 Virginia has the highest concentration of technology workers of any state , and the fourth @-@ highest number of technology workers after California , Texas , and New York . Computer chips became the state 's highest @-@ grossing export in 2006 , surpassing its traditional top exports of coal and tobacco combined , reaching a total export value of $ 717 million in 2015 . Northern Virginia , once considered the state 's dairy capital , now hosts software , communication technology , defense contracting companies , particularly in the Dulles Technology Corridor . 
