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WVWest Virginia Map
West Virginia on the US map
West Virginia sits in the South region of the United States — specifically the upland south subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #41 of 50, West Virginia is one of the smallest US states by total area. The map above highlights West Virginia in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where West Virginia is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of West Virginia is Charleston — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; West Virginia is one of them.
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
West Virginia shares land borders with 5 other US states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #41 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Mountain ranges: appalachians
- Time zone: Eastern
- Region: South — upland south subregion
- Appalachian range: yes
Major highways and transportation
West Virginia is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Charleston, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of West Virginia to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
West Virginia notable firsts
- West Virginia has a unique place among the 50 states — discoverable across its geography, history, and culture
🌟 West Virginia trivia
- West Virginia split from Virginia in 1863 to remain in the Union during the Civil War — making it the only state created by seceding from another state.
- The state is completely within the Appalachian Mountains — every county is mountainous.
- "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (John Denver, 1971) immortalized the state forever — even though Denver had never lived there.
- The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest single-arch steel bridge in the western hemisphere.
West Virginia vs similar states
How does West Virginia compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | Charleston | 1 to 5 million | #41 | 1863 |
| Alabama | Montgomery | 1 to 5 million | #30 | 1819 |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | 1 to 5 million | #29 | 1836 |
| Kentucky | Frankfort | 1 to 5 million | #37 | 1792 |
Bordering states (5)
West Virginia shares borders with 5 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. West Virginia appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to West Virginia
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share West Virginia's region (South) and similar size category: