One of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was the first part of
the country permanently settled by the English, who established
Jamestown on the banks of the James River in 1607. The home
state of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding
fathers, Virginia played an important role in the American
Revolution (1775-83). During the Civil War (1861-65), the city
of Richmond, Virginia, became the capital of the Confederacy,
and more than half of the conflict’s battles were fought in the
state. Today, many government institutions are headquartered in
Virginia, particularly in Arlington, located across the Potomac
River from Washington, D.C. In addition to eight presidents,
famous Virginians include singer Ella Fitzgerald, tennis star
Arthur Ashe, actress Shirley MacLaine and authors Willa Cather
and Tom Wolfe. More to Explore People and Groups George
Washington served two terms as the first U.S. president, from
1789 to 1797. Jamestown, located near present-day Williamsburg,
Virginia, was the first perm