The Commonwealth of Virginia

THE STATE NAME:

Virginia was named to honor Queen Elizabeth of England often referred to as the "Virgin Queen."

THE STATE NICKNAMES:

Old Dominion University, Norfolk

The Old Dominion

This nickname for the state of Virginia originated in Colonial days. Dominion refers to complete ownership of a particular piece of land or territory.

Because he considered the Virginians "the best of his distant children," sometime around 1663, King Charles II of England elevated Virginia to the position of dominion along with England, Scotland, Ireland, and France.

The citizens of Virginia were pleased with this elevated status because they considered themselves the most faithful of the King's settlements in America. Since their settlement was the oldest of King Charles' settlements in America, they adopted the name "The Old Dominion." A variation of this name is "The Ancient Dominion."

Mother of Presidents

Sometimes Virginia is called the "Mother of Presidents" because so many of the early presidents of the United States were native Virginians.

Mother of Statesmen

Because of the number of statesmen produced by Virginia, this nickname has been used.

Mother of States

Virginia has been called the "Mother of States" because she was the first of the states to be settled and because of the number of states that were "born" of the Virginia territory. West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and, even a part of Minnesota were all a part of the original Virginia territory.

The Cavalier State

This nickname is derived from the Cavaliers (supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War) who left England and came to Virginia during, and shortly after, the reign of King Charles I of England.

Down Where the South Begins

Radio broadcasters referred to Virginia as "Down Where the South Begins" because of its location. Virginia is the most southern of the Middle Atlantic States.

THE STATE CITIZENS:

People who live in Virginia or who come from Virginia are called Virginians.

THE PRESIDENTS:

Virginia earned the nickname, "Mother of Presidents" for good reason. Though her contribution wained after 1850, The Old Dominion gave birth to eight men who attained the office of President of the United States:

• George Washington: 1st President of the United States, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, on Pope Creek in Westmoreland County. The nation's military leader during the Revolutionary War, George Washington was a unanimous choice. He served for two terms, from 1789 to 1797. [ More ]
• Thomas Jefferson: 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at Shadwell plantation, Gooch County. Following John Adams of Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson served two terms from 1801 to 1809. [ More ]
• James Madison: 4th President of the United States, James Madison was born on March 16, 1751 in Port Conway. He served two terms from 1809 to 1817. [ More ]
• James Monroe: 5th President of the United States, James Monroe was born in Westmoreland County on April 28, 1758. He served two terms from 1817 to 1825. [ More ]
• William Henry Harrison: 9th President of the United States, William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773 on Berkeley plantation, Charles City County. His term in office was unfortunately short-lived as William Henry Harrison succumbed to pneumonia on April 4, 1841, only one month after his inauguration. He was the first President to die while in office. [ More ]
• John Tyler: 10th President of the United States, Vice President John Tyler set the precedent for presidential succession when he took office after William Henry Harrison's death. He served the remainder of Harrison's term from 1841 to 1845. John Tyler was born on March 20, 1790 in Charles City County. [ More ]
• Zachary Taylor: 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784, near Barboursville. He became the second President to die in office when he succumbed to "cholera morbus" on July 9, 1850, only sixteen months after his inauguration. Vice President Millard Fillmore, a native New Yorker became the thirteenth President of the United States after Taylor's death. [ More ]
• Thomas Woodrow Wilson: 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilsong was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton. He served two terms from 1913 to 1921.

THE STATE QUARTER:

United States Mint Image
Ship Replicas, Jamestown Settlement

Released on October 16, 2000, this is the 10th coin released in the 50 State^® Quarter Program and the fifth released in 2000.

The Virginia quarter honors our nation's oldest colony, Jamestown, Virginia. The three ships on the coin--Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery--brought the first English colonists here in the spring of 1607.

Loaded with cargo and 104 boys and men, the ships set sail from London on December 20, 1606. Nearly five months later, they landed on a small island along the James River. The crew formed the first permanent colony in the New World, 13 years before Plymouth, Massachusetts, was settled. They named it Jamestown in honor of King James I, who had chartered their voyage.

For more about the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.

This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters.