Best & Worst States: What is Virginia No. 1 at?

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There is a close connection between the history of the United States and the state of Virginia. English colonization of North America began at the end of the 16th century. London Virginia Company was incorporated as a joint-stock corporation in April 1606 under a proprietary charter. This document grants lands northwest of the 34th parallel. A year later, Jamestown would become the first permanent English settlement on the continent.

Within Virginia's borders were fought at the end of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Among its famous residents, eight presidents were born in the state. During the period between 1776 and 1784, Patrick Henry was governor of the independent commonwealth.

In 1861, the state of Virginia secession from the Union, after operating independently for about two months, joined the Confederacy. As a consequence, nearly 120,000 more people have moved to Virginia every year due to the crisis.

Here are some of the best and worst things to expect when you visit or live in Virginia:

Best: You will be safe and protected

There is a robust military presence in Virginia. The number of military bases within its borders is currently 27. There is one active base in every branch of the army right now. More than 60,000 military veterans living in Virginia Beach alone (more than 10% of the entire city population) impact the culture somehow. Naval Air Station Oceana is responsible for more than 165 takeoffs and landings each day. Though each community deals with crime at some level, you will feel safer here than in other parts of the country.

Best: Quality education

Some excellent schools are available in Virginia, all the way down to middle school. Virginia is also home to the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, allowing you to attend these schools whenever you live in the state. Among the best in the country today, it is considered by many to be one of the most outstanding universities. You should move to Virginia if you want to raise a family and ensure that your children have access to the best education without spending a lot of money.

Now let us have a look at some of the worst parts in Virginia:

Worst: Swearing or cursing is illegal

Once you start living in Virginia, you need to pay attention to the signs that instruct you not to curse. In some areas of the state, it is illegal to profane yourself in public. Despite a bill to decriminalize the conduct running through the legislature regularly, it is still a crime to break this law.

Persons who curse or swear profanely in public are deemed guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Virginia Beach fines up to $250, but it doesn't tell you which words cannot be spoken.

Worst: Jet noises

Expect a lot of jets over Virginia since there are crucial military training exercises here. You can expect unusually loud aircraft to fly low over Virginia Beach if you live near there. The sound a pilot makes will be felt even if you have double-paned windows in your house. More than 200 flights can take place in a single day, so there is no respite from the noise. The only solution is to either become accustomed to it or not move here at all. There is no middle ground unless you live in the mountains.

Bonus: Fun facts about Virginia:

1. Virginia got its name from England's "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth I.
2. The major cash crop of Virginia is tobacco, and many of the people who live there earn their living from the tobacco industry.
3. Jamestown, the first of the original 13 Colonies, was founded for silk cultivation. Silk to be traded with the Court of King James. After blight fungus destroyed the mulberry trees (silkworm food), sericulturists planted tobacco as a cash crop.
4. Jamestown was the first English settlement in the U.S. It was also the first capital of Virginia.
5. Virginia is known as "the birthplace of a nation."
6. Arlington County was originally part of the ten-mile square parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be part of Washington, DC.
7. Eight United States Presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.
8. Six Presidents'Presidents' wives were born in Virginia: Martha Washington, Martha Jefferson, Rachel Jackson, Letitia Tyler, Ellen Arthur, Edith Wilson.
9. Seven Presidents are buried in Virginia: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Taft, and Kennedy.
10. The present state capital in Richmond was also the capital of the Confederacy.

Have you experienced Virginia firsthand? Please share your best and worst experiences with us by writing them down in the comment box below!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Secession_Convention_of_1861

https://va.ng.mil/

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/va

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/19/807435310/centuries-old-law-against-cursing-in-public-repealed-by-virginia-legislators

https://www.pilotonline.com/military/article_e5fecb4b-e315-523f-a2bc-d14685a3e296.html

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