Outline of West Virginia
West Virginia, in the Appalachian Highlands, has some of the most rugged land in the United States. The state has few large areas of level ground, except for strips of valley land that lie along the larger rivers. Mountain chains cover the eastern and central sections of West Virginia. Steep and rolling hills and narrow valleys make up the region west of the mountains. The extreme ruggedness of the land gives West Virginia its nickname, the Mountain State.
The beautiful mountain scenery of this rugged state attracts many visitors. Forests of valuable hardwood trees grow on the mountain slopes, and vast mineral deposits lie under the ground. West Virginia is one of the nation's leading producers of coal. Coal deposits lie under about two-thirds of the land. West Virginia industries are based on coal and other important mineral resources found in the state. These resources include clay, limestone, natural gas, petroleum, salt, and sand. However, West Virginia's economic base is shifting. Today, service industries are growing rapidly and form the most important part of the economy.
Industrial cities line the banks of the broad Ohio River, which forms West Virginia's western border. Wheeling, Weirton, and other northern river cities produce iron and steel. Chemical plants operate in the Ohio and Kanawha river valleys. West Virginia's capital, Charleston, is in the Kanawha Valley. The Charleston area is a manufacturing center for chemicals and metal products. Huntington, Parkersburg, and many other cities have large plants that manufacture glassware and pottery.
The Monongahela River begins near the northern border of West Virginia. It flows northward through Pennsylvania and helps form the Ohio River at Pittsburgh. The Monongahela and its branches, including the Cheat, Tygart Valley, and West Fork rivers, form the main drainage system of north-central West Virginia. A separate system drains the Eastern Panhandle. The Shenandoah and other rivers in that region flow northward and eastward into the Potomac River. West Virginia has no large natural lakes. Dams and reservoirs have been built to hold back water during flood seasons and to release it during periods of low flow. The reservoirs serve as lakes for fishing and recreation.
The Mountain State Forest Festival, held early in October at Elkins, is among the most colorful annual events in West Virginia. Most of the festival takes place on the campus of Davis and Elkins College. Highlights of the festival include jousting tournaments, wood-chopping and sawing contests, and archery and shooting exhibitions.
Most of the people of West Virginia live in rural areas. The state has about 200 cities, towns, and villages with populations of less than 2,500. Many were once coal-mining towns and trading centers for farm areas. West Virginia's large cities lie in river valleys, where the land is least hilly. They are centers for the chemical, iron, and steel industries. Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, and Wheeling are the largest cities.
Beautiful scenery, mineral springs, and a variety of wildlife attract tourists, campers, hunters, and fishing enthusiasts to the mountains of West Virginia. The state's Allegheny Mountains offer alpine and Nordic skiing. Kayakers, canoeists, and white water rafters enjoy such rivers as the New, the Gauley, the Cheat, and the Tygart Valley. West Virginia's state parks and forests attract hikers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Tours of orchards, glass factories, and an exhibition coal mine offer glimpses into some of the industries that are important to the state.
West Virginia was part of the state of Virginia until the Civil War. Virginia joined the Confederate States in 1861. But the people of the northwestern counties remained loyal to the Union. They formed a new government, patterned after Virginia's, and broke away from the rest of the state. West Virginia became a separate state in 1863. The hardy independence of West Virginians is reflected in the state's motto, Mountaineers Are Always Free.
