History of Virginia in Timeline

Virginia, a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic US, lies between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. It borders Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maryland. Richmond is the capital, and Virginia Beach is the most populous city. With 8.8 million residents, it's the 12th most populous and 15th most densely populated state, with over a third of its population residing in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County.

1902: Rewriting the state constitution

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

1905: Low voter turnout in Virginia beginning in 1905

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

1906: Employment-at-Will State

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

1907: Warship building

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

July 1919: Attack on homecoming parade

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

1923: Warship building

In 1923, Newport News Shipbuilding was responsible for building 38 warships for the U.S. Navy between 1907 and 1923.

1930: Seal and flag made official

In 1930, the state seal and flag of Virginia were made official.

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

The Old Time Fiddlers' Convention in Galax began in 1935 and 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: Expansion of the 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" State

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

1948: Low voter turnout in Virginia ending in 1948

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

1948: Barter Theatre wins Tony Award

In 1948, the Barter Theatre in Abingdon won the first Regional Theatre Tony Award.

1951: Student strike

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

1952: Virginia voted for Republican presidential candidates beginning in 1952

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 joined by Spottswood Robinson and Oliver Hill based on the Prince Edward County strike.

1956: Massive Resistance strategy

In 1956, the General Assembly passed a package of laws that cut off funding to local schools that desegregated, causing some to close as part of Harry F. Byrd's "massive resistance" strategy.

February 2, 1959: School Integration

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

June 1959: School system shutdown

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

1960: Decline in agriculture farms

Since 1960, agriculture has declined significantly, with twice as many farms existing then compared to later years.

1961: CIA move to Langley

In 1961, the Central Intelligence Agency moved to Langley after outgrowing their Foggy Bottom offices, due to a decision by the National Security Council.

September 1964: School reopening

In September 1964, Prince Edward County reopened and integrated its schools after being ordered to do so by the Supreme Court.

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 Civil Rights Act was passed, helping to end racial segregation in Virginia and overturn Jim Crow laws.

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 Passage

In 1965, the federal Voting Rights Act was passed, helping to end racial segregation in Virginia and overturn Jim Crow laws.

1965: Reverse Migration of Blacks

Since 1965, there has been a reverse migration of Blacks returning to the South.

1967: Loving v. Virginia

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

1968: Virginia voted for Republican presidential candidates beginning in 1968

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

1968: Constitutional Commission

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

1969: Hurricane Camille

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

1970: Shift in political support around 1970

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

1970: Voters approved seventh constitution of Virginia

In 1970, voters approved the seventh Constitution of Virginia.

July 1971: Seventh Constitution of Virginia goes into effect

In July 1971, the seventh Constitution of Virginia went into effect.

1971: New Constitution Goes Into Effect

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

1971: Jim Crow provisions removed in Virginia's 1971 constitution

Many Jim Crow provisions were removed in Virginia's 1971 constitution, but a lifetime ban on voting for felony convictions was unchanged.

1980: Increased proportion of eligible voters born outside the state in 1980

In 1980, 44% of eligible voters in Virginia were born outside the state.

1981: Official Language Statute

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

1982: Resumption of capital punishment in Virginia in 1982

In 1982, Virginia resumed capital punishment, and between then and 2021, the state executed 113 people.

1982: Mining ban

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 in the Tidewater region.

1989: Election of Douglas Wilder

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

1989: Segregation levels in Virginia's schools in 1989

In 1989, only three percent of Virginia's public schools were rated as "intensely segregated".

1990: Population Proportion of Non-Hispanic Whites

In 1990, non-Hispanic whites accounted for 76% of Virginia's population.

1992: Election of Bobby Scott

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

1992: Recognition of Appalachian Cottontail

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

1993: Virginia has had eleven U.S. House of Representatives 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: Hokies football bowl streak began

The Hokies football team sustained a 27-year bowl streak beginning in 1993.

1993: Richmond Kickers operate since

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

1995: End of prisoner parole in Virginia in 1995

Prisoner parole was ended in Virginia in 1995.

1996: Official Language Statute

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

1996: Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia Split

The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia split off from the Baptist General Association of Virginia in 1996.

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 nostalgic references to slavery.

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1998: Improvement of air quality

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

2000: Increase in Hispanic Population

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

2000: Special sessions called since 2000

Since 2000, 21 special sessions have been called in Virginia.

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: Virginia voted for Republican presidential candidates ending in 2004

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

2004: James Madison Dukes football won FCS NCAA Championship

In 2004, James Madison Dukes football won FCS NCAA Championship.

