Former U.S. president George Washington’s hometown, Alexandria, Virginia, is a city on the western bank of the Potomac River. It’s just south of Washington, D.C., and is known for its historic Old Town neighborhood. Founded in 1749, it covers 15.3 square miles, and has a median age of 36.8 (2022). One of its largest employers is the U.S. Department of Defense.

Just a 10-minute drive across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is the city of Arlington, Virginia. Covering 26 square miles, it was founded in 1801. Its median age is 34.8 (2022). The federal government, military, and companies that directly do business with the government form the bedrock of Arlington’s economy.

The quaint city of Chesapeake is situated on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, spanning 351 square miles. Much of the area is forest, wetlands, and protected farmland. Chesapeake was founded as Norfolk County, Virginia, in 1634. Today, its median age is 36.4 (2022), and its main industries include healthcare, social services, retail, construction, and professional, scientific and technical services.

Newport News sits at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula and on the northern shore of the James River. Settled in 1691, it now covers 119.62 square miles, and has a median age of 33.8 (2022). The city’s major industries are military, shipbuilding, and aerospace.

Norfolk is a waterfront city nestled in the southeastern corner of Virginia. It’s home to Naval Station Norfolk, a naval base on Chesapeake Bay. The city was founded in 1682, and now covers 96.40 square miles. Its median age is 30.8 (2022), and its economy is mainly driven by shipping and shipbuilding.

Richmond is not only the capital of Virginia, it’s one of America’s oldest cities, filled with rich Civil War history. Incorporated in 1742, it now measures 62 square miles, and has a median age of 34.1 (2022). The city’s economy is primarily driven by law, finance, and government.

At the spot where Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean is the coastal city of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Featuring a three-mile boardwalk along the ocean, it’s a resort city with just as many miles of beaches. Founded in 1887, the city covers 497 square miles, and has a median age of 36.4 (2022). Its economy is based on tourism, military installations (Fort Story military base is here), agriculture, and manufacturing.

Located just 20 miles south of Washington, D.C., and lying on the shores of Occoquan Bay, is Woodbridge, Virginia. The beginning of Woodbridge can be traced back to the 1600s, when Capt. John Smith discovered a region of land that had been occupied by Doegs, a group of Native Americans. Natural resources were plentiful there, and European settlers arrived quickly. Today, the city covers 10.8 square miles, and has a median age of 33.8 (2022). Its economy is mostly driven by retail, construction, and public administration.