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West Virginia
Capital:
Charleston
State abbreviation/Postal code:
W.Va./WV
Nickname:
Mountain State
Origin of name:
Named after England's Queen Elizabeth I,
the "Virgin Queen"
Briefs on West
Virginia :
Also known as the Mountain State, the state of
West Virginia is located in the Appalachia region of the United
States. About 75% of the state is placed within the Cumberland and the
Allegheny Plateaus regions. The state is bordered by famous states of
Pennsylvania on the north, Ohio on the north and the west, Kentucky on
the west, Maryland to north and west and Virginia to the east and
south.
The state of West Virginia is not akin to that of
Virginia. The former is settled by the scotch- Irish people while the
latter is a home to the planter aristocracy and follows English
customs. So the relationship between the two states is considered to
be like that between England and Ireland or Scotland.
 West Virginia is mostly rural in nature. It is
quite an isolated state that has a rich and lust beauty. People who
love peaceful and beautiful surroundings and those who are fond of
rock climbing are greatly influenced by the state. This is because the
high peaks of the Allegheny Mountains at Spruce Knob and Seneca rocks
present a calm ambience and offer activities such as biking, hiking,
rock climbing etc. The New River Gorge Bridge, Harpers Ferry National
Historical Park and several other state parks are amongst different
pulls to the state.
The population of the state is 1,808, 344
approximately. But most of the inhabitants move out of West Virginia
to nearby advanced states in search of lucrative job offers and better
future prospects.
The capital of the state is Charleston. With a
total area of 84.7 square kilometers Charleston is also the largest
city of West Virginia. Charleston is situated in the Kanawha Valley
which is largely industrialized region that is a home to a variety of
chemical plants. The city is known for the grand Capitol Building,
State Museum, newly constructed Cultural Center and for hosting the
West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Nearly 50 miles away from Charleston is the city
of Huntington. Huntington had served as an important industrial center
and Ohio River Port in early days. Today the city is famous for being
the home of the famous Marshall University and the Thundering Herd.
Also important is the small city of Northern
Panhandle. The city is known for being a perfect mirror to the
glorious past of West Virginia. The Wheeling Island and the Oglebay
Park here are popular getaways for the visitors and the local people.
The history of the West Virginia reflects the
numerous ups and downs the state has faced. Prior to the European
settlers the Native Americans dominated the region. Till 1863 the
region of West Virginia was a part of the state of Virginia. It was in
1863 that the inhabitants of the western counties decided to have an
independent state of their own. As a result on 12th
February the Wheeling Convention was called and demand of formation of
a new state was met. On 26th March 1863 the revised
constitution of the state was adopted.
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