There are a lot of important things to know about West Virginia. While you could write a book about all the interesting facts about the Mountain State, this should be enough to get you started. Here are our favorite things to know about West Virginia A to Z! Read on to find out some of the coolest facts about this state.
Appalachia
Wikipedia West Virginia is part of the cultural region of Appalachia, which stretches from parts of New York to Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. While parts of 13 states make up Appalachia, West Virginia is the only one that’s entirely Appalachian — the whole state is part of it. And that’s something to be proud of! Appalachian Mountains, Appalachian Mountains
Robert C. Byrd
U.S. Senate Byrd was a longtime U.S. senator for West Virginia, serving from from 1959 until his death in 2010. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving member of congress in history. He is the namesake of many many roads, buildings, and bridges in West Virginia. Just another one of the cool facts about West Virginia.
Coal
Sean Hoyer/Flickr Coal and West Virginia have a long history together. It has historically been a big part of West Virginia’s economy. Facts about West Virginia usually include information about West Virginia’s history with coal.
Dunk
Marcus Balcher/Flickr West Virginia University player Georgeann Wells became the first woman to register a dunk in an NCAA game. She did so on December 21, 1984. Well done!
Elevation
Photo Phiend/Flickr West Virginia has the highest average elevation of any state east of the Mississippi River, and it also has the most irregular border. We love fun physical West Virginia facts.
Forest
Taber Andrew Bain/Flickr About 75 percent of the state is covered by forest. Another fun fact about West Virginia!
Greenbrier Resort
suzartwest/Flickr The Greenbrier is a historic 4-star luxury hotel in White Sulphur Springs. It is also the site of a massive underground emergency bunker meant to house congress during the Cold War. It’s a gorgeous spot to visit. The Greenbrier, 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, USA
Harpers Ferry
William Shewbridge/Flickr The town of Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County is one of the most historic places in the state. It played a key role during the Civil War. It was the scene of John Brown’s raid. Harpers Ferry is a popular vacation location now. Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Iaeger
Trixie.in.Dixie/Flickr Iaeger in McDowell County has a population of 302 as of 2010. It’s pretty small. Iaeger, WV 24844, USA
June 20
West Virginia State flag June 20, 1863 was the day that several counties in Virginia seceded to become the state of West Virginia during the Civil War. It’s celebrated as West Virginia Day. One of our favorite days!
Don Knotts
CBS Television Knott is most known for his role as Barney Fife on the TV sitcom the Andy Griffith Show. He’s from Morgantown. We love to claim him! Morgantown, WV, USA
Longest block
Angie/Flickr The 1500 block of Virginia Street in Charleston is considered the longest city block in the world. Now that is an interesting West Virginia fact. Virginia Street, Virginia St, Charleston, WV 25302, USA
Montani semper liberi
Joseph H. Diss Debar Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free) is the state’s motto! And we love it. And live it.
John Forbes Nash Jr.
Peter Badge Nash, originally of Bluefield, is a famous mathematician and Nobel Prize winner. His life is the subject of the movie “A Beautiful Mind.” Great movie, and an incredible mathematician. Bluefield, WV 24701, USA
October
Nicolas Raymond October is the month when West Virginia looks her best, in my opinion. The land looks like it’s on fire!
Pawpaws
WFIU Public Radio/Flickr Ever tried a pawpaw? Pawpaw trees, which grow in West Virginia, are the largest edible fruit trees native to North America. Their fruit has been described as a blend of mango and banana and citrus.
Quinwood
Google Maps Quinwood is a former coal town in Greenbrier County that has a population of 290, according to the latest census data. A pretty small town in West Virginia. Quinwood, WV, USA
Rhododendron
Forestwander.com Rhododendrons are the state flower of West Virginia. And this is one lovely fact about West Virginia.
Spruce Knob
Wonderer84 The Pendleton County peak is 4,863 feet high and the highest point in West Virginia. And the views are spectacular! Pendleton County, WV, USA
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Zach McCormick/Flickr West Virginia’s creepy old decommissioned mental hospital. I wouldn’t want to be here on a dark night. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, 50 S River Ave, Weston, WV 26452, USA
Underwood
John D. Rockefeller Underwood was elected as the state’s 25th and 32nd governors and was both the youngest and oldest person elected to the role. There were 40 years between his first and second term. This is such a cool and unusual West Virginia fact.
Virgin Queen
Wikipedia Elizabeth the first of England, also called the Virgin Queen, was the namesake for Virginia and West Virginia.
Wheeling
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr Wheeling was the site of the state’s first capitol. Still beautiful, but no longer the home of the capital. Wheeling, WV 26003, USA
Xylophone
University of Illinois Library/Flickr Dillon Ober, a famous jazz xylophone player, was from Clarksburg. He was born in 1904. And he was incredible. Clarksburg, WV, USA
Yeager
United States Air Force Brigadier General Chuck Yeager was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. He was born in Myra in Lincoln County. Now that is a cool claim to fame! Myra, WV 25506, USA
Zereoue
George Gojkovich / Contributor / Getty Images Amos Zereoue, a former NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots, got his start on the WVU Mountaineers in college. We’re glad he got his start with us! West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Did you know these facts about West Virginia? What else would you have put on our West Virginia A to Z list? Let us know in the comments below!
Wikipedia
West Virginia is part of the cultural region of Appalachia, which stretches from parts of New York to Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. While parts of 13 states make up Appalachia, West Virginia is the only one that’s entirely Appalachian — the whole state is part of it. And that’s something to be proud of!
Appalachian Mountains, Appalachian Mountains
U.S. Senate
Byrd was a longtime U.S. senator for West Virginia, serving from from 1959 until his death in 2010. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving member of congress in history. He is the namesake of many many roads, buildings, and bridges in West Virginia. Just another one of the cool facts about West Virginia.
Sean Hoyer/Flickr
Coal and West Virginia have a long history together. It has historically been a big part of West Virginia’s economy. Facts about West Virginia usually include information about West Virginia’s history with coal.
Marcus Balcher/Flickr
West Virginia University player Georgeann Wells became the first woman to register a dunk in an NCAA game. She did so on December 21, 1984. Well done!
Photo Phiend/Flickr
West Virginia has the highest average elevation of any state east of the Mississippi River, and it also has the most irregular border. We love fun physical West Virginia facts.
Taber Andrew Bain/Flickr
About 75 percent of the state is covered by forest. Another fun fact about West Virginia!
suzartwest/Flickr
The Greenbrier is a historic 4-star luxury hotel in White Sulphur Springs. It is also the site of a massive underground emergency bunker meant to house congress during the Cold War. It’s a gorgeous spot to visit.
The Greenbrier, 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, USA
William Shewbridge/Flickr
The town of Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County is one of the most historic places in the state. It played a key role during the Civil War. It was the scene of John Brown’s raid. Harpers Ferry is a popular vacation location now.
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Trixie.in.Dixie/Flickr
Iaeger in McDowell County has a population of 302 as of 2010. It’s pretty small.
Iaeger, WV 24844, USA
West Virginia State flag
June 20, 1863 was the day that several counties in Virginia seceded to become the state of West Virginia during the Civil War. It’s celebrated as West Virginia Day. One of our favorite days!
CBS Television
Knott is most known for his role as Barney Fife on the TV sitcom the Andy Griffith Show. He’s from Morgantown. We love to claim him!
Morgantown, WV, USA
Angie/Flickr
The 1500 block of Virginia Street in Charleston is considered the longest city block in the world. Now that is an interesting West Virginia fact.
Virginia Street, Virginia St, Charleston, WV 25302, USA
Joseph H. Diss Debar
Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free) is the state’s motto! And we love it. And live it.
Peter Badge
Nash, originally of Bluefield, is a famous mathematician and Nobel Prize winner. His life is the subject of the movie “A Beautiful Mind.” Great movie, and an incredible mathematician.
