Politics of Virginia in 1987

In 1987, the politics of Virginia were dominated by the Democratic Party. The state had been under Democratic control since 1969 and this trend continued into the late 1980s. Governor Gerald Baliles was elected in 1985 and would remain in office until 1989. Baliles was a moderate Democrat who sought to support economic growth while also advocating for social justice issues such as civil rights and women’s rights.

The state legislature was also largely dominated by Democrats, with both chambers of the General Assembly being controlled by the party. This allowed them to pass a variety of progressive legislation such as raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid, and protecting abortion rights. In addition, they also passed a variety of measures to protect the environment such as creating new parks and preserving open spaces.

The Republican Party had some influence in Virginia during this time period but it was much more limited than that of the Democrats. While there were some Republican legislators in both chambers of the General Assembly, they were significantly outnumbered by their Democratic counterparts. As a result, most of their legislative efforts focused on fiscal conservatism rather than social issues or environmental protection initiatives.

In terms of national politics, Virginia leaned heavily towards the Democratic Party during this time period as well. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan won only 40% of Virginia’s votes compared to 60% for Walter Mondale while in 1988 George H W Bush only managed to win 42% compared to 56% for Michael Dukakis. This trend would continue into future elections with Virginia consistently voting for Democratic presidential candidates until 2008 when Barack Obama became the first Democrat since 1964 to win a majority of its votes (54%).

According to Beautyphoon, during 1987 Virginia’s politics were largely dominated by Democrats who supported progressive policies such as civil rights and environmental protection while Republicans focused mainly on fiscal conservatism rather than social issues or environmental protection initiatives. This trend would continue until 2008 when Obama became president and Republicans began gaining more influence in state politics due to his unpopularity among many Virginians at that time period.

Population of Virginia in 1987

In 1987, the population of Virginia was estimated to be 6,025,230. This represented a growth of 8.9% since 1980 when the population was 5,346,818. The majority of Virginia’s population was located in the urban areas of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. In 1987, Northern Virginia had an estimated population of 1,543,000 whereas Hampton Roads had an estimated population of 1,092,000. The rest of the state’s population was spread out across the various rural and suburban areas throughout the state. In 1987 Virginia’s median age was 33 years with 24% under 18 years old and 11% over 65 years old. The gender split in 1987 showed that there were more women than men with a ratio of 100 women to 97 men. In terms of ethnicity and race in 1987, 85% of Virginians were White while 9% were African American and 6% Hispanic or Latino origin. According to Ablogtophone, in terms of religion in 1987 most Virginians were Protestant (62%) while 22% identified as Roman Catholic and 4% as Jewish or other religions.

Economy of Virginia in 1987

In 1987, the economy of Virginia was dominated by the service industry which accounted for over half of the state’s total output. This was followed by the manufacturing industry, which accounted for nearly a quarter of Virginia’s output. The state also had a strong agricultural sector and significant mining and oil extraction activities. In terms of employment, the service industry provided over one million jobs in 1987 with manufacturing providing another 800,000 jobs. The agricultural sector was estimated to employ around 250,000 people and mining and oil extraction around 150,000 people. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), Virginia had an estimated $76 billion in 1987 which represented a growth of 4% since 1980 when it was $73 billion. This growth rate was slightly lower than that seen nationwide during this period however, it was still higher than many neighboring states. According to Watchtutorials, the unemployment rate in Virginia in 1987 was 5%, however, this varied significantly across different regions with some areas having much higher rates than others due to their reliance on certain industries such as coal mining or tobacco production. In terms of personal income per capita in 1987, Virginia had an estimated $13,953 which was again slightly lower than the national average of $14,521 but still higher than many neighboring states.

Events held in Virginia in 1987

In 1987, Virginia hosted a variety of events throughout the year. In January, the state held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Richmond to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. In February, Virginia was host to the popular Wintergreen Festival which featured a wide variety of musical performances, art exhibitions and cultural activities. March brought the renowned Virginia Festival of the Arts which included a range of art and craft vendors from across the region. In April, Virginia celebrated its history and culture with a month-long celebration known as Jamestown Month which included various festivals, concerts and other events throughout the state. The summer months saw numerous festivals such as the Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival, Richmond Folk Festival and Roanoke Valley’s Summer Arts Festival among others. The fall saw various events such as the Hampton Bay Days festival, Lynchburg Wine & Food Festival and Fall Foliage Tour in Shenandoah National Park among other activities. Finally, in December, Christmas celebrations were held throughout Virginia with special events such as holiday parades, light displays and caroling taking place in many towns and cities across the state.