West Virginia
Mountain State · Capital: Charleston · South (Upland South)
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Bordering states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland.
About West Virginia
West Virginia lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountains, between Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland. Its mean elevation of about 1,500 feet is the highest of any state east of the Mississippi, and its lowest point, at Harpers Ferry, is 240 feet above sea level. Two panhandles give it an irregular outline. The Allegheny Front forms the Eastern Continental Divide: on its plateau side Snowshoe and Canaan Valley can pass 150 inches of snow in a strong winter, while the South Branch Potomac valley gets about 30 inches of precipitation. Spruce Knob, at 4,863 feet, is the high point.
Adena builders raised the Grave Creek Mound around 250 to 150 BC. For decades the region was western Virginia, a land of small farms rather than plantations. When Virginia voted to secede in April 1861, the western counties refused, formed a restored government at Wheeling and used it to consent to their own division. West Virginia entered the Union as the thirty-fifth state on June 20, 1863. Coal brought company towns, the Monongah explosion of 1907, which killed at least 362 men, and armed conflict that reached its height at Blair Mountain in 1921.
The 2020 census counted 1,793,716 West Virginians, 3.2 percent fewer than in 2010, and the state fell from three House seats to two. Population has drifted down since a peak just above two million in 1950. Charleston is both capital and largest city, and the motto, Montani semper liberi, means mountaineers are always free. Notable natives include the NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson of White Sulphur Springs, who checked the figures for John Glenn's 1962 orbit by hand, and the test pilot Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier in 1947.
4 fun facts about West Virginia
- West Virginia broke away from Virginia during the Civil War and joined the Union as a separate state in 1863.
- The state is completely within the Appalachian Mountains, every county is mountainous.
- "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971) made the state famous, although John Denver had never been there when it was written.
- The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest single-arch steel bridge in the western hemisphere.
More about West Virginia
West Virginia geography and climate
Famous people from West Virginia
More fun facts about West Virginia
Frequently asked questions about West Virginia
Is West Virginia a US state?
Yes, West Virginia is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1863, making it the 35th state. Its capital is Charleston and its largest city is Charleston.
What is the capital of West Virginia?
The capital of West Virginia is Charleston.
When did West Virginia become a state?
West Virginia became a US state in 1863. It is the 35th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for West Virginia?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for West Virginia is WV.
How big is West Virginia?
West Virginia ranks #41 of 50 US states by area. With 74.6 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 29th most densely populated state.
What is the population of West Virginia?
West Virginia had 1,793,716 residents at the 2020 census, the 39th largest population of the 50 states, down 3.2% since 2010. That count gives it 2 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is West Virginia in?
West Virginia is in the South region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is West Virginia in?
West Virginia observes Eastern Time.
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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