1. In 1848, Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise signed the "Fugitive Slave Law" which required the return of runaway enslaved people to their owners. This law was met with opposition by abolitionists in Virginia and across the country.

2. On January 24, 1865, the Battle of Lynchburg took place during the American Civil War. Union General George Custer led a cavalry division against Confederate forces commanded by General Jubal Early. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory.

3. In 1933, the State Corporation Commission was created in Virginia to regulate utilities, insurance companies, and other businesses. The commission is still active today and plays a significant role in the state's economy.

4. On January 24, 1969, an explosion occurred at the Thiokol Chemical Corporation plant in Chesapeake, Virginia. The explosion killed three workers and caused significant damage to surrounding buildings.

5. In 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in response to a winter storm that was expected to bring several inches of snow and ice to the state. The storm caused widespread power outages and disrupted travel throughout Virginia.