Virginia is the state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. The state was named Virginia, after Queen Elizabeth I of England, she was known as the “Virgin Queen” as she never married. The state of Virginia is also known as the “Old Dominion” and sometimes “Mother of Presidents”, since it is the birthplace of eight United States Presidents. Geographically the state is shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay. The state’s capital is Richmond. The state has a population of over seven million.
Virginia is also home of The Pentagon, in Northern Virginia. There are also sectors of military bases in the Hampton Roads, and other federal agencies. Virginia was one of the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution, afterwards joining the Confederacy in the American Civil War.
Virginia covers an area of 42,774 square miles, making it the thirty-fifth largest state by area. Virginia is bordered by Maryland and the District of Columbia to the north and east; the Atlantic Ocean to the east; by North Carolina and Tennessee to the south; by Kentucky to the west and by West Virginia to the borth and west.
Virginia is home to more United States Presidents than any other state. The Presidents said to have been from Virginia include George Washington (1st President), Thomas Jefferson (2 terms, 3rd President), James Madison (Father of the Constitution, and 4th President) and James Monroe (5th President). Four out of five of the very first Presidents of the United States were from Virginia. Other Virginian Presidents include Woodrow Wilson (28th President), William Henry Harrison (9th President, died one month after his Inaugral Address), John Tyler (became President after Harrison died, he had been Vice-President), and Zachary Taylor (12th President).
The state is home to many entertainers, author, journalists, and athletes (in every category of sports) as well. There were many Virginian Signers of the Declaration of Independence like George Wyth (Elizabeth City, 1726-1806), Richard Henry Lee (Westmoreland, 1732-1794), Thomas Jefferson (Shadwell, 1743-1826), Benjamin Harrison (1726?-1791), Thomas Nelson, Jr. (Yorktown, 1738-1789), Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797), and Carter Braxton (Newington, 1736-1797).
Some of Virginia’s Most Notables include:
Stephen F. Austin – The Father of Texas was actually born in southwestern Virginia, November 3, 1793. He was born in the mining regions of southwestern Virginia, in Wythe County. Austin, Texas is names for him.
Pearl S. Buck – Was born June 26, 1892 in Hillsboro, West Virginia. She died March 6, 1973, at age 80. When she died she was in Danby, Vermont. She was an extremely talented writer. She also won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932, and the Noble Prize in Literature in 1938.
Thomas Stonewall Jackson – Was born in Clarksburg, Virginia, today it is called West Virginia. He was active in the service from 1846-51, and 1861-63. He was in the United States Army and the Confederate Army, where he was a major (USA), and a Lieutenant General. You was in the Mexican-American War and American Civil War, Great Train Raid of 1861, First Manassas, Romney Expedition, Valley Campaign, Seven Days Battle, Northern Virginia Campaign, Maryland Campaign, Battle of Fredricksburg, and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Don Knotts – This famous actor was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, July 21, 1924. He died February 24, 2006, in Los Angeles, he was 81. Mr. Knotts was active in the entertainment industry from 1953 up to the time he died, in 2006. At just 19 years old, Knotts joined the Marines and served in World War II. He has many successes in his life and earned five Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy, for his role on The Andy Griffith Show. After that show he went on to star in comedies like The Incredible Mr. Limpet, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Reluctant Astronaut, The Shakiest Gun In The West, The Love God?, and How To Frame a Figg. He returned to The Andy Griffith shows several times through the 60s. He later appeared on the spin-off Mayberry RFD. He did not appear on any more successful tv shows until his appearance on Three’s Company. In the 60s and 70s he also was the spokeman for Dodge trucks. He went on to host him own variety show/sitcom called The Don Knotts Show. He made many guest appearances on show like Here’s Lucy and The Bill Cosby Show, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, Chicken Little, and robot Chicken. He also found voice work on The New Scooby Doo Movies. Other Don Knotts movies included The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, The Private Eyes, Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo, Hot Lead and Cold Feet, The Private Eyes, Gus, Matlock, and Pleasantville. Don Knotts was recognized in 2000 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Mary Lou Retton – Was born January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia. She was the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the Olympics all-around title. She currently lives in Houston, texas. She married a real estate developer, and together they have four daughters: Shayle Rae (1995), McKenna Lane (1997), Skyla Brae (2000), and Emma Jean (2002). Her gymnastics career afteri seeing Nadia Comaneci on TV. She was first coached by Gar Rafaloski, before moving to Texas. She has been a huge success and role model for a generation.
Davis Arquette – Was born in Bentonville, Virginia, on a Subud commune. His siblings include Patricia, Rosanna, Alexis, and Richmond. He ans his wife are currently producers of Dirt and Daisy Does America. He is currently married to Courteney Cox in 1999, and they have one child named Coco Riley Arquette. Jennifer Aniston is Coco’s Godmother.
Warren Beatty – This American Academy Award and golden Globe winning actor was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1937. He has also found success as a producer, director, and screenwriter. Other than being a film actor he has also appeared in more than 40 Off Broadway productions.
There are so many famous Virginia born people who made notable contributions to the world including Steve Yeager (baseball), Kathy Mattea (country music), Peter Marshall (Tv Host), Joanne Dru (actress), Chuck Yeager (test pilot and Air Force General), Alfred Moore (jurist), and Cyrus Vance (government official).
Many famous writers, authors, and journalists have also come from Virginia including Edgar Allan Poe, Tom Robbins, William Stith, William Styron, Edward V. Valentine, Tom Wolfe, Russell Baker, Rita Brown, William Cabell Bruce, William Byrd II, James Branch Cabell, Willa Cather, Edgar Cayce, Patricia Cornwell, Virginius Dabney, Rite Dove, John A. Elder, Sir Moses Ezekiel, Douglas Sothall Freeman, Ellen Glasgow, Earl Hamner Hr., Joanne Liggan, Sharyn McCrumb, Charles McDowell, David J. Mays, and Thomas Nelson Page.
There are so many more famous people from Virginia like Bebe Buell (Liv Tyler’s mom), Wes Borland, Leslie Bibb, Charlie Byrd (jazz guitarist), Sandra Bullock, Curtis Bush (world champion kick boxer), Plaxico Burress (wide receiver for the New York Giants), John Campbell (bassist for Lamb of God), June Carter Cash, William Clark (Lewis and Clark Expedition), Clarence Clemons (E Street Band), Patsy Cline (the signer of course),, George Rogers Clark (Revolutionary War leader), Chris Brown (singer), Aaron Brooks (quarterback for the Oakland Raiders), Dre Blythe (singer Lamb of God), Dre Bly (Detroit Lions), Jimmy Dean (singer and sausage king), Dell Curry (former NBA player), D’Angelo (R&B;), Chris Daughtry, Missy Elliot, Lauren Graham, Mark Hamill, and so many more.
The amount of notable people from Virginia is extensive and super impressive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia
http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?featureID=95
http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/jwes/Presidents_from_Virginia.html
http://www.wikipedia.org
