwealth of Virgina.
Or
Idea #2: You can write a story about George Washington: If you could ask him one question, what would it be?
To help you write a great story, we have some helpful hints and timely tips.
Check out “10 Tips for Writing Better Essays.”
Here's a riddle for you:
Which state is warmest in the winter?
Fur-ginia.
For fun-to-read books about a girl detective who homeschools on a train... check out The Mystery Ryders, a series from the creators of the Homeschool Express.
