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[[Image:West-virginia.gif|right|thumb|Map of West Virginia]]

[[Image:West-virginia.gif|right|thumb|Map of West Virginia]]

'''West Virginia''' became the thirty-fifth state on June 20, 1863, after separating from [[Virginia]] during the [[American Civil War]].  Its official nickname is "The Mountain State," which is apt considering that West Virginia has the highest mean elevation of any state east of the [[Mississippi River]].  West Virginians commonly refer to themselves as Mountaineers.  The team name of the state's flagship university-- West Virginia University-- is also the Mountaineers.  "Montani semper libre," the state's slogan, means "Mountaineers will always be free."   

'''West Virginia''' became the thirty-fifth state on June 20, 1863, after separating from [[Virginia]] during the [[American Civil War]].  Its official nickname is "The Mountain State," which is apt considering that West Virginia has the highest mean elevation of any state east of the [[Mississippi River]].  West Virginians commonly refer to themselves as Mountaineers.  The team name of the state's flagship university-- West Virginia University-- is also the Mountaineers.  "Montani semper libre," the state's slogan, means "Mountaineers are always free."   

==Founding==

==Founding==

The capital city, [[Charleston]], has a population of 51,394[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54/5414600.html] and is located on the Kanawha River in the south-central region of the state known as "Metro Valley."  In addition to Charleston, there are nine other metropolitan areas in West Virginia(some include parts of bordering states):  

The capital city, [[Charleston]], has a population of 51,394[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54/5414600.html] and is located on the Kanawha River in the south-central region of the state known as "Metro Valley."  In addition to Charleston, there are nine other metropolitan areas in West Virginia(some include parts of bordering states):  

* Cumberland, MD-WV  

* Cumberland, MD-WV  

* Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV  

* Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV