West Virginia, in Pocahontas County, was known as "The Mountain State" and was the western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863. It was settled by Germans and Scotch-Irish people and became a line of defense between the English and French during the French and Indian War, 1754-1763. Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England. It was the site of the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607, one of the 13 original colonies, and the birthplace of eight Presidents of the United States.