by
The
map
above
shows
the
state
of
Virginia’s
land
claims
over
North
America
from
1609
until
the
creation
of
West
Virginia
in
1863.
Here’s
a
little
bit
about
them:
1.
The
1609
Claim
This
map
shows
Virginia’s
earliest
colonial
charter
boundary.
At
that
time,
Virginia’s
claim
was
extremely
extensive,
theoretically
stretching
from
the
Atlantic
coast
far
inland—sometimes
described
as
“sea
to
sea.”
Under
the
charter
issued
by
King
James
I,
these
boundaries
were
loosely
defined
and
included
vast
swaths
of
land
reaching
beyond
the
Appalachian
Mountains.
2.
The
1784
Claim
By
1784,
following
the
American
Revolution,
Virginia
still
held
territory
extending
from
its
Atlantic
coastline
westward.
This
included
much
of
the
land
north
of
the
Ohio
River
(often
referred
to
as
the
Northwest
Territory).
However,
in
1784
Virginia
ceded
large
portions
of
that
land
to
the
federal
government,
shaping
the
eventual
creation
of
new
states
such
as
Ohio,
Indiana,
Illinois,
Michigan,
and
Wisconsin.
3.
The
1792
Claim
In
1792,
Kentucky
separated
from
Virginia
and
became
its
own
state.
This
reduced
Virginia’s
boundaries
to
its
core
territory
east
of
the
Allegheny
Mountains,
but
still
including
what
is
now
West
Virginia.
The
map
illustrates
Virginia’s
borders
after
Kentucky’s
admission
to
the
Union,
showing
a
more
familiar
outline
though
still
larger
than
present-day
Virginia.
4.
The
1863
Claim
The
final
map
highlights
Virginia’s
shape
after
West
Virginia
became
a
separate
state
in
1863,
during
the
Civil
War.
At
this
point,
Virginia’s
boundaries
shrank
to
roughly
the
outline
we
know
today.
West
Virginia’s
admission
as
a
new
state
significantly
altered
the
western
border,
leaving
Virginia
in
its
modern
form.
Want
to
learn
more
about
the
history
of
Virginia?
Then
have
a
look
at
these
books:
Which
version
do
you
like
best?
Go to Source
Author: Brilliant Maps
