Request an Estimate - Step 1 of 2
Virginia has been an integral part in the history of the United States. More than a decade before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, the first permanent English settlement in the New World was established in Virginia in 1607. The young colony survived by trading with the local Native American tribes, an arrangement made possible, in part, by the friendship of a chief’s daughter named Pocahontas. Virginia was one of the original thirteen colonies, and it was in Virginia’s House of Burgesses that Patrick Henry spoke out against British rule by saying, “Give me liberty or give me Death!” Shortly afterward, Virginia’s delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Thomas Jefferson, wrote the Declaration of Independence, and his fellow Virginian, George Washington, led American troops to victory in the American Revolutionary War. The original Virginia Colony was a farming community, and agriculture is still an important part of Virginia’s economy. But whereas tobacco was the main export of the Virginia Colony, today Virginia’s largest export is computer chips. Virginia is quickly becoming one of the United State’s major hubs of business and technology. Seventeen Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in Virginia, and Virginia’s universities are nationally recognized as excellent centers of research. Virginia also plays an important role in government: the Pentagon, the headquarters of the CIA, and the National Science Foundation are all located in Virginia. The rich history of Virginia is reflected in its architecture, arts, and cuisine. Due to its position on the middle of the eastern coast of the US, Virginia’s culture has elements of both New England and the South. Virginia is particularly known for its contributions to American music. Virginian musicians helped to create uniquely American music genres such as blues and country, and the musical tradition is carried on today by rock, rhythm and blues, and hip hop artists hailing from Virginia. Famous musicians from Virginia include jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald and country music star Patsy Cline. Some facts about Virginia: