History of Virginia in Timeline

Virginia, a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., lies between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. Bordered by Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maryland, its capital is Richmond, and its most populous city is Virginia Beach. With 8.8 million residents, it ranks as the twelfth-most populous and fifteenth-most densely populated state. Northern Virginia is home to over a third of the state's population, including Fairfax County, the most populous jurisdiction.

1902: State Constitution Rewritten

In 1902, the state constitution was rewritten to include a poll tax and other voter registration measures that effectively disenfranchised most African Americans and many poor whites.

1905: Low Voter Turnout Between 1905 and 1948

Between 1905 and 1948, voter turnout in Virginia was regularly below ten percent.

1906: Employment-at-will

Virginia has been an employment-at-will state since 1906.

1907: Newport News Shipbuilding Builds Warships

In 1907, Newport News Shipbuilding started building 38 warships for the U.S. Navy.

July 1919: Attack on African-American Troops

In July 1919, a homecoming parade to honor African-American troops was attacked by the city's police as part of a renewed white-supremacy movement, known as Red Summer.

1923: Newport News Shipbuilding Builds Warships

By 1923, Newport News Shipbuilding completed building 38 warships for the U.S. Navy.

1930: Official State Seal and Flag

While the state seal was designed in 1776 and the flag was first used in the 1830s, both were made official in 1930.

1932: Byrd Road Act

Due to the 1932 Byrd Road Act, the state government controls most of Virginia's roads.

1935: Old Time Fiddlers' Convention begun

The Old Time Fiddlers' Convention in Galax, begun in 1935, is one of the oldest and largest such events worldwide.

1940: "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" Named State Song

In 1940, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" was named the state song of Virginia.

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1943: Increased Labor Force at Newport News Shipyard

By 1943, during World War II, the Newport News shipyard quadrupled its pre-war labor force to 70,000 workers.

1947: Right to Work

Virginia has been a "right to work" state since 1947.

1948: Low Voter Turnout Between 1905 and 1948

Between 1905 and 1948, voter turnout in Virginia was regularly below ten percent.

1948: Barter Theatre wins Tony Award

The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, designated the State Theatre of Virginia, won the first Regional Theatre Tony Award in 1948.

1951: Barbara Rose Johns Starts a Strike

In 1951, high-school student Barbara Rose Johns started a strike at her underfunded and segregated school in Prince Edward County.

1952: Republican Presidential Voting Trend Start

From 1952 to 2004, Virginia voted for Republican presidential candidates in thirteen out of fourteen presidential elections.

1954: Brown v. Board of Education

In 1954, the Supreme Court rejected the doctrine of "separate but equal" in Brown v. Board of Education, a case that included the lawsuit from Prince Edward County.

1956: "Massive Resistance" Strategy

In 1956, the segregationist establishment reacted with a strategy called "massive resistance", and the General Assembly passed laws that cut off funding to local schools that desegregated.

February 2, 1959: Black Students Integrate Schools

On February 2, 1959, Black students integrated schools in Arlington and Norfolk, where they were known as the Norfolk 17.

June 1959: Prince Edward County Shuts Down School System

In June 1959, rather than integrate, county leaders in Prince Edward shut down their school system.

1960: Virginia's Farming Historical Context

In 1960, there were twice as many farms in Virginia as there are today.

1961: CIA Moves to Langley

In 1961, the Central Intelligence Agency moved to Langley.

September 1964: Prince Edward County Reopens and Integrates Schools

In September 1964, the Supreme Court ordered Prince Edward County to reopen and integrate its schools, which finally happened.

1964: Davis v. Mann U.S. Supreme Court Decision in 1964

In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Davis v. Mann ordered an end to malapportionment in Virginia.

1964: Civil Rights Act Passage

In 1964, the federal government passed the Civil Rights Act.

1965: Wilkins v. Davis Virginia Supreme Court Decision in 1965

In 1965, the Virginia Supreme Court decision in Wilkins v. Davis ordered an end to malapportionment in Virginia.

1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965

In 1965, the Voting Rights Act made Virginia one of nine states required to receive federal approval for changes to voting laws.

1965: Reverse Migration

Since 1965, there has been a reverse migration of Blacks returning south, after the Great Migration to northern industrial cities in the first half of the 20th century.

1967: Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Interracial Marriage

In 1967, the Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on interracial marriage with Loving v. Virginia.

1968: Republican Presidential Voting Trend

From 1968 to 2004, Virginia voted for Republican presidential candidates in ten elections in a row.

1968: Governor Godwin Calls Commission to Rewrite Constitution

In 1968, Governor Mills Godwin called a commission to rewrite the state constitution.

1969: Hurricane Camille

In 1969, the deadliest natural disaster in Virginia was Hurricane Camille, which killed over 150 people mainly in inland Nelson County.

1970: Start of Republican "Southern Strategy" Around 1970

Around 1970, rural southern and western areas of Virginia moved to support the Republican Party in response to its "southern strategy".

1970: New Constitution of Virginia approval

In 1970, voters approved the seventh Constitution of Virginia.

July 1971: New Constitution of Virginia goes into effect

In July 1971, the seventh Constitution of Virginia, which had been approved by voters in 1970, went into effect.

1971: Removal of Jim Crow Provisions in 1971 Constitution

In 1971, many Jim Crow provisions were removed in Virginia's constitution, but the lifetime ban on voting for felony convictions remained.

1971: New Constitution Goes Into Effect

In 1971, the new state constitution, which banned discrimination and removed articles that violated federal law, passed in a referendum and went into effect.

1980: Demographic Changes Since 1980

Since 1980, the majority of women in Virginia have supported Democratic presidential candidates. Also the proportion of eligible voters born outside the state has increased from 44% in 1980 to 55% in 2019.

1981: Official Language

In 1981, English was passed as the Commonwealth's official language by statutes.

1982: Resumption of Capital Punishment in 1982

In 1982, Virginia resumed capital punishment, and subsequently executed 113 people.

1982: Uranium Mining Banned

Since 1982, the state has banned uranium mining due to environmental and public health concerns.

1987: Moratorium on Annexation

In 1987, a moratorium was placed on cities like Norfolk and Portsmouth annexing land from adjoining counties.

1989: Douglas Wilder Elected Governor

In 1989, Douglas Wilder became the first African American elected as governor in the United States.

1989: Segregation Percentage in Public Schools in 1989

In 1989, three percent of Virginia's public schools were rated as "intensely segregated" by The Civil Rights Project at UCLA.

1990: Population Proportion

In 1990, non-Hispanic whites made up 76% of the population in Virginia.

1992: Bobby Scott Elected to Congress

In 1992, Bobby Scott became the first Black congressman from Virginia since 1888.

1992: Appalachian Cottontail Recognized

In 1992, the native Appalachian cottontail was recognized as a distinct species of rabbit.

1993: Virginia's U.S. House Seats Since 1993

Since 1993, Virginia has had eleven U.S. House of Representatives seats, and control of the majority has flipped four times.

1993: Virginia Tech Hokies Bowl Streak

The Hokies football team sustained a 27-year bowl streak between 1993 and 2019.

1993: Richmond Kickers Operation

The Richmond Kickers of the USL League One have operated since 1993.

1995: End of Prisoner Parole in 1995

In 1995, Virginia ended prisoner parole.

1996: Official Language

In 1996, English was again passed as the Commonwealth's official language by statutes.

1996: Southern Baptist Conservatives

In 1996, the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia split off from the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

1997: "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" Retired

In 1997, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" was retired as the state song due to its references to slavery.

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1998: Air Quality Improvement

Since 1998, the air quality in Virginia has statistically improved.

2000: Virginia Special Sessions Called Since 2000

21 special sessions have been called in Virginia since 2000, typically for legislation on preselected issues.

2000: Hispanic Population Growth

From 2000 to 2010, Virginia's Hispanic population rose by 92%.

2000: Peak Car Usage

Virginia hit peak car usage before the year 2000, making it one of the first such states.

September 11, 2001: Attack on the Pentagon

On September 11, 2001, the Pentagon in Arlington was struck by a hijacked plane.

2004: Republican Presidential Voting Trend End

From 1952 to 2004, Virginia voted for Republican presidential candidates in thirteen out of fourteen presidential elections.

2004: James Madison Dukes Football Championship

James Madison Dukes football won FCS NCAA Championships in 2004.

2006: Computer chips as Virginia's highest-grossing export

Computer chips became Virginia's highest-grossing export in 2006.

2007: Mass Shooting at Virginia Tech

In 2007, a mass shooting occurred at Virginia Tech.

2008: Increase in Drug-Related Arrests from 2008 to 2017

Between 2008 and 2017, arrests for drug-related crimes in Virginia rose 38%, with 71% related to marijuana.

2008: HPV Vaccine Mandate

In 2008, Virginia became the first U.S. state to mandate the HPV vaccine for girls for school attendance.

2008: Virginia as a Swing State in 2008

In the 2008 presidential election, Virginia was considered a "swing state," and the state's thirteen electoral votes were carried by Democratic candidates.

2009: Increase in Suicides

Between 2009 and 2023, suicides in Virginia increased by over 14%.

2009: Last Republican Gubernatorial Win Before 2021

In 2009, before Glenn Youngkin's victory in 2021, it was the last time a republican won the governor's race.

2009: Signature Theatre wins Tony Award

The Signature Theatre in Arlington won the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2009.

January 2010: Smoking Ban in Bars and Restaurants

In January 2010, Virginia banned smoking in bars and restaurants, leading to a decline in the percentage of tobacco smokers in the state.

2010: Hispanic Population Growth

From 2000 to 2010, Virginia's Hispanic population rose by 92%.

2010: Richmond Flying Squirrels

In 2010, the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels began playing at The Diamond.

2010: Census

The 2020 census reported an increase of 7.9% in state resident population since the 2010 census.

August 23, 2011: Earthquake in Central Virginia

On August 23, 2011, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck central Virginia.

2013: Religious Affiliation

In 2013, 21% of Virginians were unaffiliated with any particular religious body. Belief in God in the South region was at 93% from 2013 to 2017.

2013: Terry McAuliffe's election in 2013

In 2013, Terry McAuliffe broke the trend of Virginians electing governors of the party opposite the U.S. president.

2013: Voting Rights Act System Struck Down in 2013

In 2013, the system for including states under the Voting Rights Act was struck down.

2013: Negative Net Migration Rate

Since 2013, Virginia has had a negative net migration rate.

2014: BBC America Study

In 2014, a BBC America study ranked the Piedmont region's non-rhotic dialect as one of the most identifiable accents in American English.

March 2015: State Song Changes

In March 2015, Virginia's government named "Our Great Virginia" as the traditional state song and "Sweet Virginia Breeze" as the popular state song.

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2015: Fan Popularity Poll

A 2015 poll showed that 34% of Virginians were fans of the Virginia Cavaliers and 28% were fans of the rival Virginia Tech Hokies.

January 2016: January 2016 Blizzard

In January 2016, a blizzard created the state's highest recorded one-day snowfall of 36.6 inches (93 cm) near Bluemont.

2016: Restoration of Voting Rights in 2016

In 2016, Governor Terry McAuliffe ended the lifetime ban and individually restored voting rights to over 200,000 ex-felons. Also, Virginia moved from being ranked as the second most difficult state to vote.

2016: Northern Virginia becomes the world's largest data center market

In 2016, Northern Virginia became the world's largest data center market.

2016: Virginia's Presidential Vote in 2016

In 2016, Virginia was the only former Confederate state to vote for the Democrats in the presidential election.

2016: James Madison Dukes Football Championship

James Madison Dukes football won FCS NCAA Championships in 2016.

August 2017: White Supremacist Attack

In August 2017, a white supremacist drove his car into protesters, killing one.

2017: Increase in Drug-Related Arrests from 2008 to 2017

Between 2008 and 2017, arrests for drug-related crimes in Virginia rose 38%, with 71% related to marijuana.

2017: Belief in God

From 2013 to 2017, belief in God in the South region, of which Virginia is a part, was at 93% of respondents in Gallup surveys.

2017: State Elections of 2017

In 2017, Democrats held the three executive offices with Ralph Northam winning the race for governor. Democrats flipped fifteen of the Republicans' previous sixteen-seat majority in concurrent House of Delegates elections.

2017: NBA Arena Proposal in Virginia Beach Lost Support

In 2017, a proposed $220 million NBA arena in Virginia Beach lost the support of the city council.

2017: Registered Non-Farm Businesses Ownership

Of the 144,431 registered non-farm businesses in Virginia in 2017, 59.4% were majority male-owned, 22% were majority female-owned, 19.6% were majority minority-owned, and 8.9% were veteran-owned.

2017: Blue Ridge Rock Festival operations

The Blue Ridge Rock Festival has operated since 2017, bringing as many as 33,000 concert-goers to the Blue Ridge Amphitheater in Pittsylvania County.

2018: Virginia State Government Employee Income

As of 2018, Virginia's state government employed over 106,000 public employees with a median income of $52,401.

2018: VDOT Road Operations

As of 2018, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) owns and operates 57,867 miles of roads in the state.

2018: Newspaper Circulation

As of 2018, the most circulated native newspapers in Virginia were The Virginian-Pilot, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and The Roanoke Times.

2018: Amazon selects Crystal City for its HQ2

In 2018, Amazon selected Crystal City for its HQ2.

2018: Virginia's Incarceration and Crime Rates in 2018

In 2018, Virginia's prison system incarcerated 30,936 people, and the state had the sixteenth-highest rate of incarceration in the country. Virginia also had the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the thirteenth-lowest property crime rate in 2018.

2018: House of Delegates Control in 2018-19

In 2018, control of the House of Delegates came down to a tied election in the 94th district, which the Republican won by a drawing of lots, giving the party a slim 51–49 majority in the 2018–19 legislative sessions.

2018: Roanoke and Montgomery Population Surpasses 100,000

In western Virginia, Roanoke city and Montgomery County both surpassed a population of 100,000 since 2018.

2019: Traffic Conditions

According to the 2019 American Community Survey, traffic on Virginia's roads is among the worst in the nation.

2019: Virginia's recidivism rate in 2019

As of 2019, Virginia's recidivism rate for released felons re-convicted within three years and sentenced to a year or more was 23.1%, the lowest in the country.

2019: Expansion of Medicare in 2019

Following an expansion of Medicare in 2019, the rate of uninsured Virginians dropped to 6.4% in 2024.

2019: Google expanded their Reston offices

In 2019, Google expanded their Reston offices.

2019: Loudoun United FC Debut

In 2019, Loudoun United FC, the reserve team of D.C. United, debuted in the USL Championship.

2019: Decline in USA Today Subscriptions

In 2019, USA Today's daily subscription number declined significantly from over 500,000, but Gannett, Inc. merged with GateHouse Media.

2019: Mass Shooting in Virginia Beach

In 2019, a mass shooting occurred in Virginia Beach.

2019: VRE Ridership

In 2019, daily ridership on VRE was over 18,000.

2019: Democrats Gain Control of General Assembly in 2019

In 2019, federal courts found that eleven House district lines, including the 94th, were unconstitutionally drawn to discriminate against African Americans. Democrats won full control of the General Assembly following adjusted districts.

2019: Segregation in Public Schools and Funding in 2019

In 2019, seven percent of Virginia's public schools were rated as "intensely segregated". Also, Non-white districts average slightly more funding, $255 per student than majority white districts

2019: Virginia State Police size in 2019

In 2019, the Virginia State Police comprised 3,035 sworn and civilian members, marking it as the largest law enforcement agency in Virginia.

2019: Public Transit Trips

In 2019, there were over 171.9 million public transit trips in Virginia, with over 62% on the Washington Metro transit system.

2019: Demographic Changes Since 1980

Since 1980, the proportion of eligible voters born outside the state has increased from 44% in 1980 to 55% in 2019.

2019: Virginia Tech Hokies Bowl Streak Ends, UVA Athletics Capital One Cup Win

The Hokies football team sustained a 27-year bowl streak between 1993 and 2019, and the overall UVA men's athletics programs won the national Capital One Cup in 2019.

