Description of West Virginia, US

The Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions of the United States are home to West Virginia. Pennyslvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio are all within a few miles of each other to the north and east of the state. West Virginia has a population of 1,793,716 people, making it the tenth smallest state in terms of area and the 12th smallest in terms of population. Charleston, the state's capital and largest city, is located in the Lowcountry.

Since its admission to the Union on June 20, 1863, West Virginia has played an important role as a border state in the Civil War. It was one of only two states (along with Nevada) admitted to the Union during the Civil War and the second state to separate from a state after Maine separated from Massachusetts. The majority of the state's citizens were yeoman farmers, and the delegates made provisions in the new state constitution for the gradual abolition of slavery. Abolition of slavery was enacted by the state legislature, and the 13th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1865.

The Northern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Pennsylvania and Ohio, forming a tristate region that includes the cities of Wheeling and Weirton, which are just across the border from Pittsburgh. Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry, located in the Eastern Panhandle region, are part of the Washington metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry. It is common to classify West Virginia as part of the Mid-Atlantic, the Upland South, or the Southeast United States. The Appalachian Regional Commission refers to this region as "Appalachia," and it is the only state entirely within it.

The state's mountains and rolling hills, coal mining and logging industries, and political and labor history make it a popular tourist destination. Skiing, whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and hunting are just a few of the many activities available. For decades, the state was a Democrat stronghold because of its long history of union-based politics. State Republicans have taken control of the legislature since then, and it is now classified as a "deep red" state by the US Census Bureau.

Vandalia, Kanawha, Appalachia, and Western Virginia were some of the other suggested names for the state. Originally, the state's capital was located in Wheeling, but it was later relocated to Charleston, then back to Wheeling, before finally returning to Charleston. Arthur Boreman was the first governor to assume office.

Geographical Description of West Virginia

It is the 41st-largest state by land area in the United States, with a total land area of 24,229.76 square miles (62,754.8 km2), including land and water areas of 152.03 square miles (393.8 km2). State borders Pennsylvania and Maryland to the north; Virginia and Ohio to the south; Ohio and Kentucky to the north and west; and West Virginia itself to the south. At 381 miles (613 kilometers), its longest border with another state is with Virginia, but it also shares borders with Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky (127 km).

Economy of West Virginia

According to 2009 World Bank and International Monetary Fund projections, West Virginia's economy would be the 62nd-largest in the world, behind Iraq and ahead of Croatia, and the 64th-largest behind Iraq and ahead of Libya. Based on Bureau of Economic Analysis data from November 2010, the state's GSP is expected to be $63.34 billion in 2009, with a real GSP of $55.04 billion. 2009 saw the state's GDP growth rate of.7 percent, making it the 7th best in the nation. Only ten states saw economic growth in 2009, including West Virginia.

Per capita income in the United States fell by 2.6 percent in 2009, but in West Virginia it rose by 1.8 percent. West Virginia's exports topped $3 billion in the first half of 2010, an increase of 39.5% over the previous year and a 15.7% increase over the national average.

In 2010, Forbes named Morgantown the 10th best small city in the United States for business. West Virginia University, ranked 95th by U.S. News & World Report in 2011, is located in the city. West Virginia has the lowest percentage of adults with a bachelor's degree in the United States, at 17.3%.

There is a 6.5% net corporate tax rate, and business expenses are 13% lower than the national average.

When it comes to economic growth in 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found that West Virginia's economy expanded twice as fast as the next fastest-growing state east of the Mississippi River, placing it in third place behind Wyoming and North Dakota and Texas.