Transcriber's note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
HALLOWED HERITAGE
[Illustration: decorative]
Hallowed Heritage:
T H E L I F E O F V I R G I N I A
[Illustration: publisher's mark]
_by_
DOROTHY M. TORPEY
_Head of Social Studies Department_
FRANCIS C. HAMMOND HIGH SCHOOL
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
1961
WHITTET & SHEPPERSON, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
[Illustration: decorative]
Copyright 1961 by Dorothy M. Torpey
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 60-53266
Printed by Whittet & Shepperson, Richmond, Virginia
TO
MY MOTHER AND BILL
_whose encouragement and understanding
were inspirational_
[Illustration: landing on shore]
INTRODUCTION
From the founding of the first permanent English settlement in
America at Jamestown to the present-day launching of the country's
largest ships at Hampton Roads, the name "Virginia" suggests a
geographical area which has formed the background for innumerable
local, state, national and international events. An understanding
of "The Life of Virginia"--geographical, historical, economic,
cultural and political phases of living--should result in a
better appreciation of the unique role played by Virginia in the
development and progress of the United States of America.
--D. M. T.
CONTENTS
Introduction 5
Chapter One: Geographical Life 11
_Location and Topographical Regions_
_Unique Features_
_Rivers and Lakes_
_Climate_
_Natural Resources_
_Human Resources_
_Summary_
Chapter Two: Historical Life, 1584-1775 24
_Exploration and Colonization_
_The Commonwealth and the "Golden Age"_
_The Pre-Revolutionary War Era_
_Summary_
Chapter Three: Historical Life, 1775-1860 63
_The Revolutionary War Era_
_The Adoption of the United States and State Constitutions_
_State and National Events (1789-1860)_
_Summary_
Chapter Four: Historical Life, 1860-Present 108
_The War Between the States_
_The Reconstruction Period and Its Aftermath_
_Twentieth Century Developments_
_Summary_
Chapter Five: Economic Life 150
_The Work Force_
_Types of Employment_
_Importance of Transportation_
_Summary_
Chapter Six: Cultural Life 163
_Literature_
_Art and Sculpture_
_Architecture_
_Music and Drama_
_Education_
_Summary_
Chapter Seven: Political Life 201
_Background of Present State Constitution_
_The Virginia Bill of Rights_
_Election Requirements, Offices and Procedures_
_Legislative, Executive and Judicial Departments_
_Local Governmental Units_
_Education and Public Instruction_
_Miscellaneous Provisions_
_The Amendment Process_
_State Symbolism_
_Summary_
HALLOWED HERITAGE
1
Geographical Life
_Location and Topographical Regions_
The Commonwealth of Virginia is located in the eastern part of the
United States, approximately midway between the North and the South,
and it is classified geographically as a South Atlantic State. The
shape of the state suggests an irregular triangle: the base of
the triangle, the southern boundary of the state which divides it
from North Carolina and Tennessee; the left side or western side,
dominated by the Blue Ridge, the Appalachian and the Allegheny
Mountains; and the right side or eastern side, the Coastal Plain.
Virginia is bounded on the north by West Virginia, Maryland and
the Potomac River which forms the boundary between Virginia and
Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia; on the east by
the Potomac River, Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic
Ocean; on the south by North Carolina and Tennessee; and on the west
by Kentucky and West Virginia.
The area of the state is approximately 40,815 square miles. This
area places Virginia thirty-sixth in rank in area among the States
of the Union. Approximately 2,000 square miles of this area consist
of water. The southern boundary extends approximately 450 miles from
east to west and the distance from north to south is approximately
200 miles at its widest point. The geographical center of Virginia
is at a point eleven miles south of east of the town of Amherst in
Appomattox County. The highest point is Mount Rogers located in
Smyth and Grayson Counties with an elevation of 5,719 feet. The
lowest altitude is sea level along the Atlantic Coast. The average
elevation of the state is 950 feet.
Topographically, Virginia may be conveniently divided into five
major regions:
(1) the South Atlantic Coastal Plain--As the name suggests,
this region extends along the coast from the Atlantic Ocean
to the Fall Line Zone. The Fall Line Zone refers to a section
where the streams pass from the rocky areas of the mountain
region or high land to the level area or low land; at such
points, falls or rapids develop. The Great Falls of the Potomac
in Maryland and in Virginia, the Falls of the Rappahannock at
Fredericksburg, the rapids of the James River at Richmond and
the Falls of the Appomattox at Petersburg illustrate the concept
of the Fall Line. Consequently, the so-called Fall Line extends
from Washington, D. C., through Alexandria, Fredericksburg,
Richmond, Petersburg and Emporia in Virginia. Thus, the South
Atlantic Coastal Plain region of Virginia is located along
the Atlantic seacoast from the Potomac River at Alexandria to
the North Carolina boundary line and as far west as the Fall
Line Zone. The width of this area varies from 35 miles to 120
miles. This region is also called "Tidewater" Virginia because
the level land here is so low that the ocean tides may often
be seen in the inland streams. "Tidewater" Virginia includes
five peninsulas formed by the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac,
the Rappahannock, the York and the James Rivers. These five
peninsulas are:
a. the Eastern Shore--Although most of Tidewater Virginia is
located on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, a unique
peninsula called the Eastern Shore extends southward from
Maryland and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the
Chesapeake Bay. Thus, in order to travel by land from the
mainland of eastern Virginia to the Eastern Shore, it is
necessary to travel via Maryland.