April 2020: COVID-19 Recession

In early April 2020, the COVID-19 recession caused jobless claims to soar over 10%.

June 2020: Removal of Confederate Statues

In June 2020, protests that were part of the larger Black Lives Matter movement brought about the removal of Confederate statues.

July 2020: Decriminalization of Marijuana in July 2020

In July 2020, Virginia decriminalized marijuana.

2020: ARDA Census

According to the 2020 ARDA census, 8.4% of Virginians attend nondenominational Christian churches.

2020: Hispanic and Asian Population

As of 2020, 10.5% of Virginia's total population described themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 8.8% as Asian.

2020: Percentage of Residents with Bachelor's Degrees in 2020

As of 2020, Virginia had the eighth-highest percentage of residents with bachelor's degrees or higher, at 41.5%.

2020: Virginia Technology Workers Statistics

As of 2020, Virginia has the third highest concentration of technology workers and the fifth highest overall number among U.S. states, with 451,268 tech jobs accounting for 11.1% of all jobs in the state.

2020: Residents Born Outside the U.S.

As of 2020, about twelve percent of Virginia's residents were born outside the United States.

2020: Virginia Commercial Fishing Job Support

As of 2020, commercial fishing supports 18,220 jobs in Virginia, while recreation fishing supports another 5,893.

2020: Homeless Individuals

As of 2020, the Hampton Roads region has the state's highest per capita number of homeless individuals, with 11 per 10,000.

2020: FM and AM Radio Stations

As of 2020, there were 595 FCC-licensed FM radio stations and 239 AM stations broadcasting in Virginia.

2020: Virginia Employers and Sole Proprietorships

Based on data as of 2020, Virginia is home to 204,131 separate employers plus 644,341 sole proprietorships.

2020: Healthiest Communities in 2020

In 2020, Falls Church and Loudoun County were ranked in the top ten healthiest communities by U.S. News & World Report.

2020: Defense personnel and contracts in Virginia

In 2020, Virginia had 125,648 active-duty personnel, 25,404 reservists, and 99,832 civilians working directly for the U.S. Department of Defense. Defense contracting firms received $44.8 billion in contracts during the 2020 fiscal year.

2020: Virginia's Voting Accessibility Ranking in 2020

In 2020, Virginia moved to the twelfth easiest state to vote from second most difficult.

2020: Non-Fuel Resources Mined

In 2020, more than 72 million tons of non-fuel resources, such as slate, kyanite, sand, or gravel, were mined in Virginia.

2020: Population Proportion

In 2020, non-Hispanic whites declined to 58.6% of the population in Virginia.

2020: Native American Population

In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau found that only 0.5% of Virginians were exclusively American Indian or Alaska Native, though 2.1% were in some combination with other ethnicities.

2020: Referendum on Redistricting in 2020

In 2020, voters passed a referendum to give control of drawing both state and congressional districts to a commission of citizens and legislators.

July 2021: Legalization of Marijuana in July 2021

In July 2021, Virginia legalized marijuana.

2021: Obesity Rates Among Adults and Youths

As of 2021, 32.2% of adults and 14.9% of 10- to 17-year-olds in Virginia were obese.

2021: Virginia's Seafood Production Ranking

As of 2021, Virginia is the country's third-largest producer of seafood.

2021: Agriculture land occupation

As of 2021, agriculture occupies 30% of the land in Virginia with 7.7 million acres of farmland.

2021: Forest Cover in Virginia

As of 2021, forests covered 62% of Virginia.

2021: Median Age

As of 2021, the median age in Virginia was the same as the national average of 38.8 years old.

2021: Virginia Real Estate Tax Rate

As of 2021, the overall median real estate tax rate in Virginia was $0.96 per $100 of assessed taxable value.

2021: Virginia K-12 Teacher Average Salary

As of the 2021–22 school year, K–12 teachers in Virginia made an annual average of $59,970, which is thirteen-lowest in the U.S. when adjusted for the state's cost of living.

2021: Glenn Youngkin's victory in 2021

In 2021, Glenn Youngkin became the first Republican to win the governor's race since 2009. His party also won the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general and gained seven seats in the House of Delegates.

