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The Commonwealth of Virginia is a state on the Atlantic Coast of the United States. The state was named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the "Virgin Queen" because she never married. The state is also known as the "Old Dominion" and
sometimes "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The state is geographically shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, home to much of the state's flora and fauna. The capital of the commonwealth is
Richmond, Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The state population is over seven million. The roots of modern Virginia trace back to the founding of the Virginia Colony in 1607 by
the Virginia Company of London as the first permanent New World English colony. Slavery played significant roles in Virginia's early economy and politics. Virginia became one of the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution and subsequently joined the
Confederacy in the American Civil War. Although traditionally conservative and historically part of the South, modern Virginia is a politically competitive state for both major national parties. Virginia has an economy with several sectors,
including agricultural production, military bases in the Hampton Roads, and federal agencies, such as The Pentagon, in Northern Virginia. The Historic Triangle includes the popular heritage tourism destinations of Jamestown, Yorktown and the living museum
of Colonial Williamsburg. The growth of the technology sector has made computer chips the state's leading export, with the industry based on the strength of Virginia's public schools and universities. University sports are followed by many across the
state. Areas where the state has lagged behind include environmental protection.
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