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- Let’s start with the fact that it almost wasn’t named West Virginia. The state was originally going to be named “Kanawha” to honor a Native American tribe; however, after its succession from the Commonwealth of Virginia, officials still wanted Virginia to be part of its name.
- West Virginia is the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain range, aptly given the nickname the Mountain State.
- North America’s largest alluvial diamond was found in Peterstown. It is known as the Punch Jones Diamond after William “Punch” Jones and his father Grover found the diamond in 1928.
- Outdoor advertising got its start in Wheeling when the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company painted bridges and barns with “Treat Yourself to the Best, Chew Mail Pouch.”
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- The Split from Virginia
- A Human Faster Than The Speed of Sound
- Not-So-Secret Nuclear Bunker
- A State For The Young and Old
- West Virginia Gave The World Mother’s Day
- Capital Woes
- The Senate Connection
- Falling Ceremony For A Tree
- Coal Houses
- Free Rural Mail
3. Did you know that Virginia split into Virginia and West Virginia due to political differences? The split happened in 1861 and the new state was admitted to the union in 1863.
4.Chuck Yeager, born in 1923, from West Virginia became the first person in the world to break the sound barrier. He made history in October 1947 when while he flew the Bell X-1 rocket at 700 mph in level flight and crossed the speed of sound. Charleston’s Yeager airport is named after the iconic hero.
5.The state is home to a nuclear bunker designed to accommodate congressmen and women, including support staff if there is a nuclear attack. The bunker’s existence should be a secret but West Virginians have long spilled the beans on the feature hidden underneath the Greenbrier resort. The bunker opened in 1961 and remained on constant alert as a n...
6.The state loves its young and old as evidenced by the rise of Cecil Underwood who became the youngest governor at the age of 34. After this feat in 1956, he went to become the oldest governor in West Virginia at the age of 74. He has the unusual distinction of being both the youngest person to be elected as governor and the oldest to both be elec...
7.Grafton, West Virginia, was the venue for the world’s first Mother’s Day celebrations. The occasion took place on May 10, 1908 after, the founder, Anna Jarvis, honored her mother posthumously. This day of remembrance turned into a global celebration.
8.When it comes to picking the right capital city for the state, West Virginia found it difficult to make a final decision. Its capital was Wheeling before a decision was made to transfer the capital to Charleston, then Wheeling again before West Virginians finally settled on Charleston.
9.A West Virginian woman boasts astonishing links to former United States senators. Hallie Davis Elkins is the only United States citizen who is a mother, daughter, and wife of senators. It comes as no surprise that the city of Elkins is named after her husband.
10.Locals know how to provide a special sendoff for falling trees in West Virginia. In 1938, residents hosted a falling ceremony for the largest and oldest white oak tree in the country after it was declared dead. 11. A great West Virginia symbol is the sugar maple, which was voted state tree in 1949. The tree is also a state tree of other states i...
13.The state is home to coal houses that provide a unique living experience. It is most likely that West Virginia is the only or one of a few places on earth where you will find livable coal houses. The Coal House is situated in White Sulphur Springs.
14.The first rural free mail delivery started in the United States in Charles Town, Hall Town and Uvilla on October 1, 1896.
2 days ago · West Virginia, constituent state of the U.S. It was admitted as the 35th state of the union in 1863. It is bordered to the north by Pennsylvania, to the east by Maryland and Virginia, to the southwest by Kentucky, and to the northwest by Ohio. The state capital is Charleston.
Jan 16, 2023 · Whether you want some West Virginia fun facts to use for a project or you want to impress people with your knowledge of the Mountain State, we’ve put together some facts about West Virginia that cover everything from weird laws to natural wonder to strange history.
West Virginia is a landlocked state in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. [note 2] It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and east, Maryland to the east and northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest.
West Virginia. Get facts and photos about the 35th state. By Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh. Fast Facts. Nickname: The Mountain State. Statehood: 1863; 35th state. Population (as of July, 2016):...
Jan 4, 2023 · West Virginia History Facts. The West Virginia capitol is taller than the one in Washington; Wheeling Suspension Bridge used to be the world's longest; The state was almost named after a Native American tribe; The state's flag is nearly 100 years old; Huntington, West Virginia flooded historically; The British settled the territory
