West
Virginia's early history from 1609 until 1863 is largely shared with Virginia,
of which it was a part until Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861. The delegates
of the 40 western counties who opposed secession formed their own government,
which was granted statehood in 1863.
In
1731 Morgan Morgan established the first permanent white settlement on Mill Creek
in present-day Berkeley County. Coal, a mineral asset that would figure significantly
in West Virginia's history, was discovered in 1742. Other important natural resources
are oil, natural gas, and hardwood forests, which cover about 75% of the state's
area.
The
state's rapid industrial expansion began in the 1870s, drawing thousands of European
immigrants and African Americans into the region. Miners' strikes between 1912
and 1921 required the intervention of state and federal troops to quell the violence.
Today,
the state ranks second in total coal production, with about 15% of the U.S. total.
It is also a leader in steel, glass, aluminum, and chemical manufactures. Major
agricultural commodities are poultry and eggs, dairy products, and apples.
Tourism
is increasingly popular in mountainous West Virginia. More than a million acres
have been set aside in 37 state parks and recreation areas and in 9 state forests
and 2 national forests. Major points of interest include Harpers Ferry and New
River Gorge National River, The Greenbrier and Berkeley Springs resorts, the scenic
railroad at Cass, and the historic homes in the Eastern Panhandle.
Coming
Soon!
See
more on West Virginia: Encyclopedia: West Virginia Encyclopedia: Geography Encyclopedia:
Economy Encyclopedia: Government Encyclopedia: History Monthly Temperature
Extremes
Accredited
Colleges and Universities
Selected
famous natives and residents:
George Brett baseball player; Pearl
S. Buck author; Phyllis Curtin soprano; Martin R. Delany first black army
major; Billy Dixon frontiersman and scout; Joanne Dru actress; Thomas
“Stonewall” Jackson Confederate general; John S. Knight publisher;
Don Knotts actor; Peter Marshall TV host; Kathy Mattea singer; Whitney
D. Morrow banker and diplomat; Mary Lou Retton gymnast; Walter Reuther
labor leader; Eleanor Steber soprano; Lewis L. Strauss naval officer and
scientist; Cyrus Vance government official; Jerry West basketball player;
William Lyne Wilson legislator and university president; Chuck Yeager
test pilot and Air Force general.
Capital:
Charleston
State
abbreviation/Postal code: W.Va./WV
Governor:
Joe Manchin III, D (to Jan. 2009)
Lt.
Governor/Senate President: Earl Ray Tomblin, D (to Jan. 2009)
Senators:
Robert C. Byrd, D (to Jan. 2007); John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV, D (to
Jan. 2009)
U.S.
Representatives: 3
Secy.
of State: Betty Ireland (to Jan. 2009)
Treasurer:
John D. Perdue, D (to Jan. 2009)
Atty.
General: Darrell V. McGraw, Jr., D (to Jan. 2009)
Entered
Union (rank): June 20, 1863 (35)
Present
constitution adopted: 1872
Motto:
Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)
State
symbols: flower rhododendron (1903) tree sugar maple (1949) bird cardinal
(1949) animal black bear (1973) colors blue and gold (official) (1863)
songs “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home,” “The West Virginia
Hills,” and “This Is My West Virginia” (adopted by Legislature
in 1947, 1961, and 1963 as official state songs)
Nickname:
Mountain State
Origin
of name: In honor of Elizabeth, “Virgin Queen” of England
Geographic
center: In Braxton Co., 4 mi. E of Sutton
Number
of counties: 55
Largest
county by population and area: Kanawha, 195,218 (2004); Randolph, 1,040 sq
mi.
State
forests: 9 (79,502 ac.)
State
parks: 37 (74,508 ac.)
Residents:
West Virginian
2004
resident population est.: 1,815,354
2000
resident census population (rank): 1,808,344 (37). Male: 879,170 (48.6%);
Female: 929,174 (51.4%). White: 1,718,777 (95.0%); Black: 57,232 (3.2%); American
Indian: 3,606 (0.2%); Asian: 9,434 (0.5%); Other race: 3,107 (0.2%); Two or more
races: 15,788 (0.9%); Hispanic/Latino: 12,279 (0.7%). 2000 percent population
18 and over: 77.7; 65 and over: 15.3; median age: 38.9.
