1940: Virginia

Area and Population.

The thirty-third state of the Union in size, Virginia has an area of 42,627 sq. mi. The population, according to the census of 1940, was 2,677,773, an increase of 10.6 per cent over the census of 1930 (2,421,851). In the latter year 84 per cent of the population were recorded as born within the state, and 14.6 per cent in other states, leaving less than 2 per cent or 23,820 foreign-born. Thus Virginia has one of the largest native-born percentages in the United States. In 1930, there was a total population of 2,421,851, of which 650,165 were Negroes.

The largest cities of the state are (census of 1940): Richmond, 193,042; Norfolk, 144,332; Roanoke, 69,287; Portsmouth, 50,745; Newport News, 37,067; Lynchburg, 44,541.

Agriculture and Industry.

The crops in 1940 were fairly good, though cold weather damaged the fruit crop considerably. Tobacco brought a fair price in the several important tobacco markets of the state. Cigarette manufacture showed an increase. General business was good in 1940, and industry was at a high rate, particularly shipbuilding. The most important business deal of the year occurred in May, with the sale to a group of investment corporations of the great shipyard at Newport News, where many vessels are being constructed for the Government.

Education.

According to the latest school census there were in Virginia 735,198 persons of school age, from seven to nineteen years old. The average salary of all teachers was $940; the number of school buildings was 3,130; the total enrollment was 575,999.

Legislative and Political Matters.

Legislation was mainly routine in the 1940 session of the General Assembly. Perhaps the most interesting acts were the one granting Negroes who were denied admission to white colleges of the state, payments enabling them to obtain equal instruction elsewhere at the same cost; and that requiring a medical examination before the grant of a marriage license.

The presidential election of 1940 witnessed the formation of many Democrats-for-Willkie clubs, and a considerable increase in the Republican vote over 1936. Roosevelt carried the state, however, by an overwhelming majority, in the largest vote cast in many years.

The year saw the completion of the beautiful State Library building in Richmond.

Finance.

The entire budget for the 1940-1942 biennium was more than $80,000,000, including funds granted the state by the Federal government, as well as those raised by state taxation. The appropriations from state tax money were $26,451,787 for the first year, and $25,986,822 for the second year, exclusive of certain appropriations contingent on there being a surplus in the treasury. For the administration of unemployment compensation (exclusive of compensation payments) nearly $650,000 was appropriated for each year of the biennium; this did not include appropriations of more than $100,000 for workmen's compensation administration. For bank examination about $75,000 was appropriated for each of the two years.

State Officers.

Governor, James H. Price; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Raymond L. Jackson; Comptroller, LeRoy Hodges; Auditor, I. McCarthy Downs; Attorney General, Abram P. Staples; Superintendent of Education, Sidney B. Hall.

United States Senators:

Carter Glass, Harry Flood Byrd.