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West Virginia: Quick Facts

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News •

Texas Tech QB Castellanos earns Earl Campbell Tyler Rose honor • Nov. 10, 2026, 3:36 PM ET (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
Jay Rockefeller, former West Virginia governor and US senator who was part of a dynasty, dies at 89 • Nov. 6, 2026, 3:01 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Mountain State
Capital Charleston
Population1 (2020) 1,793,716; (2025 est.) 1,766,147
Governor Patrick Morrisey (Republican)
Date Of Admission June 20, 1863
U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) • Jim Justice (Republican)
State Nickname Mountain State
State Motto "Montani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers Are Always Free)"
State Bird northern cardinal
State Flower big rhododendron
State Song “The West Virginia Hills” • “This Is My West Virginia” • “West Virginia My Home Sweet Home”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 2 (of 435)
Time Zone Eastern (GMT −5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 62,756
Total Area (Sq Mi) 24,230
1Excluding military abroad.

Photos and Videos

West Virginia: flag
The official seal of West Virginia features two men, a farmer and a miner, standing on either side of a rock inscribed with June 20, 1863, surrounded by farming and mining tools. The outer ring reads State of West Virginia and the motto Montani Semper Liberi.
The cardinal is the state bird of West Virginia.
West Virginia's state flower is the big rhododendron.
Map of West Virginia showing state and county boundaries, major cities, county seats, and the state capital, Charleston. Neighboring states-Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky-are labeled, and an inset locator map shows West Virginia's position within the United States.
Sandstone Falls, West Virginia
Map of West Virginia showing major physical features such as rivers, lakes, dams, and prominent mountain peaks including Spruce Knob, Red Spruce Knob, Bald Knob, and Brier Knob. State boundaries with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky are marked, and an inset locator map shows West Virginia's position within the United States.
Map of the Upper South region of the United States, highlighting states including Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and parts of surrounding states. The map shows major physical features such as the Appalachian Mountains, Blue Ridge, Cumberland Plateau, major rivers, and lakes, along with the locations of national and state capitals and numerous cities.
Spruce Knob summit
A view from above shows Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, with two rail bridges crossing the water and forested hills in the background.
Learn about the battles that took place in West Virginia after the state seceded from Virginia to join the Union
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

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Related Places

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