b. the Northern Neck--This peninsula lies between the Potomac
and the Rappahannock Rivers and is only 22 miles at its widest
point.
c. the Middle Peninsula--This peninsula lies between the
Rappahannock and the York Rivers.
d. the Peninsula of the Lower York-James Peninsula or the
Williamsburg Peninsula--This peninsula is located between the
York and James Rivers.
e. the Norfolk Peninsula--This peninsula is located between
the James River and the Virginia-North Carolina boundary line.
In general, the land in this region is a flat plain. The tidal
rivers mentioned previously are actually estuaries of Chesapeake
Bay and they flow periodically inland. Therefore, they are an
unusual combination of waters from the Bay itself and from the
Atlantic Ocean whose pressure pushes the tides inland. The
strong influence of geography upon occupations in this region is
exemplified by the importance of commercial fishing (especially
oysters, scallops, clams and crabs), ocean transportation (the
large area of deep water in the Chesapeake Bay encourages
ocean-going commercial ships to seek inland ports in this
region--especially around Hampton Roads), truck farming (the
clay loam soil and the sandy loam soil here provide excellent
productivity of potatoes, early vegetables, corn and hay), and
the manufacturing of fertilizer (particularly from fish and fish
scraps), bricks (an abundance of sand and gravel encourages the
making of bricks), pulpwood, railroad ties, barrel staves and
other lumber products (60% of the Tidewater area is covered with
forests).
(2) the Piedmont Plateau--This region extends from the Coastal
Plain westward to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The word
"Piedmont" literally means "at the foot of the mountain." A
plateau is defined as a high lowland; therefore, this section is
higher in elevation than the Coastal Plain region. This area is
characterized by rolling hills and many swift streams. The width
of the plateau varies from forty miles in Northern Virginia
to one hundred ninety miles in the southern part, gradually
broadening as one travels southward. The plateau rises gradually
from an elevation of 200-700 feet at the eastern end of the
plateau until, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it
reaches approximately 1500 feet near the Virginia-North Carolina
border. The Piedmont area located south of the James River is
known as the Southside. Agriculture is the chief occupation
because, in general, this land is fertile due to the presence
of limestone soils and clay deposits. Large amounts of tobacco
are grown here. The Piedmont also has a great variety of rocks,
including granite and soapstone which are currently commercially
important.
(3) the Blue Ridge and Valleys--Although the Blue Ridge
Mountains are a part of the Appalachian Range, they are,
geographically, sufficiently significant to afford them a
separate listing in a topographical description of Virginia.
The Blue Ridge Mountains, located between the Potomac and
the Roanoke Rivers, cross Virginia in a northeast-southwest
direction and are from three to twenty miles wide. The Blue
Ridge of Virginia originates at the junction of the Potomac and
the Shenandoah Rivers and continues southwestward to the North
Carolina line. From a distance the mountain ridges usually
appear to be covered with a blue haze; therefore, the term "Blue
Ridge" is believed to have originated from such an observation
in early colonial Virginia days. This region constitutes a
distinct contrast to the Piedmont area since the ridges appear
abrupt yet lofty in height: in the northern half of Virginia,
Stony Man Ridge (4,010 feet) and Hawksbill (4,049 feet); in
the central part, Peaks of Otter (Flat Top--4,001 feet and
Sharp Top--3,875 feet) and in the southwestern part, White Top
Mountain (5,520 feet) and Mount Rogers (5,719 feet), the highest
point in Virginia. In the southern part, the Blue Ridge becomes
a rugged plateau with stony land and jagged ravines unsuited for
commercial agricultural pursuits. This entire area is heavily
forested with white pine, white oak, poplar, hemlock, black
oak, yellow pine, chestnut, locust and chestnut oak trees. The
famous Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park extends one
hundred miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in
this area from Front Royal to Waynesboro.
(4) the Appalachian Ridge and Valleys--This region is located
west of the Blue Ridge and Valleys. The Appalachian Ridge
consists primarily of a narrow strip of land thirty-five
to one hundred miles wide. The Allegheny Mountains border
Virginia along the west and numerous high, narrow ridges are
found here. The Appalachian Valley in Virginia, like the Blue
Ridge, originates at the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah
Rivers. This valley extends for approximately three hundred and
fifty miles to the borderline of Tennessee. The eastern part
of this valley is often referred to as the Great Valley or the
Valley of Virginia. This valley is actually a series of valleys
separated by crosswise ridges and drained by five rivers: the
upper James, Roanoke, New, Holston and Powell. An abundance of
limestone makes the soil exceptionally fertile and productive.