2021: USA Today Subscription Numbers

In 2021, USA Today's daily subscription number declined to just over 180,000, but was still the third-most circulated paper nationwide.

2021: Voting Rights Act of Virginia Passed in 2021

In 2021, the Voting Rights Act of Virginia was passed, requiring preclearance from the state Attorney General for local election changes.

2021: Cargo Carried by Hampton Roads Seaports

In 2021, the seaports in Hampton Roads carried 61,505,700 short tons of total cargo.

2021: Free Community College in 2021

In 2021, the state made community college free for most low- and middle-income students.

2021: Public Spending on the arts in Virginia

Virginia ranks near the middle of U.S. states in terms of public spending on the arts as of 2021, at just over half of the national average.

2021: Increase of Judges in Court of Appeals

Virginia's Court of Appeals increased from 11 to 17 judges in 2021.

2022: Language Spoken at Home

According to U.S. Census data as of 2022, 83% of Virginia residents aged five and older speak English at home as a first language.

2022: Highest-Income Counties

As of 2022, eighteen of the hundred highest-income counties in the United States are located in Northern Virginia.

2022: Media Market Rankings

As of 2022, the Hampton Roads area was the 44th-largest media market in the United States, the Richmond-Petersburg area was 56th, and Roanoke-Lynchburg was 71st according to Nielsen Media Research.

2022: Student-Teacher Ratio in 2022-23

As of the 2022–23 school year, Virginia's K–7 schools had a student–teacher ratio of 12.41:1, and 12.52:1 for grades 8–12.

2022: Virginia's ranking as most visited state

Based on data from 2022, Virginia ranked as the eighth most visited state and had 745,000 international visitors, with 41% coming from Canada.

2022: Community College Enrollment in 2021-2022

During the 2021–2022 school year, Virginia's 23 community colleges enrolled 199,926 degree-seeking students.

2022: Below-Average Snowfalls

During the 2022-2023 winter season much of Virginia had no measurable snow.

2022: High School Graduation Rates in 2022

In 2022, 92.1% of high school students in Virginia graduated on-time after four years, and 91.3% of adults over the age 25 had their high school diploma.

2022: Government agencies employ Virginians

In 2022, approximately 714,100 Virginians were directly employed by government agencies, constituting almost 17% of the state's total employment.

2022: Belief in God

In 2022, belief in God in the South region, of which Virginia is a part, declined to 86% in Gallup surveys.

2022: Ranking of Thomas Jefferson High School in 2022

In 2022, the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was the top-rated high school in the country.

2022: Estimated Export Value of Computer Chips

In 2022, the estimated export value of computer chips was $740 million.

2022: University Rankings in 2022

In the 2022 U.S. News & World Report ranking of national public universities, the University of Virginia is ranked 3rd, the College of William and Mary is 13th, Virginia Tech is 23rd, George Mason University is 65th, James Madison University is 72nd, and Virginia Commonwealth University is 83rd.

2022: High School Sports Participation

In the 2022–2023 school year, 176,623 high school students participated in sports managed by the Virginia High School League.

2022: Most Profitable Single Crop in Virginia

Soybeans were the most profitable single crop in Virginia in 2022.

2022: Largest Eastern Oysters Harvest

The 2022–2023 season saw the largest harvest of eastern oysters in 35 years with around 700,000 US bushels.

2022: Average Per Capita Income

Virginia's average per capita income in 2022 was $68,211.

January 2023: Virginia Sales Tax Reduction on Groceries

In January 2023, Virginia lowered the sales tax on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, and the items covered by this lower rate were also extended to include essential personal hygiene goods.

December 2023: General Assembly Report on Mental Health Facilities

In December 2023, a report by the General Assembly found that all nine public mental health care facilities in Virginia were over 95% full, causing overcrowding and delays in admissions.

2023: Virginia Wine Harvest Excellence

A warm winter and a dry summer made the 2023 wine harvest one of the best for vineyards in the Northern Neck and along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

2023: Median Household Income

As of 2023, Virginia has a median household income of $89,931.

2023: Data centers in Virginia traffic handling

As of 2023, data centers in Virginia handled around one-third of all internet traffic and directly employed 13,500 Virginians, supporting 45,000 total jobs.

2023: Men's and Women's College Basketball Championships

As of 2023, the men's and women's college basketball programs of the Cavaliers, VCU Rams, and Old Dominion Monarchs had combined for 66 regular season conference championships and 49 conference tournament championships.

2023: Hospital Statistics and New Children's Hospital Opening

As of 2023, there were 88 hospitals in Virginia with a combined 17,024 hospital beds. Also in 2023, VCU Medical Center opened a new 16-story children's hospital.

2023: Student Enrollment in 2023-24

As of the 2023–24 academic year, 1,261,962 students were enrolled in 2,254 local and regional schools in Virginia.

2023: PRRI Survey

Catholics accounted for 16% of the population in the 2023 PRRI survey.

2023: Below-Average Snowfalls

During the 2022-2023 winter season much of Virginia had no measurable snow.

2023: George Mason University Enrollment in 2023

In 2023, George Mason University had the largest on-campus enrollment at 40,390 students.

2023: Proposal to Move Washington Wizards and Capitals Canceled

In 2023, a proposal to move the NBA's Washington Wizards and the NHL's Washington Capitals to Alexandria was canceled after opposition in the Virginia Senate.

2023: Jobless claims return to pre-pandemic level

In 2023, jobless claims due to soar over 10% in early April 2020 due to the COVID-19 recession, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

2023: Decline in Tobacco Smokers

In 2023, the percentage of tobacco smokers in Virginia had declined to 12.1%, down from 19% in 2010.

2023: Minimum Wage Increase

In 2023, the state minimum wage in Virginia increased to $12.

2023: Tourism Spending in Virginia

In 2023, tourists spent a record $33.3 billion in Virginia, a 10% increase from the previous year.

2023: High School Sports Participation

In the 2022–2023 school year, 176,623 high school students participated in sports managed by the Virginia High School League.

2023: Religious Affiliation

The 2023 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey estimated that 55% of Virginians either seldom or never attend religious services and that the percent of Virginians unaffiliated with any particular religious body had increased from 21% in 2013 to 29% in 2023.

2023: Most recent elections for Virginia Senators

The most recent elections for Virginia senators took place in 2023.

February 2024: VRE Ridership Decline

In February 2024, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) experienced a dramatic decline in ridership, dropping to 6,864 daily riders.

March 5, 2024: Super Tuesday Primary Election on March 5, 2024

Virginia held its presidential open primary election on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the same day as fourteen other states.

March 2024: Amtrak Ridership Increase

In March 2024, Amtrak routes in Virginia passed their pre-pandemic levels and served 123,658 passengers.

May 2024: Home Prices in Northern Virginia

In May 2024, median home prices in Northern Virginia were 44.8% higher than the national average, at $760,000.

2024: Youth Soccer Clubs

As of 2024, 145 youth soccer clubs operate in the Virginia Youth Soccer Association.

2024: Adolescent HPV Vaccination Rate

As of 2024, 62.9% of adolescents in Virginia have received the HPV vaccine.

2024: Latter-day Saints Congregations

As of 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 210 congregations in Virginia.

2024: Virginia Wineries Statistics

As of 2024, Virginia has the seventh-highest number of wineries in the nation, with 388 producing 1.1 million cases a year.

2024: Protected Land in Virginia

As of 2024, roughly 17.1% of land in the Commonwealth is protected by federal, state, and local governments and non-profits.

2024: Fortune 500 Companies Headquartered in Virginia

As of 2024, twenty-four Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Virginia, with the largest companies by revenue being Freddie Mac, Boeing, RTX Corporation, Performance Food Group, and Capital One.

2024: State Business Rankings

In 2024, CNBC ranked Virginia as their Top State for Business, while Oxfam America ranked Virginia as the 26th-best state to work in.

2024: Health Rankings in 2024

In 2024, Virginia was ranked best for its physical environment but 15th for overall health outcomes and 23rd for residents' healthy behaviors by the United Health Foundation.