Jamestown remains the capital of the Virginia colony until 1699; from 1699 until its dissolution the capital is in Williamsburg.

After declaring independence from Great Britain in 1775, before the Declaration of Independence is officially adopted, the Virginia colony becomes the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of the original thirteen states of the United States, adopting as its official slogan "The Old Dominion".

The entire modern states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, and portions of Ohio and Western Pennsylvania will later be created from the territory encompassed, or claimed by, the colony of Virginia at the time of independence.