In the northern part of the Valley of Virginia is the famous
Shenandoah Valley, about 150 miles long and ten to twenty miles
wide, divided in the north by the Massanutten Mountain, a high
ridge approximately forty-five miles long. There is a great
variety of soils found here, and most of them have a fair degree
of plant fertility. Corn and winter wheat are the agricultural
specialties of the Shenandoah Valley. Other valleys included in
the Valley of Virginia are the Abingdon Valley, Dublin Valley,
Fincastle Valley, Powell Valley, Roanoke Valley, New River
Valley, Holston Valley and Clinch Valley.
(5) the Appalachian Plateau--This region is located in
southwestern Virginia and is often referred to as the
Southwestern Plateau or Allegheny Plateau. It extends only a
short distance into Virginia and consists mainly of rough,
rugged terrain. Water gaps, gorges, sandstone walls, rock
formations and dense forested areas make southwestern Virginia's
scenery distinctly different and picturesque. The Cumberland
Mountains form its western boundary. Coal-mining is the chief
occupation in this region, and this is the area where the
largest and most productive coal-fields of Virginia are located.
Lumbering is also carried on extensively. In addition, some
cattle, hogs, corn and vegetables are raised here.
The combination of these five regions suggests a one-word
description of Virginia's topography, namely, diversified.
[Illustration: _Topographical Regions of Virginia_]
[Illustration: VIRGINIA STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
_Natural Tunnel_]
_Unique Features_
Each state of the United States generally has at least a few
geographical oddities or unusual geographical formations. Virginia
has been richly endowed with caverns, springs, unusual rock
formations and a dense, swampy wilderness.
The chief caverns are called Endless (near New Market), Grand (at
Grottoes), Luray (near Luray)--the largest in Virginia, Massanutten
(near Harrisonburg), Melrose (near Harrisonburg), Shenandoah (near
New Market) and Skyline (near Front Royal). These caverns are of
limestone formation and contain stalagmites (upward-projecting forms
on a cavern floor) and stalactites (downward-projecting forms from
a cavern ceiling) in diverse shapes and colors. The Blowing Cave in
Bath County received its name from the inhalation of cold air during
the winter and the expulsion of cold air during the summer.
Burning Spring is located in Wise County and is so named because of
the liquid flames which seethe through the surface of the earth in
this area from unknown sources. Crystal Spring in Roanoke received
its name from the approximately five million gallons of crystal
water per day which likewise appear from some unknown source.
The famous Natural Bridge of Virginia is considered one of the seven
natural wonders of the new world. It is located near Lexington in
Rockbridge County (the county so-named because of the existence of
the bridge of rock) and is a bridge of stone ninety feet long and
two hundred and fifteen feet high spanning a gorge cut by Cedar
Creek. So unique is this formation that Indian lore relates that
it was referred to as "the Bridge of God." In this same region, in
Patrick County, may be seen crystals in the shape of crosses in
certain rock strata. So rare is their structure and clarity that
they are often called "Fairy Stones" or "Cross Stones."
The Natural Tunnel located in Purchase Ridge near Big Stone Gap
and Bristol is a tunnel approximately nine hundred feet long, one
hundred and fifty feet wide and one hundred feet high, carved by
flowing water through solid mountain terrain. The tunnel itself
includes a reverse curve, and, at the present time, railroad tracks
and Stock Creek waters run through it.
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County, Central Virginia, is believed to
be one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River.
These falls are formed by a branch of the Tye River, the South Fork,
descending two thousand feet below in cascade formation.
The Great Falls of the Potomac, located on the boundary between
Virginia and Maryland, is one of the highest waterfalls east of the
Rockies with an elevation of ninety feet.
The Natural Chimneys located at Mt. Solon are seven large towers of
stone carved by erosion out of a mountain. These rock strata are so
straight and so symmetrical that they resemble a series of chimneys
suggesting their name. Two of the chimneys have tunnels carved
through the bases, and cedar trees appear to grow out of the rock.
The Great Dismal Swamp, approximately fifteen hundred square miles
in area, is shared by Virginia and by North Carolina. It is noted
for its dense tropical growth, its fur-bearing game (particularly,
black bear), its massive timber varieties and its disorderly plant
vegetation. Juniper trees, sometimes called red cedar, and cypress
trees are abundant around Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp.
The swamp is more easily accessible from Virginia than from North
Carolina.
In addition to the above natural wonders, there are numerous mineral
springs, canyons, mountain peaks and deep gorges. Virginia has nine
State Parks including Douthat State Park (near Clifton Forge),
Fairystone State Park (near Bassett and Martinsville), Hungry
Mother State Park (near Marion), Seashore State Park (near Cape
Henry), Staunton River State Park (near South Boston and Halifax),
Westmoreland State Park (near Montross and Fredericksburg), Claytor
Lake State Park (near Dublin and Radford), Prince Edward Lake State
Park (near Burkeville) and Pocahontas Memorial State Park (near
Richmond and Petersburg). The Breaks Interstate Park controlled by
Virginia and Kentucky has scenery so similar to the Grand Canyon
that it is often refered to as "The Grand Canyon of the South."
