West Virginia

West Virginia is a state located in the Appalachian region in the Southern United States and is also considered to be a part of the Middle Atlantic States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland to the east and northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 41st largest state by area, and is ranked 38th in population. The capital and largest city is Charleston. Located in the Appalachian Mountain range, West Virginia covers an area of 24,229.76 square miles (62,754.8 km²), with 24,077.73 square miles (62,361.0 km²) of land and 152.03 square miles (393.8 km²) of water, making it the 41st-largest state in the United States. West Virginia borders Pennsylvania and Maryland in the northeast, Virginia in the southeast, Ohio in the northwest, and Kentucky in the southwest. Its longest border is with Virginia at 381 miles, followed by Ohio at 243 miles, Maryland at 174 miles, Pennsylvania at 118 miles, and Kentucky at 79 miles. West Virginia is located entirely within the Appalachian Region, and the state is almost entirely mountainous, giving reason to the nickname The Mountain State and the motto Montani Semper Liberi ("Mountaineers are always free").

West Virginia is known under different nicknames; aka Mountain State (previously used on license plates), or Panhandle State, or The Switzerland of America, or Almost Heaven and detailed official information about West Virginia can be found on the homepage at www. wv.gov.

As shown in the given West Virginia location map that Virginia is located in the north-east part of the United States. West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian region. The state shares its border with Virginia in the south-east, Kentucky to the south-west, Ohio in the north-west, Pennsylvania in the north-east and Maryland in the east.

Charleston is the capital and largest city of West Virginia. Historically, West Virginia was the only state that formed by seceding from a Confederate state; it was also one of only two states that formed during the American Civil War.

Geographically, the state is noted for its mountains and diverse topography. Surprisingly, West Virginia is one of the most densely karstic areas in the world, which facilitates it as a choice area for recreational caving and scientific research. With the humid subtropical climate, it is also known for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities including skiing, whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting.

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers - and it's stunning, especially in the spring and fall! Visit for guided tours, living history events and hikes.

The US State West Virginia occupies 62,267 m², about 0,68 % of the total territory of the USA of 9,148,020 m². The total population of the US State West Virginia with 1,815,857 inhabitants (in 2017) has already increased by 0,42 % in this millennium. Almost 40 years ago there were 133,787 more people. The capital Charleston alone has 134,385 inhabitants.

Charleston became the state’s capital in 1877. The first capital building stood for 36 years before a fire destroyed it in 1921. There was also ammunition stored on the top floor of the building. The fire set off the ammunition, causing a panic from the the onlookers. During the event, two men were arrested for stealing a fire truck. 

The elevations and ruggedness drop near large rivers like the Ohio River or Shenandoah River. About 75% of the state is within the Cumberland Plateau and Allegheny Plateau regions. Though the relief is not high, the plateau region is extremely rugged in most areas. The average elevation of West Virginia is approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) above sea level, which is the highest of any U.S. state east of the Mississippi River. On the eastern state line with Virginia, high peaks in the Monongahela National Forest region give rise to an island of colder climate and ecosystems similar to those of northern New England and eastern Canada. The highest point in the state is atop Spruce Knob, at 4,863 feet (1,482 m), and is covered in a boreal forest of dense spruce trees at altitudes above 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Spruce Knob lies within the Monongahela National Forest and is a part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.