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Since 1928, West Virginia has usually voted for Democratic presidential candidates when a new president was being elected, but the state did help reelect [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1956 and [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984. In 2000 and again in 2004, Republican presidential candidate, [[George W. Bush]], won the state's 5 electoral votes. About half the the state's governors have been Republicans in spite of the strong leaning toward the Democratic Party. Much of this allegiance stems from labor disputes in which Demorcratic candidates sided with the coal miners unions more than 75 years ago. West Virginians are generally very conservative in such issues as gun control, abortion, and same-sex marriage, but their professed views are often not reflected in the elections.
Since 1928, West Virginia has usually voted for Democratic presidential candidates when a new president was being elected, but the state did help reelect [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1956 and [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984. In 2000 and again in 2004, Republican presidential candidate, [[George W. Bush]], won the state's 5 electoral votes. About half the the state's governors have been Republicans in spite of the strong leaning toward the Democratic Party. Much of this allegiance stems from labor disputes in which Demorcratic candidates sided with the coal miners unions more than 75 years ago. West Virginians are generally very conservative in such issues as gun control, abortion, and same-sex marriage, but their professed views are often not reflected in the elections.
==Economy==
===Coal===
Since the 1880s, coal mining has been the dominant industry. Since 1901 the United Mine Workers union has been a major presence.
Today, West Virginia is the second largest coal-producing state in the country behind Wyoming and accounts for about 15% of the nation's coal output. Coal generates a payroll of nearly $2 billion per year, and accounts for more than $3.5 billion annually in the gross state product.
West Virginia leads the nation in underground coal production, and is in first place in coal exports, with over 50 million tons shipped to 23 countries. The state accounts for half of American coal exports.
The coal industry provides 40,000 direct jobs in the state, including miners, mine contractors, coal preparation plant employees and mine supply company workers. Thousands more work in coal transportation inside and outside the state.
The state's Coal Severance Tax pays about $214 million a year to the state treasury; the mine owners pay an additional $70 million in property taxes annually.
{{USstates}}
{{USstates}}
[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[Category:States of the United States]]