The Virginia area of the Breaks is located in the northern part
of Dickenson County. Virginia also has a prominent National Park,
Shenandoah National Park, established in 1935, which consists of
approximately 193,000 acres. This park includes the beautiful
Skyline Drive. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is located in
parts of Kentucky and Tennessee as well as in Virginia.
_Rivers and Lakes_
Because of the varied topography, there are many swift streams
which are available (although not yet completely utilized) for
water power. Virginia has parts of eight different river systems
within its boundaries. They are the Potomac River (including its
chief tributary, the Shenandoah), the Rappahannock River (including
its chief tributary, the Rapidan), the York River, the James River
(including its tributaries, the Chickahominy and the Appomattox),
the Meherrin, Nottoway and Blackwater Rivers (the chief tributaries
of the Chowan River in North Carolina), the Roanoke River (including
its chief tributary, the Dan), the New River and the Holston, Clinch
and Powell Rivers (the chief tributaries of the Tennessee River
System). These rivers furnish excellent waterpower and drainage.
In addition to these important rivers, Virginia has several
valuable lakes. Included among these are: Crystal Lake near Cape
Henry, Lake Drummond (the largest body of fresh water in the state,
approximately five square miles in area and twenty-two feet in
altitude) in the heart of the Dismal Swamp and in the highest part
of the Dismal Swamp, Lake Jackson near Centerville, Mountain Lake
near Blacksburg (thirty-five hundred feet above sea level and noted
for the clarity of its water), Pedlar Lake in Long Mountain Wayside
Park, Claytor Lake near Pulaski, Bear Creek Lake near Richmond,
Bedford Lake at Bedford and Prince Edward Lake in Prince Edward
State Park. Some of these lakes are noted for their fish, especially
bass and trout, while others contribute primarily to the scenic
grandeur of Virginia.
_Climate_
The climate of Virginia is classified as continental--characterized
by frequent moderate extremes in temperature and a medium length
summer growing season. Since elevation generally affects climatic
conditions, the temperature in the Piedmont Plateau and Appalachian
Ridge sections varies according to the altitude. In the Piedmont
and Appalachian areas, during the winter months the temperatures
are lower than on the plains; likewise, in the former areas,
greater seasonal contrasts occur. In general, the climate of the
entire state is mild with few extremes in temperature. The average
temperature is approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit, winter; 60
degrees Fahrenheit, spring and fall; and 80 degrees Fahrenheit,
summer. The greatest ranges of temperature occur in the Piedmont
and in the Great Valley. Snow falls very infrequently except in the
mountain areas and usually is of short duration whenever it appears.
With respect to annual precipitation, the average rainfall for
Virginia is approximately forty-five inches, with variations in
different regions. In some regions it is as high as forty-nine or
fifty inches and, in others, as low as thirty-six or thirty-seven
inches. Rainfall typically is abundant and well-distributed
throughout the year. The heaviest rainfall usually occurs, however,
during the summer. As a result of the climatic conditions of
temperature and precipitation, the growing season varies from
approximately one hundred and fifty to two hundred and ten days.
Consequently, agricultural products are well diversified.
_Natural Resources_
The economic destiny of a region is greatly influenced by its
natural resources as well as by its location. It has already been
pointed out that Virginia has a most desirable location. Virginia
also has numerous natural resources.
One resource so influential that it often shapes the economic
pattern of a state is soil. Virginia is fortunate in having numerous
types of soil: rich, black loam; light, sandy loam; clay and sand
loam; limestone and clay soils. Most of these soils are easily
adaptable to cultivation, and the use of crop rotation and of marl
(a soil neutralizer) has fostered extensive production.
Forests constitute approximately three-fifths or 60% of Virginia's
total land area. There are many hardwood and softwood varieties
in Virginia. The term, "hardwood," is sometimes a misleading one
because a few of the so-called "softwood" trees are actually hard
in substance. Hardwood trees shed their leaves annually, and they
are called deciduous trees. Since softwood trees bear cones, they
are called coniferous trees. The southern or yellow pine is the
leading softwood or coniferous tree which thrives in Virginia
because of the sandy soil of the coastal plain. Other softwoods are
red spruce, hemlock, red cedar and cypress. Hardwoods include oak,
chestnut, locust, hickory, walnut, gum, white ash, magnolia and
dogwood. Although the forests are scattered throughout the state,
the Tidewater, Piedmont and western portions of the state have the
largest forested area.
Fish are plentiful in Virginia because of the Atlantic Ocean,
the Chesapeake Bay and the numerous rivers and mountain streams.
Virginia usually ranks annually among the first ten states in the
value of its fisheries. The principal fish are oysters and clams
in Chesapeake Bay, blue crabs and shrimp in the Tidewater area,
scallops in seacoast inlets, bads, bream, perch, pike, carp, catfish
in inland waters and speckled and rainbow trout in mountain streams.
Menhaden fish, found near the surface of the water, are inedible but
are now being used for making fertilizer and oil in Virginia.
The amount of waterpower is above average in Virginia due to many
swift streams and rivers and the high elevation. This resource
combined with an ample supply of steam coal has resulted in the
production of electric power in Virginia at a much cheaper rate than
in many other states. Furthermore, it is estimated that Virginia
industry at the present time is using only approximately 10 per cent
of its available waterpower supply.
