West Virginia
Admitted: June 20, 1863
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Charleston
- Largest City
- Charleston
- Population
- 1.78 million (2022)
- Total Area
- 24,230 sq mi
- Time Zone
- Eastern
State Symbols
- bird
- Northern Cardinal
- flower
- Rhododendron
- tree
- Sugar Maple
- motto
- Montani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers Are Always Free)
- nickname
- The Mountain State
- fish
- Brook Trout
- butterfly
- Monarch Butterfly
Demographics
Key Statistics
- Total Population
- 1.78 million
- Median Age
- 42.9
- Median Income
- $48,850
Ethnicity Breakdown
- White
- 92.1%
- Black
- 3.6%
- Hispanic
- 1.7%
- Asian
- 0.8%
- Other
- 1.8%
Famous People
-
Chuck Yeager
First pilot to break sound barrier
-
Pearl S. Buck
Nobel Prize-winning author
-
Jerry West
NBA Hall of Fame player
Natural Wonders
-
Seneca Rocks
Rock Formation
Prominent quartzite formation
-
Cranberry Glades
Botanical Area
Unique bog ecosystem
-
Spruce Knob
Mountain
Highest point in West Virginia
News Sources
Charleston Gazette-Mail
Statewide coverage
West Virginia MetroNews
Statewide news network
The Herald-Dispatch
Huntington area
Mountain State Spotlight
Investigative journalism
Climate
- Summer Average
- 84°F (29°C)
- Winter Average
- 34°F (1°C)
- Annual Rainfall
- 45 inches
- Notable Patterns
-
- Four distinct seasons
- Humid continental climate
- Heavy snowfall in mountains
- Variable weather patterns
Economy
- GDP
- $85.9 billion (2022)
- Major Industries
-
- Energy
- Tourism
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture