Known as “The Mountain State,” West Virginia is the only state located entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range. It’s a land of rich heritage and warm hospitality. Native West Virginians refer to their state as “Almost Heaven,” due to the scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. About 75 percent of the state is within the Cumberland and Allegheny Plateau regions. People live in extremely rugged but staggeringly beautiful environments.
      West Virginia has an estimated population of 1.8 million. Only 1.1 percent of the state's residents were foreign-born, placing the state last among the 50 states in that statistic. It has the lowest percentage of residents that speak a language other than English in the home (2.7 percent). Most West Virginians simply identify their ancestry as “American” and are of Scots-Irish American descent. Large numbers of people of German ancestry are present in the northeastern counties of the state. 5.6% of West Virginia's population was reported as fewer than 5, 22.3% under 18, and 15.3% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51.4% of the population.

Did You Know...

State Nickname: The Mountain State State Capital: Charleston State Flower: Rhododendron State Bird: Cardinal

      The southeastern side of the state has a cold climate and ecosystem similar to those of northern New England and eastern Canada. This is due to the high peaks in the Monongahela National Forest region that stretches throughout this region. The native vegetation for most of the state was originally mixed hardwood forest of oak, chestnut, maple, beech, and white pine, with willow and American sycamore along the state’s waterways.
      One of the major resources in West Virginia's economy is coal. West Virginia also engaged in oil drilling, but currently only has a few small to medium-sized oil and natural gas fields.

Farming is also practiced in West Virginia, but on a limited basis because of the mountainous terrain over much of the state. The economy of West Virginia is one of the most fragile of any of the states. It is the third lowest in per capita income and it also ranks last in median household income.
     Highways form the backbone of transportation systems in West Virginia, with over 37,300 miles of public roads in the state. Commercial air travel, bus-based public transit systems, trolley cars and a single rail public transit system, PRT (personal rapid transit), provides accessibility to residents.
      There are a variety of different regions which afford much beauty for West Virginians to make their home. Small towns and countryside are side-by-side in the historical Mid-Ohio Valley. In Parkersburg, there’s an island state park, where the scandalous Blennerhassetts come back to life. Museums and historic districts commemorate the oil and gas boom. The Metro Valley has city lights and style with the warmth and accessibility of small towns.

     The Potomac Highlands, which runs north to south along the eastern spine of the state, is where the great outdoors really exists. It can be explored by skiing, biking, hiking, canoeing, swinging from ropes or underground and there are plenty of overnight accommodations. The New River/Greenbrier Valley of southeastern West Virginia offers gorgeous mountain views, stimulating whitewater and some of the best state parks and lodges. You can find picturesque towns in the rolling countryside of the Eastern Panhandle at the northeastern tip of West Virginia, just an hour from Eastern metropolitan areas. With spas, shopping centers, discount malls, antique malls and handcraft vendors, it’s a fascinating area to explore.
      Rich ethnic festivals, along with pioneer forts, university sports, scenic trails and whitewater adventures, can be found in the Mountaineer Country in north central West Virginia. History comes to life in the modern settlements of the Northern Panhandle, at the tip of northern West Virginia. Rows of Victorian homes line the area in Wheeling and Independence Hall. The true heartland of the state is the Mountain Lakes region. There are deep, blue lakes, clean, clear air, starry nights, and the beauty of nature at its unspoiled best.
      West Virginia's spectacular mountains, swirling rivers, and scenic countryside offer a welcome change of pace from the rush of everyday life. Yet right in line with this beauty you can settle in friendly cities full of culture, fun and nightlife.