With respect to minerals, approximately one hundred and fifty kinds
have been found in Virginia, and approximately forty have been mined
and quarried recently. However, Virginia ranks nineteenth in United
States mineral production and provides approximately 1.25% of the
total United States mineral value.
The most valuable and most abundant mineral resource found in
Virginia is coal. There are four types: bituminous (soft),
anthracite (hard), semi-bituminous and semi-anthracite. The
bituminous coal far surpasses the other types in quantity. The
coal supply is found primarily in three areas: (1) the Piedmont
region--the Richmond Basin and the Farmville area--bituminous;
(2) the west side of the Great Valley of Virginia--anthracite and
semi-anthracite and (3) the Southwestern Plateau--bituminous and
semi-bituminous. The first coal to be mined in the United States was
located near Richmond in 1745. At the present time, Virginia ranks
sixth in the United States coal production and is believed to have
more coal seams now available than any other mining district in the
United States. Coal is mined most frequently in Buchanan, Wise and
Dickenson Counties.
* * * * *
Various types of stone resources rank second in financial value of
minerals. These include:
Calcareous marl (an earthy deposit containing usually lime, clay
and sand)--in the Tidewater section--used as a soil neutralizer
Cement rock--limestone, marl, shale and clay--in the
Coastal Plain and in Augusta, Botetourt, Norfolk and Warren
Counties--used in forming portland cement and masonry cement
Dolomite (a brittle calcium magnesium carbonate)--in the Valley
west of the Blue Ridge Mountains--used as a source of magnesium,
for the manufacture of refractories, for building and crushed
stone
Granite--in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge provinces--used for
building monumental stone, crushed stone and paving blocks
Greenstone (a dark-green crystalline rock)--in Lynchburg and in
the Piedmont area--used for crushed stone and one particular
type is used for ornamental stone
Limestone--west of the Blue Ridge, in the Appalachian Valley and
in the far west of the state--used in the production of lime and
for manufacturing chemicals, for cement, as a soil conditioner,
for crushed stone and rock wool insulation
Marble--in Rockingham, Rockbridge, Scott and Giles
Counties--used extensively for monumental stone: jet black,
green, white, red, reddish-brown, blue, gray, blue-gray, pink
and variegated (different colors within one type); the pink
marble is similar to the Tennessee marble and is found primarily
in Smyth County
Shale (a fragile rock resembling slate)--in the Valley--used in
the manufacture of bricks, portland cement and rock wool
Sandstone--Oriskany sandstone in Frederick and in Rockingham
Counties--chief source for the manufacture of all glass
Slate--in Piedmont or eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
in Albemarle and Buckingham Counties--used chiefly for roofs,
baseboards, blackboards, switchboards, sidewalks, flagstones and
asphalt shingles
There are several miscellaneous minerals which, when combined,
rank third in financial value of minerals in the state. These
miscellaneous minerals include:
Aplite--among Piedmont crystalline rocks along the Piney
River in Amherst County--used in the ceramic and glass
industry--Virginia ranks first in quantity and in value
Bauxite--in Augusta County--used for manufacturing aluminum,
chemicals and abrasives
Gypsum--in Smyth and Washington Counties--used primarily for the
manufacture of cement, plaster of paris, wallboards, fillers and
chalk
Iron ore--in central and southwestern parts of the state--used
in furnaces for the extraction of the metal itself
Kyanite--in Buckingham, Charlotte and Prince Edward
Counties--used in the manufacture of high-temperature
refractories, used by metallurgical and glass industries, for
insulators, for spark plugs, porcelains, boiler furnaces and in
the ceramics industry--Virginia ranks first in quantity and in
value
Manganese--in central and southwestern parts of the state--in
Augusta, Bland, Smyth, Giles and Wythe Counties--used in the
manufacture of steel, dry batteries, chemicals, ceramics,
fertilizer, drier in varnish and printer's ink
Petroleum--in Lee and Scott Counties--used primarily for fuel
Salt--in southwest--in Smyth and Washington Counties--used
in the manufacture of various industrial chemicals and for
specialized used in food, clay, dye, glass and paper industries;
the brine used in manufacturing chlorine and soda ash
Soapstone--in Albemarle, Franklin and Nelson Counties--used
for the manufacture of switchboards, electric insulators,
insecticides (ground soapstone) and for industrial and research
laboratories
Talc--in Fairfax and in Franklin Counties--used as paint
extender and as pigment, paper and rubber filler, ceramic
products, lubricant, dusting material and abrasives
Titanium concentrates--in Nelson, Hanover and Amherst
Counties--these minerals consist of ilmenite (used chiefly in
the manufacture of pigments and to a slight extent in making
steel) and rutile (used mainly for coating on electrical welding
rods); titanium is used for increasing the hardness, strength
and durability of steel and is sometimes used in making pottery,
china and stainless steel--Virginia ranks third in titanium
concentrates
Sand and gravel, used primarily for roadbuilding and general
construction projects, rank fourth in value. Most of the sand and
gravel is located along the Coastal Plain, especially in Henrico,
Chesterfield, Prince George and Princess Anne Counties. Sand and
gravel are also used for "fill," for engine sands, railroad ballast
and glass. Clay (excluding that type used in the manufacture
of pottery) ranks fifth in financial value. Clay deposits are
widespread throughout Virginia--especially in Botetourt,
Buckingham, Chesterfield, Henrico and Prince William Counties--and
vary from red to light-colored to white. They are used chiefly for
brick and tile construction.
