About this postcard
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state of the United States. It is one of four US states to bear the title of Commonwealth. It is historically associated with the Southern United States, and its capital is Richmond. Its name derives from Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533–1603), known as the ‘Virgin Queen’ because she never married. The colony of Virginia, founded on 14 May 1607, was administered by the London Company until 1624, after which it became a royal colony. It built its prosperity on plantations and the tobacco trade. Around 1770, Virginia was one of the first colonies to challenge British rule. Several Virginians played a major role in the War of Independence, foremost among them George Washington. It is known as ‘The Old Dominion’ or the ‘Mother of Presidents’, because eight US presidents were born there.