As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of Virginia, which was the 10th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following New Hampshire and just ahead of New York.

Quite often, as we work the fifty states for awards and/or endorsements, we may not be aware of some of the fun facts associated with those states. This series focuses on some historical, as well as fun facts about our fifty states.

Virginia is one of only four states called a “Commonwealth”. The four US states whose legal names include the term Commonwealth are: Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. However, this term does not affect laws or life in these states today, nor did it when they were first created either.

Virginia is home to the largest “office building” in the world, better known as “The Pentagon”. The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense including all branches of our military services. The Pentagon, however, has a Washington, D.C. mailing address. The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain.

Virginians were instrumental in writing the United States Constitution. James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan in 1787 and the Bill of Rights in 1789. Virginia ratified the Constitution on June 25, 1788.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, with 17.6 miles span (shore to shore), is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex. Its official name is Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel.

Other Fun Facts about the Commonwealth of Virginia:

• Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.
• Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution.
• The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World. And it prohibits the governors from serving two consecutive terms.
• Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk Virginia, is the world’s largest naval base. For those ex-Navy GERATOLers, perhaps you spent some time in Norfolk. I recall the sign posted in the park, which read: “Sailors and Dogs, keep off the grass” I was glad my stay there was temporary (TAD baby) !!
• In some terms, Virginia can also be given the title of the “Home of the Internet.” Loudoun County hosts data centers that are responsible to cater to almost 3 quarters of the web’s traffic. The County has more than 10 million square feet of building space and more than 100 massive data centers. And there is no sign of this growth abating.
• In 1607, Jamestown–the first English colony in what would become the United States–was founded in Virginia. Jamestown was also Virginia’s first capital. The town was established on the bank of the James River.
• Bourbon, also known as American Whiskey, is often considered a Kentucky drink, but bourbon’s roots are actually Virginian; Fayette County was in Southwest Virginia, but in 1792, county lines were redrawn and the area became part of the new state of Kentucky. 
• Both wars fought on American soil, the American Revolution and the Civil War, ended in Virginia; the Civil War at Appomattox Courthouse National Historic Park, where Generals Grant and Lee would meet to sign the surrender, and the American Revolution in Yorktown, where the combined forces of the French and American armies would defeat General Cornwallis for a final victory in the war. 

• Virginia contains 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than any other state. Virginia also boasts the most photographed spot on the AT, the picturesque view from McAfee Knob. 
  

That’s it for now, hope you find some of the facts about Virginia interesting, and thanks to those Ops who put VA on the net each season !

Kevin N1KL Site Administrator

Hello fellow GERATOLers. I know many of you have posted “Comments” to several posts. We have had an issue with some of the security settings, and have discovered the COMMENTS that many of you have made, were ending up in a “pending” folder.

Al and I prefer to err on the side of site safety, and hence, keep your email accounts safe and secure from any SPAMMERS. Now that we know what the issue has been, PLEASE don’t be bashful about placing COMMENTS on any of our POSTS, and we will see to it, they get attached to the POST ASAP.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Keep those “COMMENTS” coming guys…

Kevin N1KL

As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of New Hampshire, which was the 9th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following South Carolina and just ahead of Virginia.

Quite often, as we work the fifty states for awards and/or endorsements, we may not be aware of some of the fun facts associated with those states. This series focuses on some historical, as well as fun facts about our fifty states.

As part of the New England states, New Hampshire is boarded on the west by Vermont, on the south by Massachusetts and to the east by Maine. It also has a beautiful coast line, along the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, to the far north region of N.H. it boarders Canada, province of Quebec.

New Hampshire is the 5th smallest state, in terms of physical size and is the 10th least populous. The southern part of New Hampshire, over the last 25-30 years, has been invaded by residents of Massachusetts, attempting to escape income and sale taxes in MA, drastically changing the demographics of the state.

The state motto is; “Live Free or Die” and it is proudly displayed on several state emblems, and has even been part of their automobile license plates.

New Hampshire’s nickname is “The Granite State” referring to the extensive granite formations and quarries. Another state landmark, which appeared on the commemorative “state” quarters, “The Old Man of the Mountain” was a series of five granite cliff ledges on Cannon Mountain. Sadly, the old man grew tired of his perch, and has since sloughed off the side of Cannon Mountain, and is no longer there.

Fun facts about New Hampshire:
1. New Hampshire, was named after Hampshire County in England
2. In 1776, New Hampshire became the first colony to create a constitution and declare its independence from Great Britain
3. Ground winds as high as 231 mph were recorded atop the peaks of Mt. Washington on April 12, 1934. This remained a world record until 1996.
4. New Hampshire has the shortest coastline of any U.S. state. The coastline is just 18 miles long.
5. New Hampshire is one of the thirteen original colonies. It was initially named “North Virginia,” then “New England” and finally “New Hampshire.”
6. Cornish-Windsor Bridge in New Hampshire is the longest wooden covered bridge and the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is approximately 449 feet (137 m) long and 24 feet (7 m) wide, and links NH to VT spanning over the Connecticut River.

7. A local CCC camp in Stark, N.H. was transformed into a POW camp and approximately 250 German and Austrian prisoners were held there between 1944 and 1946

8. The only FAA-approved ice runway in the lower 48 states is a stretch of New Hampshire’s Winnipesaukee’s lake water. Formerly known as the Alton Bay Seaplane Base, it was first opened to airplane traffic in 2009. The runway is 2,730 feet long and 100 feet wide.

We hope you have enjoyed some of the history and fun facts about the Granite State. Feel free to drop a “comment” regarding this post, or any of our State Information posts, and let us know what other facts you can share about our wonderful 50 states !!

73 for now, Kevin N1KL