With respect to metals, Virginia mines the following:
Barite--widespread deposits--used in the preparation of oil well
drilling, muds, chemicals
Diatomite--Tidewater section--an earthy material used as an
insulator, as a filter medium for oils, in sugar refining
Feldspar--widespread deposits--chiefly in Amelia, Bedford and
Prince Edward Counties--used chiefly in the ceramics industry
for making pottery and in the manufacture of glass, enamelware,
enamel brick, and as an abrasive in soaps and cleansers
Gold--northeast Piedmont and Blue Ridge Plateau--little gold
at present but the best developed gold deposits are located
in Fauquier, Buckingham, Culpeper, Goochland, Louisa, Orange,
Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties--chief uses of gold include
as a bullion for backing of United States currency, in the
manufacture of jewelry, in the process of gilding, lettering,
plating, and in the chemical industry
Lead and Zinc--lead: in Albemarle, Spotsylvania, Louise and
Wythe Counties--used in the manufacture of paint, in storage
batteries, cable covering and as an alloy; zinc: in Scott,
Wythe, Rockingham and Spotsylvania Counties--used for producing
metallic zinc, for galvanizing and (when alloyed with copper)
for making brass
Mica--among the crystalline rocks of the Piedmont
Provinces--white mica called muscovite is used chiefly for
electric insulation, for coating wallpaper, for roofing paper,
in lubricants and in heat-resistant windows; sheet mica is used
in electronic equipment--in Amelia, Bedford, and Henrico Counties
Natural gas--in Buchanan and Dickenson Counties--used for fuel
and power
Pyrite--widespread deposits, particularly in Carroll
County--used for its sulphur content in the manufacture of
sulfuric acid--Virginia ranks second in quantity
Tungsten--in Mecklenburg County--used for making high-speed tool
steel and munitions
Wool-rock--in the Valley of Virginia and the Ridge
provinces--used for the manufacture of rock wool for heat and
sound insulation
As civilization progresses and new inventions are created, the
demand for natural resources will increase. As new processing
methods are devised, Virginia will undoubtedly increase the
development of such resources.
_Human Resources_
The natural resources of a state assume a comparatively minor role
unless there are human resources to develop and to utilize them. The
present population of Virginia is approximately 3,900,000 people.
This figure represents a gain of approximately 17% in the last
decade. Virginia now ranks sixteenth in population among the fifty
states of the United States. Of this total population, approximately
40% in 1960 lived in incorporated localities having a population
of 25,000 or more, an increase of approximately 4% over 1950;
approximately 78% are white and 22% are non-white. Of the non-white
population, approximately 21% are Negroes and the remainder consists
primarily of Indians, Chinese and Japanese. Most of the survivors of
the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indians now live on reservations in King
William County and the Chickahominy Indians in New Kent and Charles
City Counties. Of the white population in Virginia, only 1.03% is
foreign-born.
Density of population refers to the average number of people per
square mile in a state. Density is found by dividing the total
population of a state by the total land area of the state. The
density of population in 1960 was 96. The counties of Fairfax
(southwest of, and adjacent to, Arlington County) and of Henrico
(adjacent to Richmond) more than doubled their population from 1950
to 1960.
From 1880 to 1930, while the population was increasing rapidly in
most states of the United States, it was increasing very slowly
in Virginia--only a 5% increase. During this period, there was
a large migration from Virginia to other regions of the United
States, primarily to seek better employment opportunities. Of
this emigration, 65% consisted of non-whites. This emigration
practically ceased during the 1930's. During the Great Depression,
agricultural workers who had made up the large proportion of the
previous emigration realized the futility of migrating to urban
areas beyond the state, already overcrowded with unemployed people.
Although manufacturing activities in the nation declined during this
period, in Virginia such activities increased, causing the number
of employees in manufacturing to increase in Virginia. At the same
time, governmental activities within Virginia and in areas adjacent
to Virginia greatly expanded, thus affording more opportunities for
additional employment in Virginia than in many other states of the
Union during this time.
In the 1940's Virginia had a percentage rate of population growth
of 23.9%, the highest percentage rate since the first census of
1790. This growth was partly a result of a high birth rate, a low
death rate and the greatest net immigration of people in Virginia's
history since the colonial period. Approximately 216,900 persons
became residents of Virginia during this decade. At the same time,
there was a high rate of development of employment opportunities
in Virginia as manufacturing, mining, tourist trade, wholesale and
retail trades and service industries expanded rapidly. The chief
factor, however, in the immigration increase was the widespread
increase of federal government employment, civilian and military.
