West Virginia
West Virginia is a landlocked state in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It covers an area that makes it the 10th-smallest state by size, yet its terrain defines every aspect of life within its borders. The average elevation sits approximately above sea level, which is the highest of any U.S. state east of the Mississippi River. About 75% of the state lies within the Cumberland Plateau and Allegheny Plateau regions, creating extremely rugged landscapes across most areas. High peaks in the Monongahela National Forest region give rise to an island of colder climate and ecosystems similar to those found in northern New England and eastern Canada. Spruce Knob stands as the highest point in the state at 4,863 feet, covered in a boreal forest of dense spruce trees at altitudes above 4,000 feet. This mountainous geography has earned the state the nickname The Mountain State and the motto Montani Semper Liberi, meaning Mountaineers are always free.
Ancient manmade earthen mounds from various prehistoric mound builder cultures survive in West Virginia, especially in the areas of present-day Moundsville, South Charleston, and Romney. Artifacts uncovered in these sites give evidence of village societies with a tribal trade system culture that crafted cold-worked copper pieces. In the 1670s, during the Beaver Wars, the powerful Iroquois drove out other Native American tribes from the region to reserve the upper Ohio Valley as a hunting ground. Siouan language tribes, such as the Moneton, had previously been among the earliest recorded in the area. Conflicts with European settlers resulted in various displaced Native tribes settling in West Virginia, where they were known as Mingo, meaning remote affiliates of the Iroquois Confederacy. A 2010 analysis of a local stalagmite revealed that Native Americans were burning forests to clear land as early as 100 BCE. Some regional late-prehistoric Eastern Woodland tribes practiced the Eastern Agricultural Complex gardening method which used fire to clear out underbrush from certain wooded areas. The Shawnee arrived as well, though primarily stationed within former Monongahela territory approximately until 1750, they extended their influence throughout the Ohio River region.
After Reconstruction, the new 35th state benefited from the development of its mineral resources more than any other single economic activity. Saltpeter caves had been employed throughout Appalachia for munitions; the border between West Virginia and Virginia includes the Saltpeter Trail, a string of limestone caverns containing rich deposits of calcium nitrate which were rendered and sold to the government. Salt mining had been underway since the 18th century, though it had largely played out by the time of the American Civil War when the red salt of Kanawha County was a valued commodity. In the second half of the 19th century, there was an even greater treasure not yet developed: bituminous coal. It would fuel much of the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. and the steamships of many of the world's navies. Geologists such as Dr. David T. Ansted surveyed potential coal fields and invested in land and early mining projects. The completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway across the state to the new city of Huntington on the Ohio River in 1872 opened access to the New River Coal Field. By 1900, only the most rugged terrain of southern West Virginia was any distance from the existing railroads and mining
activity.
As of the 2020 United States census, West Virginia's population was 1,793,716, a 3.2% decrease from the 2010 United States census. West Virginia is the least populous southeastern state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 3,691, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 10,518. In 2018, the top countries of origin for West Virginia's immigrants were Mexico, China, India, the Philippines and Germany. Only 1.6% of the state's residents were foreign-born, placing West Virginia last among the 50 states in that statistic. As of 2010, 16% of West Virginia's residents are 65 or older, ranking second in the country, only behind Florida which sits at 17%. The county with the highest percentage of residents under 18 is Berkeley County with 23.5% and Gilmer County with the lowest percentage at 15.3%. There are also small numbers of Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans in West Virginia.
Common questions
What is the average elevation of West Virginia compared to other U.S. states?
West Virginia has an average elevation that is higher than any other U.S. state east of the Mississippi River. This high elevation contributes to its rugged terrain and defines life within its borders.
When did Native Americans begin burning forests in West Virginia according to stalagmite analysis?
A 2010 analysis of a local stalagmite revealed that Native Americans were burning forests to clear land as early as 100 BCE. This practice was used by various prehistoric mound builder cultures and Eastern Woodland tribes to manage their environment.
Which mineral resource fueled much of the Industrial Revolution in the United States after the Civil War?
Bituminous coal became the great treasure developed in the second half of the 19th century to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Geologists like Dr. David T. Ansted surveyed potential coal fields, and the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in 1872 opened access to these resources.
How many people lived in West Virginia during the 2020 United States census?
As of the 2020 United States census, West Virginia's population was 1,793,716. This figure represents a 3.2% decrease from the 2010 United States census count.