13 Things You Didn’t Know About The History Of Virginia

In 1584, as the New World was first being "discovered", Queen Elizabeth I gave Sir Walter Raleigh free reign to colonize all new British territory, which included everything north of Florida (Spanish territory) and south Canada (French territory). So, naturally, he named it all "Virginia" after "The Virgin Queen." It wasn't until later, as the population grew, that colonies were formed for easier governance. So really, these fun facts apply to all of us, since we're all Virginians at heart.

The original Virginia Company of London, led by Captain John Smith, were wealthy gentlemen, not planters. Historians believe that they had heard stories of the Spanish conquests, many of which centered around taking gold, silver and other natural resources from Native Americans. They intended to survive by hunting, gathering and trading or taking food from local Indians while finding easy spoils in Virginia. Not the best of intentions. What they found instead was a strong Native American community led by Chief Powhatan. As it turns out, he was unwilling to give up land and resources so easily. The conflicts that followed weren't quite as easily and romantically wrapped up as "Pocahontas" makes it out.

Known as "The Starving Time," the winter of 1609-1610 was harsh in Jamestown, food was scarce and conflict with Native Americans prevented hunting and foraging. By spring, nearly 80% of the colonists had died. In 2013, archaeologists recovered part of a fractured skull and a shinbone belonging to a teenage girl from a trash deposit in the cellar of an excavated building. Saw and chop marks found on the skeleton indicate that she had been "butchered." The girl, dubbed "Jane," provides the first solid evidence of European cannibalism in the New World - and shows just how desperately the colonists clung to life that winter. It certainly reveals the chilling reality of being on a new continent completely on your own during that time.

In 1634, 8 "shires" were formed, according to English tradition. They included Accomac, Charles City, Charles River, Elizabeth City, Henrico, James City, Warwick River, and Warrosquyoke. Only later were they renamed "Counties." We don't blame you if you start looking for hobbit houses around Virginia. Who knows how far those similarities really go?

We may not have Broadway, but we set the stage for future generations. In 1716, the first public theater in the New World was built on the Palace Green in the colonial capital of Williamsburg. Even in the early days the arts were an integral part of civilized life and they were quickly established at the colonies in the New World.

With the first meeting of the Virginia General Assembly at Jamestown in July 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses became the first democratically elected legislative body in the colonies. Today, the Virginia General Assembly remains the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere. That's quite a legal history to live up to. It may not be a stretch to say that the later structure of the United States was partially inspired by this early governing body.

George Crump, the first recorded streaker in U.S. history, made his birthday suit debut at Washington College (now Washington and Lee) in 1804. Crump, a Powhatan County native, was arrested for his exposing exploit and suspended for the remainder of the semester. He went on to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates and the U.S. Congress. Go figure. Some traditions truly are as old as time, or at least as old as this country.

Established in 1610 after settlers came to Jamestown, Hampton has remained continuously settled, thriving, and speaking English – despite being burnt down during the Civil War. Just goes to show you how tough those Hampton-ers are! And as a result they have an incredibly rich history to inspire them.

"The Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds" was built in Williamsburg in 1773 as the first hospital in America specifically for treatment of the mentally ill. At the time, mental illness was determined by a jury-like group of 12 citizens who gave a verdict of "criminal, lunatic or idiot". Francis Fauquier, Royal Governor of the colony of Virginia, advocated for proper care of those with mental illness, resulting in the hospital, which has been restored in Colonial Williamsburg and is now known simply as "The Public Hospital." Who knows if that proper care was dolled out, or what that really meant at the time, but the intentions were certainly noble.

Pocahontas Island, a peninsula located on the Appomattox River in what is now Petersburg, shows evidence of prehistoric life as far back as 6500 B.C. But by the late 1700's, it had become Virginia's first free black settlement. By the start of the Civil War, Pocahontas was home to the largest free black population of the time and included several stops on the Underground Railroad. Today, Pocahontas is on the National Register of Historic Places. In a state that, like all areas of the U.S., has a mixed history, it's heartening to know that there were some more equitable spaces in Virginia's history.