Virginia, officially the
Commonwealth of Virginia, is a
U.S. state located in the
South Atlantic region of the
United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the
eight U.S. presidents born there. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the
Blue Ridge Mountains and the
Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the
Commonwealth is
Richmond;
Virginia Beach is the most populous city and
Fairfax County the most populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's population is over eight million.