Reasons why Virginia is a Southern state:

By Virginian Jacob R. Blandford

 

  • When Virginia was an English colony, it was not a New England Colony, or Middle Colony: it was a Southern colony—along with Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
  • Jamestown, Virginia (1607) was the first permanent settlement in America, (that great Protestant king, “Britain’s King Solomon”) King James VI & I (1566–1625 A.D.) was the founding monarch of America, who published the 1611 Authorized (King James) Version of the Holy Bible.
  • Virginia is named after Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603 A.D.) a/k/a The Virgin Queen (that great Protestant Queen “that bright occidental Star” [KJV Epistle Dedicatory]) who published the Bishops Bible of 1568.  She was King James’ “famous Predecessor” (KJV Epistle Dedicatory).
  • "Anglican (Church of England) churches in colonial America were primarily concentrated along the Atlantic seaboard, with the highest density in the Southern colonies, where it was the established, tax-supported church. Its stronghold was Virginia and Maryland, with prominent presence in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia." (Google AI)
  • Some of the first gospel missions came from Christian Virginian ministers.
  • Washington, Jefferson, & Madison were America’s first 3 Presidents—a Virginian dynasty of Christian Presidents
  • The James River marks a strong boundary for both Southside Virginia and the Bible-Belt; and of course the James River was named after King James VI & I of Scotland & England, the Commissioner of the King James 1611 Authorized Version of the Holy Bible.
  • Blue Ridge and Appalachian Virginia is considered part of the Bible-belt.
  • A large part of Virginia is south of the James River: known as Southside Virginia.  Southside Virginia is certainly a strong part of the Bible-belt especially considering it is anchored by Liberty University in Lynchburg (which is part of Southside).
  • Virginia is a big part of the Bible-belt; even to this day, especially Southside, Southwest, and Appalachia Virginia.
  • Lynchburg and Richmond are situated on the James River (named after King James).
  • Liberty University is in Lynchburg, Virginia; Liberty is probably the most prominent Christian university in the United States. Rev. Jerry Falwell (1933–2007 A.D.) was founder and Chancellor of Liberty University.  Liberty is a fundamental Baptist school.
  • The worldwide Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and Regent University (a private Christian university) are both in Virginia Beach, Virginia; founded by Evangelist Pat Robertson (1930–2023 A.D.)
  • “The U.S. Census Bureau defines the South as comprising 16 states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia”
  • Virginia is south of the Mason-Dixon line (so is Maryland & West Virginia)
  • Virginia was a Southern State part of the CSA (Confederate States of America) [1861–1865 Anno Domini] in the Civil War, and the Capital of the Confederacy was in Richmond, Virginia.  Robert E. Lee, the most famous CSA General was a Virginian.
  • The 13 Confederate States of America (1861–1865 Anno Domini)—South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri.
  • Washington D.C. the capital of the USA is actually in the South because it is south of the Mason-Dixon line.
  • Every state that borders Virginia (including Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina) are Southern states according to the US census.
  • Virginia (UVA) and Virginia Tech (VT) are part of the ACC, which historically is made up of schools in southeastern states.
  • James Madison University (JMU) [Harrisonburg, Virginia] is part of the Sun Belt Conference (along with Marshall University in West Virginia).
  • Virginia was historically a long-time conservative (Republican) political (red) state like the rest of the south until the last 20 years.  Recently Virginia elected Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin (January 2022–January 2026). But Northern VA tends to be liberal with a lot of government workers.
  • American Bible Society and Barna research recently gathered information to report on the 10 most Bible-minded cities in the United States.  2 of those cities are in Virginia.  One is the tri-cities area of Tennessee & Virginia including Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.  The other area is Roanoke and Lynchburg.
  • Dominion Energy serves Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
  • Food Lion grocery stores are mainly in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
