#0excludeGlossary
West Virginia is a state in the Southern region of the United States. Mountainous, it is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland to the northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 10th-smallest state by area and ranks as the 12th-least populous state, with a population of 1,769,979 residents. The capital and most populous city is Charleston with a population of 49,055.
West Virginia | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: Mountain State | |
| Motto: | |
 Location of West Virginia within the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Part of Virginia |
| Admitted to the Union | June 20, 1863 (35th) |
| Capital (and largest city) | Charleston |
| Largest county or equivalent | Kanawha |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Charleston–Huntington (combined) Huntington (metro and urban) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Patrick Morrisey (R) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Randy Smith (R) |
| Legislature | West Virginia Legislature |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Delegates |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia |
| U.S. senators | Shelley Moore Capito (R) Jim Justice (R) |
| U.S. House delegation | 1: Carol Miller (R) 2: Riley Moore (R) (list) |
| Area | |
• Total | 24,230 sq mi (62,755 km2) |
| • Land | 24,078 sq mi (62,361 km2) |
| • Water | 152 sq mi (394 km2) 0.6% |
| • Rank | 41st |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 239 mi (385 km) |
| • Width | 130 mi (210 km) |
| Elevation | 1,512 ft (461 m) |
| Highest elevation | 4,862 ft (1,482 m) |
| Lowest elevation (Potomac River at Virginia border) | 240 ft (73 m) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total |  1,769,979 |
| • Rank | 39th |
| • Density | 77/sq mi (29.8/km2) |
| • Rank | 29th |
| • Median household income |  $55,900 (2023) |
| • Income rank | 49th |
| Demonyms | West Virginian, Mountaineer |
| Language | |
| • Official language | De jure: English |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | WV |
| ISO 3166 code | US-WV |
| Traditional abbreviation | W.Va. and W.V. |
| Latitude | 37°12′ N to 40°39′ N |
| Longitude | 77°43′ W to 82°39′ W |
| Website | wv |
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West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, and was a key border state during the American Civil War. It separated from Virginia and was one of two states (along with Nevada) admitted to the Union during the Civil War. Some of its residents held slaves, but most were propertied farmers, and the delegates provided for the gradual abolition of slavery in the new state constitution. The state legislature abolished slavery in the state, and at the same time ratified the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery nationally on February 3, 1865.
West Virginia's northern panhandle extends adjacent to Pennsylvania and Ohio to form a tristate area, with Wheeling, Weirton, and Morgantown just across the border from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Huntington in the southwest is close to Ohio and Kentucky, while Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry in the eastern panhandle region are considered part of the Washington metropolitan area, between Maryland and Virginia. West Virginia is often included in several U.S. geographical regions, including the Mid-Atlantic, the Upland South, and the Southeastern United States. It is the only state entirely within the area served by the Appalachian Regional Commission; the area is commonly defined as "Appalachia".
The state is noted for its mountains and rolling hills, its historically significant coal mining and logging industries, and its political and labor history. It is also known for its tourism and a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities, including skiing, whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and hunting. From the Great Depression to the 1990s, the state voted heavily for the Democratic Party due to its tradition of union-based politics. Since then, the state has become heavily Republican, and is considered a "deep red" state at the federal level. West Virginia consistently ranks among the lowest U.S. states in terms of health outcomes, life expectancy, education, and economic factors.
