When the United States of America was founded 250 years ago, Virginia claimed land far beyond its present borders — as far north as the Great Lakes and west to the Mississippi River.

Virginia said its domain included what is now Michigan, Wisconsin and five other states as well as swaths of Pennsylvania and Minnesota — an area bigger than current-day California and Texas combined. If those boundaries were in effect today, Virginia would encompass Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, East St. Louis and part of Minneapolis and share a border with Canada. … [My article for Cardinal News]