  • Most of Virginia (especially Southside) is part of the ‘black-belt’ that runs through the South ¶ "As of 2003, the majority of Black Americans in the South live in the Black Belt in the American South from Virginia to Texas...  The Mississippi Black Belt is part of a larger region, stretching from Virginia south to the Carolinas and west through the Deep South, defined by a majority African American population and a long history of cotton production." (Wikipedia article "Deep South")
  • Most of Virginia (especially Southside) is sub-tropical climate as the rest of the Southeast ¶ And the ‘Cotton Belt’ runs through southeast Virginia where cotton is harvested. "By the middle of the 19th century, the Cotton Belt extended from Southeast Virginia to East Texas." (Wikipedia article "Cotton Belt")
  • The Southern Baptist Convention to this day has deep roots in Virginia
  • There are a good amount of palm trees in Virginia Beach
  • "The Richmond Braves were an American minor league baseball club based in Richmond, Virginia, the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta [Georgia] Braves from 1966 to 2008." (Wikipedia)
  • There are two similar Busch Gardens theme parks in the South: Tampa Bay, Florida Busch Gardens (African theme) and Williamsburg, Virginia Busch Gardens (European theme).
  • As a kid, I played Dixie Youth Baseball.
  • I’ve been a Virginian all my life.  I was born in Richmond, Virginia—which was the Capital of the Confederacy.  I graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
  • My Mom & Sister graduated from East Carolina University.
  • My Mom is from Southside VA specifically Blackstone, VA. I spent a lot of time growing up in Blackstone, VA.  Blackstone is only about 1 hour (by car) from the NC state line.
  • My grandmother Aileen Blandford was from west Texas; and my other grandmother Rachel Winn was from Oxford, NC
  • For approximately ten years or so, my parents owned a beach house in the Outer Banks, NC
  • I have lived in Harrisonburg, Virginia and Orange, Virginia.  Both cities or ‘towns’ are in the Bible-belt.  Orange was a very significant and pivotal location in the Civil War.  Orange is also the birthplace of James Madison and Elijah Craig (a Baptist missionary to Kentucky).
  • The Confederate Shop is in Harrisonburg, Virginia. www.confederateshop.com (The same city where I went to college [James Madison University].)  
  • My favorite NBA basketball teams are both in the southeastern division of the NBA Eastern Conference—the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets.  (The Washington Wizards are in the same division.)  From 2004–2014 A.D. Charlotte’s NBA team was the Bobcats; and Robert Johnson and Michael Jordan were their owners.  A funny thing is the animal named the bobcat (Lynx rufus) runs wild all through the southeast including Virginia and NC.  My Mom Mary Dianne Winn Blandford is from Blackstone, Virginia which is in Southside, Virginia and it is not far at all from the NC Stateline.  Powhatan, part of Chesterfield, Amelia, and Nottoway (the town of Blackstone is in Nottoway) counties are governed as the 72nd district of VA where we have elected delegate Lee Ware.  The roads 460, 360, 40, 46, and 85 all have connections through Blackstone.  My Grandmother Mammy Rachel Royster Winn ate lunch at Wendy’s Restaurant every day: right there is the intersection for these roads leading to NC.  Not only that, Bobcat Country Radio is located right there too!  Bobcat is 93.5FM.  My birth was announced in the Courier Record newspaper (Blackstone’s newspaper) and I spent a lot of time in Blackstone growing up there.  It was only about 45 minutes from home (Powhatan). ¶ Also, my Grandmother Rachel Royster’s family was from Oxford, NC.
  • In 2001 Petey Pablo’s “Raise Up” united VA & NC.  It was produced by Timbaland from Virginia Beach.
  • In the Ruckman Reference Bible, Bro. Ruckman exposited Noah’s curses and blessings on his three sons. (Gen. 9:18-27 KJV)  One thing Noah said was that Japheth would be enlarged and dwell in the tents of Shem. (Gen. 9:27)  Well, God’s prophetic word is on point again!  The Native Americans come from Shem and the European settlers came from Japheth.  With the tools of the Christian faith, the Holy Bible, and prayer (and the resources from his ‘enlargement’)—Japheth began to dwell in Shem’s land (America).  This was an exact fulfillment of prophecy.  Ruckman lived and preached in Florida and he said he was living in what was once “Seminole” land.  That is true.  And I’m from Virginia: I’m living in “Powhatan” Indian land.  Actually the county I live in is named Powhatan.  Seminole and Powhatan are tribes from the Southeastern America. "The Powhatan and Seminole tribes were primarily located in the southeastern United States, specifically in present-day Virginia and Florida." (Google AI)