2006: Computer chips become the state's highest-grossing export

In 2006, computer chips became the state's highest-grossing export.

2007: Mass shooting at Virginia Tech

In 2007, a mass shooting at Virginia Tech led to the passage of gun control measures in 2020.

2008: Increase in drug-related arrests in Virginia beginning in 2008

Between 2008 and 2017, arrests for drug-related crimes in Virginia rose 38%, with 71% of those 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 the 2008 presidential election

Though Virginia was considered a "swing state" in the 2008 presidential election, Virginia's thirteen electoral votes were carried in that election by Democratic candidates, suggesting the state has shifted to being reliably Democratic in presidential elections.

2009: Increase in suicides

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

2009: Signature Theatre wins Tony Award

In 2009, the Signature Theatre in Arlington won a Regional Theatre Tony Award.

2009: Last Republican Governor of Virginia before 2021

In 2021, Glenn Youngkin became the first Republican to win the governor's race since 2009.

January 2010: Smoking banned in bars and restaurants

In January 2010, smoking was banned in bars and restaurants in Virginia.

2010: Census Data

According to the 2010 census, the population of the state increased by 7.9% since then, according to the 2020 census.

2010: Increase in Hispanic Population

Between 2000 and 2010, the state's Hispanic population grew by 92% , most of whom resided in Northern Virginia.

2010: Richmond Flying Squirrels began playing at The Diamond

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

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 Changes

From 2013 to 2023, the percentage of Virginians unaffiliated with any particular religious body increased from 21% to 29%.

2013: Terry McAuliffe bucked the trend in 2013

In 2013, Terry McAuliffe bucked the trend and won the election.

2013: System for including states struck down in 2013

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

2013: Negative Net Migration Rate

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

2014: Piedmont Accent 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: Virginia's government named state song

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 base for college sports programs

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: Blizzard of 2016

In January 2016, cold-air damming caused by the Appalachian Mountains led to significant snowfalls across the state, creating the state's highest recorded one-day snowfall of 36.6 inches near Bluemont.

2016: Disenfranchisement of African Americans due to prior felonies and restoration of voting rights in 2016

By 2016, up to twenty percent of African Americans in Virginia were disenfranchised because of prior felonies. Governor Terry McAuliffe ended the lifetime ban and individually restored voting rights to over 200,000 ex-felons that year. Virginia also moved from being ranked as the second most difficult state to vote in to the twelfth easiest.

2016: James Madison Dukes football won FCS NCAA Championship

In 2016, James Madison Dukes football won FCS NCAA Championship.

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

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

2016: Virginia voted for the Democrats in the 2016 presidential election

Virginia was the only former Confederate state to vote for the Democrats in the 2016 presidential elections.

August 2017: White supremacist attack on protesters

In August 2017, a white supremacist drove his car into protesters, killing one, during demonstrations related to racial injustice and Confederate monuments.

2017: Increase in drug-related arrests in Virginia ending in 2017

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

2017: Belief in God Statistics

Gallup surveys from 2013 to 2017 showed that 93% of people in the South region had belief in God.

2017: NBA arena proposal 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

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

2017: State elections and House of Delegates elections in 2017

In 2017, the state elections resulted in Democrats holding the three executive offices. Ralph Northam won the race for governor, and Democrats flipped fifteen of the Republicans' previous sixteen-seat majority in concurrent House of Delegates elections.

2017: Blue Ridge Rock Festival

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

2018: Virginia's incarceration rate and crime rates in 2018

As of 2018, Virginia's prison system incarcerated 30,936 people, with 53% being Black. The state had the sixteenth-highest rate of incarceration and the fourth-lowest violent crime rate. Virginia also had the thirteenth-lowest property crime rate in 2018.

2018: VDOT road ownership

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

2018: Amazon selects Crystal City for HQ2

In 2018, Amazon selected Crystal City for its HQ2.

2018: Newspaper subscription numbers

In 2018, The Virginian-Pilot had around 132,000 subscribers, the Richmond Times-Dispatch had 86,219, and The Roanoke Times.

2018: State government employee income

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

2018: Republican majority in the House of Delegates in 2018

In 2018, the Republican party maintained a slim 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates.

2018: Population Growth in Roanoke and Montgomery County

Since 2018, both Roanoke city and Montgomery County have surpassed a population of 100,000.

2019: Traffic congestion

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

2019: Increased proportion of eligible voters born outside the state in 2019

By 2019, 55% of eligible voters in Virginia were born outside the state.

