West Virginia

West Virginia — page 1
(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)WEST VIRGINIA (cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43) THE MOUNTAIN STATE West Virginia is nestled deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains Residents and visitors alike love the state’s breathtaking scenery There are forested mountains swift streams deep gorges and narrow valleys Quaint small towns dot the countryside West Virginia is well known for its huge deposits of coal It used to be called the coal bin of the world Most of today’s coal is burned in power plants to produce electricity The state doesn’t mine as much coal as it once did but it is still the nation’s number-two supplier behind Wyoming West Virginia got its name because it used to be part of the state of Virginia During the Civil War 1861-1865 most residents of northwestern Virginia did not want to join the Southern Confederacy The region broke away from Confederate Virginia In 1863 it was admitted as a new state called West Virginia West Virginia is entirely within the region called the Appalachian Mountains Because of the state’s rugged peaks it is nicknamed The Mountain State The Appalachian Mountains near Snowshoe West Virginia 4 WEST VIRGINIA