At this discussion of Virginia's geography has shown, each of Virginia's nine contemporary regions has a physical geographical base that offers opportunities for varying combinations of agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining, and recreation. The location of each region, both in relation to the rest of the state and to the larger national regions, also has an important influence on industrial and urban development.
These environmental and locational qualities interact in complex ways to influence the economic base of each Virginia region, providing a wide-ranging diversity in employment and economic activity. Overall, this diversity adds stability to the state's economy and provides the residents of Virginia with a fascinating, heterogeneous landscape.
Author's note: The information and statistics used in the article are drawn from a variety of sources, including publications of the Center for Public Service, University of Virginia; the School of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Virginia Tech; the U.S. Bureau of the Census; the Virginia Employment Commission, and the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce. Jean Gottman's texts are Megalopolis (New York: Twentieth Century Fund, 1961 and Virginia in Our Century (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1969).