Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
West Virginia
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Facts & Stats
Images & Videos
West Virginia: flag seal of West Virginia The cardinal is the state bird of West Virginia. West Virginia's state flower is the big rhododendron. West Virginia Sandstone Falls, West Virginia West Virginia United States: The Upper South Spruce Knob summit Harpers Ferry
For Students
Blackwater Falls State Park
West Virginia summary
Quizzes
Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. United States
U.S. State Capitals Quiz
Extruded map of the United States of America with states borders on national flag background. (3-d rendering)
Guess the U.S. State by Its Neighbors
USA, United States watercolor map Illustration in rainbow colors
50 States, 50 Fun Facts Quiz
State capitol building in Austin, Texas.
USA Capitals and Nicknames Quiz
Close-up of a weathered, old American flag of the United States of America, used as a patriotic decoration on Fourth of July (Independence Day), Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other national holidays.
U.S. State Nicknames Quiz
Read Next
Close up of a hand placing a ballot in a ballot box. Election vote voter voting
Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term?
Washington, D.C. locator map.
What State Is Washington, D.C. In?
The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.
14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered
Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.
U.S. Death Toll During Major Events
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
Discover
Battle of the Alamo from "Texas: An Epitome of Texas History from the Filibustering and Revolutionary Eras to the Independence of the Republic, 1897. Texas Revolution, Texas revolt, Texas independence, Texas history.
6 Wars of Independence
July, 2006, Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121. See attached for full caption information.
Will Light-Speed Space Travel Ever Be Possible?
King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)
9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes
Titanic infographic. The 30th anniversary of its discovery is September 1, 2015. SPOTLIGHT VERSION.
Timeline of the Titanic’s Final Hours
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
Two chicks near an egg with a white background (poultry, chick, chickens, birds).
What Do Eggs Have to Do with Easter?
illustration of the walking titanosaurus, Patagotitan mayorum
Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs

West Virginia: Facts & Stats

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/West-Virginia
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Former Sen. Joe Manchin is working on a memoir. 'Dead Center' is scheduled for September • Apr. 8, 2025, 8:31 AM ET (AP)
Things to know about the US Mine Safety and Health Administration and the coal industry • Apr. 5, 2025, 12:11 AM ET (AP)
Voices from coal country say closures of MSHA offices will endanger mine safety • Apr. 5, 2025, 12:07 AM ET (AP)
States move to ban or restrict use of synthetic dyes used in candies and cereal • Mar. 27, 2025, 12:04 AM ET (AP)
One state jumps into the fray over vaccine exemptions • Mar. 24, 2025, 5:27 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Mountain State
Capital Charleston
Population1 (2020) 1,793,716; (2024 est.) 1,769,979
Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican)
Date Of Admission June 20, 1863
U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) • Jim Justice (Republican)
State Nickname Mountain State
State Motto "Montani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers Are Always Free)"
State Bird northern cardinal
State Flower big rhododendron
State Song “The West Virginia Hills” • “This Is My West Virginia” • “West Virginia My Home Sweet Home”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 2 (of 435)
Time Zone Eastern (GMT −5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 62,756
Total Area (Sq Mi) 24,230
1Excluding military abroad.

Photos and Videos

West Virginia: flag
seal of West Virginia
The cardinal is the state bird of West Virginia.
West Virginia's state flower is the big rhododendron.
West Virginia
Sandstone Falls, West Virginia
West Virginia
United States: The Upper South
Spruce Knob summit
Harpers Ferry
Learn about the battles that took place in West Virginia after the state seceded from Virginia to join the Union
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
United States senator

Related Places

United States
United States
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry
West Virginia, United States
Charleston, West Virginia: State Capitol
Charleston
West Virginia, United States
Wheeling
Wheeling
West Virginia, United States
Clarksburg
Clarksburg
West Virginia, United States
Lewisburg
West Virginia, United States
Philippi
Philippi
West Virginia, United States
Huntington, W.Va.
Huntington
West Virginia, United States
Charles Town
Charles Town
Jefferson county, West Virginia, United States
Point Pleasant: Battle Monument State Park
Point Pleasant
West Virginia, United States
Shepherdstown: McMurran Hall
Shepherdstown
West Virginia, United States
Parkersburg
Parkersburg
city, West Virginia, United States
Martinsburg: Old Federal Building
Martinsburg
West Virginia, United States
Fairmont
Fairmont
West Virginia, United States
Mountainlair Student Union, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
Morgantown
West Virginia, United States

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Extruded map of the United States of America with states borders on national flag background. (3-d rendering)
Guess the U.S. State by Its Neighbors
State capitol building in Austin, Texas.
USA Capitals and Nicknames Quiz
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
41 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular World History Quizzes
Close-up of a weathered, old American flag of the United States of America, used as a patriotic decoration on Fourth of July (Independence Day), Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other national holidays.
U.S. State Nicknames Quiz
USA, United States watercolor map Illustration in rainbow colors
50 States, 50 Fun Facts Quiz
Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. United States
U.S. State Capitals Quiz