Bluefield, WV 24701, USA
Nicolas Raymond
October is the month when West Virginia looks her best, in my opinion. The land looks like it’s on fire!
WFIU Public Radio/Flickr
Ever tried a pawpaw? Pawpaw trees, which grow in West Virginia, are the largest edible fruit trees native to North America. Their fruit has been described as a blend of mango and banana and citrus.
Google Maps
Quinwood is a former coal town in Greenbrier County that has a population of 290, according to the latest census data. A pretty small town in West Virginia.
Quinwood, WV, USA
Forestwander.com
Rhododendrons are the state flower of West Virginia. And this is one lovely fact about West Virginia.
Wonderer84
The Pendleton County peak is 4,863 feet high and the highest point in West Virginia. And the views are spectacular!
Pendleton County, WV, USA
Zach McCormick/Flickr
West Virginia’s creepy old decommissioned mental hospital. I wouldn’t want to be here on a dark night.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, 50 S River Ave, Weston, WV 26452, USA
John D. Rockefeller
Underwood was elected as the state’s 25th and 32nd governors and was both the youngest and oldest person elected to the role. There were 40 years between his first and second term. This is such a cool and unusual West Virginia fact.
Wikipedia
Elizabeth the first of England, also called the Virgin Queen, was the namesake for Virginia and West Virginia.
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr
Wheeling was the site of the state’s first capitol. Still beautiful, but no longer the home of the capital.
Wheeling, WV 26003, USA
University of Illinois Library/Flickr
Dillon Ober, a famous jazz xylophone player, was from Clarksburg. He was born in 1904. And he was incredible.
Clarksburg, WV, USA
United States Air Force
Brigadier General Chuck Yeager was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. He was born in Myra in Lincoln County. Now that is a cool claim to fame!
Myra, WV 25506, USA
George Gojkovich / Contributor / Getty Images
Amos Zereoue, a former NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots, got his start on the WVU Mountaineers in college. We’re glad he got his start with us!
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Looking for more cool information about West Virginia? Here are 10 things everyone in West Virginia absolutely loves!
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Address: West Virginia, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
West Virginia A to Z December 16, 2022 Megan McDonald Why is West Virginia so famous? West Virginia is so famous for a number of reasons. Beyond offering incredible outdoor adventure and beautiful scenery, West Virginia is also famous for these things:
Coal mining Actors Mathematicians Outdoor Adventure History And more!
Does West Virginia get snow? West Virginia does get snow! In fact, the mountainous regions of West Virginia get so much snow that they’re even home to ski resorts. Some parts of the state can get 100” of snow a year! You can also enjoy these winter snow activities in West Virginia:
Skiing Sledding Sleigh Rides Snowmobiling And more!
The OIYS Visitor Center
West Virginia A to Z
December 16, 2022
Megan McDonald
Why is West Virginia so famous? West Virginia is so famous for a number of reasons. Beyond offering incredible outdoor adventure and beautiful scenery, West Virginia is also famous for these things:
Coal mining Actors Mathematicians Outdoor Adventure History And more!
Does West Virginia get snow? West Virginia does get snow! In fact, the mountainous regions of West Virginia get so much snow that they’re even home to ski resorts. Some parts of the state can get 100” of snow a year! You can also enjoy these winter snow activities in West Virginia:
Skiing Sledding Sleigh Rides Snowmobiling And more!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
West Virginia is so famous for a number of reasons. Beyond offering incredible outdoor adventure and beautiful scenery, West Virginia is also famous for these things:
- Coal mining
- Actors
- Mathematicians
- Outdoor Adventure
- History
- And more!
Does West Virginia get snow?
West Virginia does get snow! In fact, the mountainous regions of West Virginia get so much snow that they’re even home to ski resorts. Some parts of the state can get 100” of snow a year! You can also enjoy these winter snow activities in West Virginia:
- Skiing
- Sledding
- Sleigh Rides
- Snowmobiling
- And more!
