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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 liberi," the state's slogan, means "Mountaineers are always 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 liberi," the state's slogan, translates to "Mountaineers are always free."   

==Founding==

==Founding==

West Virginia is comprised of 55 counties lying between the Ohio River on the west and the high Allegheny ridges of the Appalachian Mountains on the East.  The northern border is formed by the North Branch Potomac River, the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, and the Ohio River.  Its odd shape and long panhandles are the result of irregular borders with other states that follow rivers and ridges.  A Mountaineer once quipped, "It is a pretty good state for the shape it's in."

West Virginia is comprised of 55 counties lying between the Ohio River on the west and the high Allegheny ridges of the Appalachian Mountains on the East.  The northern border is formed by the North Branch Potomac River, the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, and the Ohio River.  Its odd shape and long panhandles are the result of irregular borders with other states that follow rivers and ridges.  A Mountaineer once quipped, "It is a pretty good state for the shape it's in."

The population is 1,818,470.[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.html]

The population is 1,818,470.<ref name="census">[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.html U.S. Census Bureau]</ref>

The State Flower is the Rhododendron; the State Tree is the Sugar [[Maple]]; the State Bird is the [[Cardinal]]; and the State Animal is the Black [[Bear]].

The State Flower is the Rhododendron; the State Tree is the Sugar [[Maple]]; the State Bird is the [[Cardinal]]; and the State Animal is the Black [[Bear]].

Tourism brochures, driver's licenses, license plates, and road signs describe West Virginia with the slogan "Wild and Wonderful."  John Denver's hit song 'Country Roads' has helped make West Virginia a symbol of Appalachian life throughout the world.

Tourism brochures, driver's licenses, license plates, and road signs describe West Virginia with the slogan "Wild and Wonderful."  John Denver's hit song 'Country Roads' has helped make West Virginia a symbol of Appalachian life throughout the world.

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<ref name="census">[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54/5414600.html]</ref> 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  

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.

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]]