The State Flag of Virginia
 
The State Flag of Virginia bears the Great Seal of the Commonwealth on a field of blue. The seal depicts the goddess "Virtus." She is dressed as an Amazon, armed with a spear and sword, and stands over a defeated despot. The seal displays the State Motto,"Sic Semper Tyrannis," which is Latin for, "Thus Always to Tyrants."
 
 

Location, Size and Extent

Virginia is located on the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. It is the fourth largest of the South Atlantic States and thirty-sixth in size among the 50 states. The total area of Virginia is 40,767 square miles (105,586 square kms). It extends 440 miles east to west. (470 miles point to point) and 200 miles north to south.

Topography
Three Physiographic Areas:

Atlantic Coastal Plain or Tidewater
Piedmont Plateau
Appalachian chain
Highest Peak:  Mt. Rogers, 5,729 feet (1,746 m)

Major Rivers:

Tidewater-Potomac
Rappahannock
York
James
New River
 Unique Landforms
The Natural Bridge
The Natural Tunnel
Luray Caverns
 The Natural Bridge, located 45 miles south of Staunton, Virginia, is one of the state's-- and the world's -- most interesting landforms.
 

Climate
A mild to humid coastal climate is characteristic of Virginia.

Record high temperature:  110 degrees F (43 C) at Columbia on July 5, 1954.

Record low temperature:   -29 degrees F (36 C) at Monterey on Feb. 10, 1899.

Average July temperature:   75 degrees F (24 C).

Average January temperature:   36 degrees F (2 C).

Average yearly precipitation:   43 inches (109 cm).
 

Flora & Fauna
This is a short list of trees and animals that are native to Virginia:

Trees
12 varieties of oak
5 of pine
2 of walnut
Locust, gum, maple, ash and poplar
 Indigenous Mammals
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Bobcat
Woodchuck or Groundhog
Raccoon
Opossum
Muskrat
Skunk
 

For more information about Virginia's trees and forests check out the Virginia Department of Forestry.

For more information on wildlife, contact The Wildlife Center of Virginia.
 

Population

Virginia ranks as the 12th most populous state in the U.S.
Virginia's population reached 6,187,358, in 1990, a 15% increase since 1980.
According to projection, the population by 1995 reached 6,580,000.
The population density is 156.3 per square mile (60 per square km).
In 1990, 72.5% of all Virginians lived in metropolitan areas.
Virginias Most Populous Cities
 

Virginia Beach 343,069
Norfolk 261,229
Richmond 203,056
Arlington 170,936
Newport News 170,045
Chesapeake 152,000
Portsmouth 103,907
Roanoke   96,397

This information is based on 1990 census information. For more information contact the Census Bureau.