The total population of the state increased by 18% during the
decade 1950-1960. However, during the same decade, Virginia changed
in population rank from the fifteenth place among the forty-eight
states to the sixteenth place among the fifty states. The ten most
populated cities in Virginia are Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News,
Portsmouth, Roanoke, Alexandria, Hampton, Lynchburg, Danville and
Petersburg. During the past decade, the population of three cities
has been materially increased through annexation. In 1952, Hampton,
Phoebus and Elizabeth City County consolidated into the first class
city of Hampton. In the same year, Warwick County became a city
also. In 1955, Norfolk became the largest city in population in
the state when it annexed the Tanners Creek Magisterial District
of Norfolk County. In 1958, the cities of Warwick and Newport News
were officially consolidated into the one large city of Newport News
which now ranks third in population.
S U M M A R Y
Since Virginia borders the Atlantic Ocean and is located almost
halfway between the northern and southern boundaries of the United
States, it has a very favorable geographical location. An abundance
of mountain and plain areas, rivers and lakes, a moderate climate
and the presence of varying altitudes from sea level to 5,719 feet
furnishes Virginia with five distinct topographical regions and
much scenic beauty. Several unique geographical features found in
Virginia such as Burning Spring, Natural Bridge, Natural Tunnel,
Crabtree Falls, Natural Chimneys, several caverns and the nine state
parks, in addition to the well-known Shenandoah National Park,
help to make Virginia a most desirable tourist area. A variety of
natural resources such as soil, forests, fish, waterpower, coal,
miscellaneous minerals and metals promote numerous occupations
within the boundaries of Virginia. Ranking thirty-sixth in area
and sixteenth in population among the states of the United States,
Virginia has an attractive environmental location with a large
diversity of skills among its inhabitants. Thus, Virginia is
well-endowed geographically and has many potential resources for
future progress.
2
Historical Life: 1584-1775
_Exploration and Colonization_
Through the efforts of John Cabot who explored the coast of North
America in 1497, according to a patent granted to him by King
Henry VII, England had a substantial claim to New World territory.
Attempts at founding an English colony in America, however, were
not made until 1583 when Sir Humphrey Gilbert received permission
from Queen Elizabeth to settle a colony in the area now known as
Newfoundland. This attempt was unsuccessful and Sir Humphrey Gilbert
and his colleagues drowned during a storm at sea on their return
voyage. Nevertheless, Gilbert had selected a site for a colony and
had claimed the island for England. The proprietary patent which
Gilbert had received from Queen Elizabeth was renewed and passed to
his half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh.
In 1584, the name "Virginia" was given to the area of land claimed
by John Cabot, an area extending from Roanoke Island 600 miles in
an arc formation. Some historians state that Raleigh himself named
the area "Virginia" in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen,
while others indicate that Queen Elizabeth herself named it in her
own honor. From 1584 to 1591, Raleigh made numerous attempts with
the use of his personal fortune to establish an English colony on
Roanoke Island--located off what is now known as the North Carolina
coast--but his efforts were futile and the so-called "Lost Colony"
resulted. In 1587, after Raleigh's second group of colonists had
arrived at Roanoke Island (the first group having returned to
England after unsurmountable difficulties had beset them), they
established a settlement there. This was the settlement where the
first child of English parents was born in America. Her name was
Virginia Dare (named in honor of her birthplace) and she was the
granddaughter of John White, Governor of the settlement. When the
colonists' provisions became low, Governor White returned to England
for additional ones. Four years passed before he returned to the
settlement because of the War between England and Spain, and upon
his return, he found no settlers on the island. Various areas and
locations were searched in vain and only one possible clue was ever
found: the letters, "CROATAN," carved on a tree. These letters
spelled the name of an island which had been inhabited by friendly
Indians of the same name. Thus, the "Lost Colony" remains an
historical mystery which has never been solved.
The many sincere efforts on the part of Sir Walter Raleigh plus the
vast sums of money which he spent for these colonization attempts
convinced the English people that colonization was too complicated
an activity for individuals to pursue alone. Since the English
government did not desire to undertake these settlement projects,
charters were issued by King James I to stock and joint-stock
companies. Under this system, each stockholder bought a certain
number of shares. If the company succeeded, each stockholder earned
a profit based upon the number of shares he owned. On April 10,
1606, the Virginia Charter was granted under which two companies
were incorporated: the London Company consisting mainly of men
from London and the Plymouth Company consisting mainly of men from
Plymouth and neighboring towns. The charter granted them the right
to settle in the area in that part of the American coast known as
"Virginia" between 30 and 45 degrees north latitude and as far
inland as 100 miles. The London Company was granted for settlement
the coast between 34 and 41 degrees north latitude and fifty miles
north and south of the point of settlement; the Plymouth Company was
granted the coast between 38 and 45 degrees north. The overlapping
area between 38 and 41 degrees could be settled by either company
as long as the company did not colonize within 100 miles of a
settlement established by the other. The charter also guaranteed
the colonists and their descendants all rights, privileges and
franchises enjoyed by Englishmen living in England at this time.
The government of the colony established by the Virginia Charter was
to consist of a Superior Council of thirteen members in England and
a Resident or Inferior Council in the colony itself, with complete
administrative powers and political control reserved for the King.
