Official Name: West Virginia

Name Meaning: Until 1861, West Virginia was part of Virginia. Virginia was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth of England, often referred to as the “Virgin Queen.”

Nickname: The Mountain State

Statehood: June 20, 1863 (35th State)

Capital: Charleston

Total Number of Counties: 55

Largest City: Charleston

Largest County (by population): Kanawha

Population (as of 2018): 1,805,832

History: The British Crown considered the area of West Virginia to be part of the British Virginia Colony from 1607 to 1776. The United States considered this area to be the western part of the state of Virginia from 1776 to 1863, before the formation of West Virginia. West Virginia was admitted to the Union in 1863, as the first new state admitted during the Civil War. West Virginia’s mountainous terrain, numerous and vast river valleys, and rich natural resources have profoundly affected the history, economy, and lifestyles of its residents. Today, tourism contributes to the state’s economy, making it one of the state’s largest industries. Coal production is also a dominant factor to the state’s economy. West Virginia is ranked 41st in size of all states at 24,230 sq. miles, and is 130 miles in width and 240 miles in length.

Fast Facts:

• The New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, is the second highest steel arch bridge (876 feet) in the U.S. The bridge is also the longest steel arch bridge (3,030 feet long) in the world.
• Organ Cave, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, is the ninth longest mapped cave in the U.S. Organ Cave was mined for saltpeter, the principal ingredient of gunpowder.
• The Coal House, in Williamson, West Virginia, is the first house built entirely of coal. The coal was quarried as blocks and dressed as stone using 65 tons of coal.
• The West Virginia Legislature created the Agricultural College of West Virginia on February 7, 1867. On December 4, 1868, the college was renamed as West Virginia University. West Virginia University is designated as an “R1” Research University (Very High Research Activity). It is also a leader in biometric technology research.
• In 1870, Mordecai Levi, of Charleston, West Virginia, had an idea to improve the dirt roads in Charleston by paving them with bricks. He finished paving Summers Street in 1873, the first paved street in the country. He later got a patent for the paving method that he invented.
• Minnie Buckingham Harper, was an American housewife and politician. In 1928, she became the first black woman to serve as a member of the State Legislature, in the House of Delegates, when her husband died while in office.
• The first Rural Free Delivery mail routes started in Jefferson County, West Virginia, on October 6, 1896. Prior to that time, people living in rural places traveled to cities to get their mail or paid for delivery.