West Virginia
West Virginia, one of the smallest states in the United States, is also one of the hilliest and most scenic. Most of the state is marked by the highlands and rolling hills of the west, and Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region located in the eastern one-sixth of the state. Distinguished by two panhandles, one in the north, the other the east, much of West Virginia falls below the Mason-Dixon Line, and considered part of the South.
Part of Virginia until 1863, the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountain Ranges acted as a natural barrier to exploration. British settled the fertile valleys in the 1730, providing a natural buffer to Native Americans and French to the west. West Virginia became the 35 th state in the nation on June 20, 1863. West Virginias economy today is coal and manufacturing based. One of the nations biggest producers of bituminous coal, manufacturing grew in importance in the early 20 th century, spurred on by WWI and WWII. Natural gas, stone, cement, salt and oil also contribute to the state economy; agriculture activity is limited by the mountainous terrain.
For more information, please visit http://www.wv.gov