Each landholder was required to pay an annual quitrent to the Crown
and was forbidden to carry on trade with any foreign country without
a license. Before the charter was signed, in order to encourage a
large number of stockholders, the London Company agreed to make each
subscriber to its stock who paid twelve pounds and ten shillings the
"lord of 200 acres of land" which would be owned by "him and his
heirs forever." Consequently, the company raised sufficient money
to finance a colonizing expedition, and, shortly after the charter
had been signed officially by the King, the company sent its first
emigrants on the way.
The settlements of the Plymouth Company were unsuccessful. The
London Company had six hundred fifty-nine members, many of whom
were knights, aristocrats and gentlemen of learning as well as the
usual merchant and middle class citizens. In general, there were two
groups of stockholders: the adventurers who purchased the stock but
remained in England, and the planters who personally established
the colony and then lived in it. Although the company was primarily
organized for profit making, it was also expected to help the mother
country, England, by supplying her with products which she herself
could not produce. Some of the colonists sincerely desired to
acquaint and convert the Indians to Christianity. The leader of the
London Company organization was Bartholomew Gosnold and his chief
associates were Edward Maria Wingfield, a rich merchant, Robert
Hunt, a clergyman, George Percy, a poet and scholar, and John Smith,
a versatile individual.
On December 6, 1606, the London Company dispatched three ships from
Blackwell, London, England: the Sarah Constant (or Susan Constant),
captained by Sir Christopher Newport, the Admiral of the fleet; the
Goodspeed (or Godspeed), captained by Bartholomew Gosnold; and the
Discovery (or Discoverer), captained by John Ratcliffe. These ships
carried one hundred twenty passengers, men and boys, only sixteen
of whom died on the long journey to Virginia. This is a very small
number lost when one considers the size and type of ships used, the
extremely long voyage which lasted approximately four months, over
the Atlantic Ocean at its greatest width, the lack of proper food
and drinking water and the severe storm which the fleet encountered
off the Florida coast. This storm blew them off their intended
course to two capes which appeared guarding a huge bay. The settlers
sighted these capes on Sunday, May 6, 1607 and named them Cape Henry
for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of James I, and Cape Charles
for Charles, the Duke of York, another son of James I. The bay was
Chesapeake Bay, so-named by the Indians. They sailed up a river
tributary, called Powhatan by the Indians, to the bay and then to a
peninsula located about fifty miles above its mouth. This site is
believed to have been chosen because the water was deep enough to
allow the ships to dock close to the shore and because a peninsula
could be comparatively easily defended against Indian attacks.
Here the settlers landed on May 24, 1607 and established the first
permanent English settlement in America. They called the settlement
Jamestown in honor of their King, James I, and called the river on
which they had traveled the James River. There, the minister, Parson
Robert Hunt, standing under a ship's canvas sail stretched between
four trees, led a thanksgiving service to God on behalf of all
the passengers for their safe arrival in America. He also had the
privilege of celebrating the first Holy Communion in America. Thus,
the settlement of Jamestown became the "Cradle of the Republic"
because it was the birthplace of the area now known as the United
States as well as of the State of Virginia.
The colonists had been given sealed written instructions concerning
their local governmental leaders, and these instructions were
not to be opened until the ships reached Virginia. The council
members had no power to make laws but were appointed to see that
the laws approved by the King were enforced. Since John Smith had
shown strong leadership qualities, had frequently criticized the
management of the ships, and had exerted much influence on the
voyage to America, he had aroused jealousy on the part of some of
the other voyagers. As a result, the accusation was made that he was
desirous of becoming the King of Virginia. Fearing that he might
assume too much political power, his cohorts arrested him upon the
pretense of treason and mutiny and imprisoned him on shipboard until
the end of the journey. When the unsealed instructions were read,
the first Resident Council consisted of Bartholomew Gosnold, George
Kendall, John Martin, Christopher Newport, John Ratcliffe, John
Smith and Edward Maria Wingfield, president of the first council.
John Smith was later charged with sedition, acquitted, and finally
restored to his rightful council position.
In addition to naming the members of the Resident Council, the
written instructions for the colonists provided that all the
colonists should work for a "common store." This rule resulted in
a great hardship because some of the physically able and capable
colonists left the tasks of planting, building, and performing of
additional necessary duties to others. Some of the colonists were
gentlemen by profession, unaccustomed to hard physical labor, and
interested mostly in finding gold or attaining a quick fortune and
then returning to England. A majority of the colonists, however,
worked hard and, after building a fort for protection, continued
to construct a storehouse, a church and log huts for residences.
The morale of the colonists became very low when the food supplies
became scanty; diseases of fever and dysentery appeared due to the
humid, marshy, mosquito-laden land area; and Indian attacks became
common. With arrows tipped with deer's horn and with sharp stones,
the Indians had shot at the colonists, severely injuring Captain
Gabriel Archer and one of the sailors. However, the first large
organized Indian attack occurred in the latter part of May when two
hundred Indians attacked the settlers. They were finally driven back
through the efforts of the colonists under the leadership of Captain
Edward Maria Wingfield.