2019: Expansion of Medicare in 2019

Following an expansion of Medicare in 2019, the rate of uninsured Virginians dropped.

2019: Gannett, Inc. merged with GateHouse Media

In 2019, Gannett, Inc., which publishes USA Today, merged with GateHouse Media.

2019: Google expands Reston offices

In 2019, Google expanded their Reston offices.

2019: Loudoun United FC debut

In 2019, Loudoun United FC debuted in the USL Championship.

2019: VRE daily ridership

In 2019, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) daily ridership was over 18,000.

2019: Mass shooting in Virginia Beach

In 2019, a mass shooting in Virginia Beach led to the passage of gun control measures in 2020.

2019: Federal court rulings and Democratic control of the General Assembly in 2019

In 2019, federal courts found that eleven House district lines were unconstitutionally drawn to discriminate against African Americans. Adjusted districts were used in the 2019 elections, when Democrats won full control of the General Assembly.

2019: Segregation levels and funding in Virginia's schools in 2019

In 2019, seven percent of Virginia's public schools were rated as "intensely segregated". Non-white districts averaged slightly more funding, $255 per student, than majority white districts. A 2019 VCU study also found that elementary schools were more segregated than state middle or high schools.

2019: Virginia State Police size in 2019

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

2019: Public transit trips

In 2019, there were over 171.9 million public transit trips in Virginia.

2019: Hokies football bowl streak ended

The Hokies football team sustained a 27-year bowl streak ending in 2019.

April 2020: Jobless Claims During COVID-19 Recession

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

June 2020: Black Lives Matter protests

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

2020: Attendance to Nondenomination Christian Churches

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

2020: Hispanic and Asian Populations

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

2020: Concentration of technology workers in Virginia

As of 2020, Virginia had 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 with bachelor's degrees or higher in 2020

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

2020: Jobs supported by commercial and recreational fishing

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

2020: Homelessness Rate in Hampton Roads

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

2020: Number of radio stations

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

2020: Number of employers in Virginia

Based on data from 2020, Virginia was home to 204,131 separate employers plus 644,341 sole proprietorships.

2020: Catholic Population

Catholics accounted for 10.3% of the population in the 2020 ARDA census.

2020: Healthiest communities ranking in 2020

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

2020: Virginia's ranking for ease of voting in 2020

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

2020: Federal procurement money spent in Virginia and Defense Personnel

In 2020, about 12% of all U.S. federal procurement money was spent in Virginia. Also in 2020, approximately 125,648 active-duty personnel, 25,404 reservists, and 99,832 civilians were employed by the U.S. Department of Defense at the Pentagon or one of 27 military bases in the state. Defense contracting firms in Virginia received $44.8 billion worth of contracts during the 2020 fiscal year.

2020: Residents Born Outside the U.S.

In 2020, approximately twelve percent of Virginia residents were born outside the United States.

2020: Mining Activity

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 of Non-Hispanic Whites

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

2020: Voters passed a referendum in 2020

In 2020, voters passed a referendum to give control of drawing both state and congressional districts to a commission of eight citizens and four legislators from each of the two major parties, rather than the legislature.

2020: Decriminalization of marijuana in Virginia in July 2020

In July 2020, Virginia decriminalized marijuana.

2020: Religious Affiliation Statistics

In the 2020 ARDA census, Evangelical Protestants made up the largest religious grouping in Virginia, with 20.3% of the state's population.

2020: Religious Congregation Attendance

The 2020 U.S. Religion Census conducted by the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) found that 55% of Virginians attend none of the state's 10,477 congregations.

2021: Adult obesity rate

As of 2021, 32.2% of adults in Virginia were obese.

2021: Virginia's seafood production ranking

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

2021: Public spending on the arts

As of 2021, Virginia ranks near the middle of U.S. states in terms of public spending on the arts.

2021: Agriculture land usage

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

2021: Forest coverage

As of 2021, forests cover 62% of Virginia.

2021: 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: Glenn Youngkin became governor in 2021

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

2021: Decline in USA Today subscriptions

In 2021, USA Today's daily subscription number declined significantly to just over 180,000.

2021: Cargo carried by Hampton Roads seaports

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

2021: Deal to purchase track from CSX

In 2021, the state finalized a deal to purchase 223 miles of track and over 350 miles of right of way from CSX for future passenger rail service.

