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West Virginia
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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.
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Water cascades over wide rock ledges at Blackwater Falls, surrounded by dense green forest and rocky terrain in Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
West Virginia summary
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West Virginia: flag
West Virginia: flag

West Virginia

state, United States
Also known as: Mountain State
Written by
Sam E. Clagg
Emeritus Professor of Geography, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. Author of West Virginia Historical Almanac and others.
Sam E. ClaggAll
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

West Virginia, constituent state of the United States of America. Admitted to the union as the 35th state in 1863, it is a relatively small state. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland and Virginia to the east, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. The state capital is Charleston. West Virginia justifies in every way its nickname, the Mountain State. With an average elevation of about 1,500 feet (460 meters)...

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