As U.S. Route 58 winds west along the southern border of Virginia into the Blue Ridge Mountains, the road takes on another name — The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail is a 330-mile driving route through Southwest Virginia.

Dr. René Rodgers, head curator at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, spoke about Virginia’s role in the popularization of what’s now known as country music.

From fourth-generation oyster farms to award-winning distilleries, Virginia’s food and beverage trails offer a bounty for hungry travelers. Here’s how some of those businesses have benefited from being on these trails.

Tom Walker, founder and CEO of DroneUp, a provider of drone delivery and flight services discusses DroneUp’s history and growth in Virginia, and the company’s work to grow the unmanned industry in Virginia through a unique educational partnership.

Paul's Fan Company in Buchanan County was founded in 1958 as a small machine shop servicing the coal mining industry. It evolved over the years to expand its focus and, thanks to strong growth in the early 2000s, eventually purchased the Jeffrey Fans line from construction equipment giant Caterpillar. 

Virginia’s higher education system, consistently ranked as one of the best in the country, is well established as an elite talent incubator. But the Commonwealth’s universities, both public and private, also serve as a launching pad for startup companies.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has existed as a business venture since its inception in 1607. More than 400 years on, Virginia is still known as one of the best states in the country for business and is top-ranking for business climate, business friendliness, or their overall state rankings. Today, companies across industries call Virginia home. 

Virginia has been indispensable since the beginning of its existence. In addition to eight U.S. presidents, the Commonwealth was home to numerous Founding Fathers, civil rights leaders, and barrier-breaking athletes, actors, musicians and more. Read on to learn about Virginia’s contributions to history, music, sports, and the arts.

Jonathan Zur is president and CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), a nonprofit organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to promote inclusion. VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi spoke with Zur about VCIC’s mission, its activities, and the importance of pairing diversity with inclusion.

Virginia has made an impact on American history and culture in countless ways — some expected, some not. We’ve put together an alphabetical compendium of the various industries, products, and even concepts that wouldn’t be the same without the Commonwealth’s contributions. Read on to
learn more about the sometimes-surprising ways Virginia has helped make America’s economy and culture what they are today.