2021: Community college made free for most low- and middle-income students in 2021

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

2021: Legalization of marijuana in Virginia in July 2021

In July 2021, Virginia legalized marijuana.

2021: K-12 teacher average salary

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

2021: Voting Rights Act of Virginia passed in 2021

The Voting Rights Act of Virginia was passed in 2021, requiring preclearance from the state Attorney General for local election changes that could result in disenfranchisement.

2021: Court of Appeals increase

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. Spanish is the next most commonly spoken language, with 7.5% of Virginia households.

2022: Liberty University enrollment in 2022

As of 2022, Liberty University had the largest total enrollment in the state, with 115,000 online and 15,800 on-campus students in Lynchburg.

2022: Highest Income Counties

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

2022: Media market rankings

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

2022: Student–teacher ratio in Virginia's schools in the 2022–23 school year

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: Belief in God Decline

Belief in God has declined in the South region from 93% in Gallup surveys from 2013 to 2017, to 86% in 2022.

2022: Below-average snowfalls

During the 2022-2023 winter season, much of Virginia had no measurable snow and saw below-average snowfalls.

2022: High school graduation rates in Virginia 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: Virginia tourist rank

In 2022, Virginia ranked as the eighth most visited state.

2022: Per Capita Income

In 2022, Virginia's average per capita income was $68,211, and the gross domestic product (GDP) was $654.5 billion.

2022: Government agencies employment

In 2022, approximately 714,100 Virginians were directly employed by government agencies, constituting almost 17% of all employees in the state.

2022: Most profitable single crop in Virginia

In 2022, soybeans were the most profitable single crop in Virginia, but the trade war with China led many farmers to plant cotton instead.

2022: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology ranked top high school in 2022

In 2022, the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was ranked as 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: U.S. News & World Report ranking of national public universities 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: Largest harvest in 35 years

The 2022–2023 season saw the largest harvest in 35 years with around 700,000 US bushels (25,000 kL).

January 2023: Sales tax on groceries lowered

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

December 2023: Mental health care facilities overcrowding

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

2023: George Mason University on-campus enrollment in 2023

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

2023: Median Household Income and Home Ownership

As of 2023, Virginia's median household income was $89,931, and 69.1% of Virginians owned their home.

2023: Data Centers in Virginia

As of 2023, data centers in Virginia occupied over 47.7 million square feet, handling around one-third of all internet traffic and directly employing 13,500 Virginians.

2023: College basketball programs championships

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

2023: Student enrollment in Virginia schools in the 2023–24 academic year

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

2023: Below-average snowfalls

During the 2022-2023 winter season, much of Virginia had no measurable snow and saw below-average snowfalls.

2023: New children's hospital opened at VCU Medical Center

In 2023, a new 16-story children's hospital was opened at VCU Medical Center.

2023: Proposal to move Washington Wizards and Washington 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: Elections

In 2023, the most recent elections for senators took place.

2023: Decline in tobacco smokers

In 2023, the percentage of tobacco smokers in Virginia declined to 12.1%.

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, supporting an estimated 224,000 jobs.

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: Catholic Percentage

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

2023: Jobless Claims Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Jobless claims caused by the COVID-19 recession in 2020, returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

2023: Religious Service Attendance

The 2023 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey estimated that 55% of Virginians either seldom or never attend religious services.

2023: Best wine harvest

The 2023 wine harvest was one of the best for vineyards in the Northern Neck and along the Blue Ridge Mountains due to a warm winter and a dry summer.

February 2024: VRE ridership decline

In February 2024, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) daily ridership dropped to 6,864.

March 5, 2024: Virginia's presidential 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 passengers served

In March 2024, Amtrak routes in Virginia served 123,658 passengers.

May 2024: Median 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 vaccine rate

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

2024: Virginia wineries

As of 2024, Virginia has 388 wineries producing 1.1 million cases a year.

2024: Protected land

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

2024: Latter-day Saints Congregations

As of 2024, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had just over one percent of the population, with 210 congregations in Virginia.

2024: Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Virginia

As of 2024, twenty-four Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Virginia, including Freddie Mac, Boeing, RTX Corporation, Performance Food Group, and Capital One.

2024: Noah Lyles won 100 meter dash at Olympics

In 2024, Noah Lyles, winner of the 100 meter dash at the Olympics, grew up in Alexandria.

2024: Health rankings and uninsured rate in 2024

In 2024, Virginia was ranked best for its physical environment in the United Health Foundation's Health Rankings. The rate of uninsured Virginians dropped to 6.4% in 2024.