People have lived on the land of West Virginia for thousands of years. Early cultures include Paleo-Native American, Adena, and Hopewell peoples. Some of the early people built large mounds for religious purposes, which can still be seen today. The Appalachian Mountains and the mountains of West Virginia have shaped the history of this country.
Information about West Virginia State:
| Capital | Charleston |
| Population | 1,793,755 (Source: 2022 U.S. Census) |
| Major Cities | Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Morgantown, Wheeling |
| Borders | Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $95,588.4 million (2022 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis) |
| Key Industries | Coal mining, logging, natural gas, tourism, chemicals, and biotechnology |
Flag of West Virginia State:
Native Americans
Before the arrival of Europeans, the area was inhabited by Native American tribes. These tribes included the Shawnee, Cherokee, and Iroquois.
The Shawnee were the dominant tribe when Europeans first arrived. They lived in domed houses called wigwams. For food, they hunted all kinds of game: deer, bears, rabbits, bison, geese. They also grew corn, sunflowers and pumpkins. The Shawnee were expelled from the area by the Northern Iroquois in the late 1500s.
Europeans Arrive
West Virginia was originally part of the Virginia Colony established by the British in 1606. The Jamestown settlement he founded in 1607, soon people began to settle in eastern Virginia. However, West Virginia was once considered a frontier. In the last he 16th century, explorers entered this country and began to map the territory.
West Virginia State Symbols
- West Virginia State Nickname: Mountain State
- West Virginia State Slogan: Open for Business; (formerly) Wild and Wonderful; also on its license plate as Wild, Wonderful; (formerly) Almost Heaven
- West Virginia State Motto: Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)
- West Virginia State flower: Rhododendron
- West Virginia State bird: Cardinal
- West Virginia State fish: Brook Trout
- West Virginia State tree: Sugar Maple
- West Virginia State mammal: Black bear
- West Virginia State foods: NA
Early Settlers
Settlers began arriving in his 18th century. Many of these early settlers were of German descent and came from northern Pennsylvania in search of new lands. In 1726 they founded the settlement of Numecklenburg. In 1762, it became West Virginia’s oldest town, Shepherdstown. These early settlers had to contend with hostile Native Americans who viewed West Virginia as a hunting ground. Many of the early settlements were destroyed during the French and Indian Wars.
Revolutionary War
West Virginia was part of the Virginia Colony during the Revolutionary War. During the Revolution, the region attempted to secede and establish its own state. They applied to the Second Continental Congress to join the Union as the 14th state called “West Sylvania”, but their application was rejected.
The Geography of West Virginia State:
- Total Size of West Virginia: 24,078 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
- Geographical Low Point of West Virginia: Potomac River at 240 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Jefferson (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Geographical High Point of West Virginia: Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Pendleton (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Central Point of West Virginia: Located in Braxton County approx. 4 miles east of Sutton (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Counties of West Virginia: 55 (source: National Association of Counties)
- Bodies of Water of West Virginia: Potomac River, Ohio River, Kanawha River, Monongahela River, Tygart Lake, Bluestone Lake, Summersville Lake, Sutton Lake
Splitting from Virginia
West Virginia has always been physically separated from Virginia by the Appalachian Mountains. It was a completely different region, culturally and economically. When Virginia seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy in 1861, many West Virginians opposed it and preferred to remain in the Union.
West Virginia seceded from Virginia at the Wheeling Convention later that year and remained loyal to the Union throughout the war. They applied for their own statehood, and West Virginia became her 35th state on June 20, 1863.
Civil War
Although West Virginia separated from Virginia and remained in the Union, there were West Virginians who fought on both sides of the war. Union forces maintained control of most of the state during the war, but there were still many battles in the state, including the Battles of Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry, and Droop Mountain.
Famous People of West Virginia State:
| NAMES | PROFESSIONS |
| Pearl S. Buck | Author of The Good Earth |
| Steve Harvey | Actor and talk show host |
| Devil Anse Hatfield | Leader of the Hatfield family |
| Stonewall Jackson | Civil War general |
| Joseph Johnston | Civil War general |
| Don Knotts | Comedian and actor |
| John F. Nash | Mathematician |
| Chuck Yeager | Test pilot was the first to exceed the sound barrier |
| Jerry West | Professional basketball player and executive |
| Nick Saban | College football coach |
| Mary Lou Retton | Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics |
| Brad Paisley | Country singer and songwriter |
Interesting Facts of West Virginia State:
Some say West Virginia is the northernmost and southernmost state, while others say it is the southernmost and northernmost state.
Harpers Ferry changed owners more than a dozen times during the Civil War.
The New River is one of the few rivers in the world that flows from south to north.
At 1,815 feet long, the New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel arch bridge in the United States.
West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War. West Virginia wanted to remain in the Confederacy, while Virginia wanted to join the Confederacy.
West Virginia is called the Mountain State because most of it is made up of mountains. Most of the state (75%) is also forested.
When the state separated from Virginia, delegates voted for new names for Kanawha, Allegheny, and West Virginia.
West Virginia has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. Coal mining remains an important industry for the state.
Timeline Overview:
1606 – Virginia Colony established.
1607 – The settlement of Jamestown is founded.
1669 – John Lederer visits the Blue Ridge Mountains, becoming the first European to set foot in West Virginia.
1671 – Explorers Thomas Butts and Robert Farham travel to the Appalachian Mountains and discover Kanawha Falls. 1726 – German settlers establish a settlement at New Mecklenburg.
1748 – George Washington surveys land in West Virginia.
1762 – Shepherdstown, the oldest town in West Virginia, is founded.
1776 – The people of the area petition Congress to create a 14th state called West Sylvania, but it is rejected.
1859 – Abolitionist John Brown raids Harpers Ferry armory to arm slaves.
1861 – When Virginia secedes from the Union at the start of the Civil War, West Virginia remains loyal to the Union and forms its own government separate from Virginia.
1862 – Battle of Shepherdstown takes place.
1863 – West Virginia is incorporated as her 35th state.
1865 – The Civil War ends and slavery is abolished in the state.
1875 – State capital moved to Wheeling.
1880 – The Hatfields and McCoys start arguing.
1885 – Charleston becomes the permanent state capital.
1977 – The New River Gorge Bridge opens.