1941: Virginia

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, Virginia ranks 33rd in size among the states, with an area of 40,815 sq. mi., including 916 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census in 1940. In population it ranks 19th, numbering 2,677,773 according to the 1940 census. The largest cities are Richmond, the capital, 193,042; Norfolk, 144,332; Roanoke, 69,287; Portsmouth, 50,745; Lynchburg, 44,451; and Newport News, 37,067.

These figures do not include the floating population which, at the present time, is very large in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. The last-named city probably had a population at the beginning of 1942 of at least 50,000.

There are six state parks in Virginia: Douthat, Hungry Mother, and Fairystone in the mountains; Staunton River in the Southside, and Westmoreland and Seashore on bathing beaches. Virginia also contains the great Shenandoah National Park, including the Skyline Drive along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as military parks at Manassas, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Petersburg, and Appomattox.

Education.

The total school population for the session of 1940-41 was 712,081, practically no change over the previous school year. The total value of school property was $90,026,428. The total enrollment was 593,287, with a total attendance of 483,095. The number of school buildings was 4,568, a reduction from the previous year due to consolidations. The per capita cost of education was $47,22. There were 17,971 teachers in the schools. The total cost of public-school education, including capital outlay, was $29,491,522. Of this amount the operating costs came to $24,698,831.

Political and Other Events.

In the election of November 1941, Colgate W. Darden, of Norfolk, was elected Governor, and William M. Tuck, of South Boston, Lieutenant Governor. Their term of office runs from January 1942 to January 1946.

The principal developments in Virginia in 1941 were in connection with national defense, in which the state participated largely. A great powder plant has been erected in Radford by the Hercules Powder Company. About half of Caroline County, lying on the Rappahannock River, was purchased by the Federal Government to form the A. P. Hill Military Reservation, where thousands of soldiers are trained in field maneuvers. Camp Lee, at Petersburg, a training camp in 1917-18, was revived. In 1941 all of eastern Virginia swarmed with men in uniform. Fort Story near Norfolk was greatly enlarged. The navy yard at Portsmouth was busy constructing warships. The ship-building plant at Newport News was purchased by a syndicate, and employed thousands of men in building naval and commercial craft. The bustling activity in eastern Virginia is greater than ever before.

Virginia was a sharer in the widespread drought of 1941. Owing to the lack of rainfall — many inches below normal — farming operations were considerably handicapped and agricultural production fell off. At the same time industrial production, due in part to the defense program, was greatly enlarged. This was particularly true of the chemical industry. In many respects 1941 was a year of prosperity for Virginia.

An event of interest was the celebration in August 1941 of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of King and Queen County.

State Officers.

Governor, Colgate W. Darden; Lieutenant Governor, William M. Tuck; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Raymond L. Jackson; Attorney General, Abram P. Staples; Comptroller, LeRoy Hodges.

United States Senators:

Carter Glass, Harry F. Byrd.