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

West Virginia — page 2

West Virginia — page 3 — (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) QUICK FACTS Name West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War It was admitted to the Union as a new state in 1863 Because it was on the west side of Virginia it was named West Virginia State Capital Charleston population 49,736 Date of Statehood June 20 1863 35th state Population 1,844,128 38th-most populous state Area Total Land and Water 24,230 square miles 62,755 sq km 41st-largest state Largest City Charleston population 49,736 Nickname The Mountain State Motto Montani semper liberi Mountaineers Are Always Free State Bird Cardinal 6 WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia — page 4 — (cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:43) State Flower Rhododendron State Gem Fossil Mississippian Fossil Coral Rhododendron State Tree Sugar Maple Mississippian Fossil Coral State Songs West Virginia My Home Sweet Home The West Virginia Hills This is My West Virginia Highest Point Spruce Knob 4,863 feet 1,482 m Lowest Point Potomac River at Harpers Ferry 240 feet 73 m Average July High Temperature 83 F 28 C Sugar Maple Record High Temperature 112 F 44 C in Martinsburg on July 10 1936 Average January Low Temperature 21 F 6 C Spruce Knob Record Low Temperature 37 F 38 C in Lewisburg on December 30 1917 Average Annual Precipitation 46 inches 117 cm Harpers Ferry Number of U S Senators 2 Number of U S Representatives 3 U S Postal Service Abbreviation WV QUICK FACTS 7

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