# West Virginia

> state of the United States of America

**Wikidata**: [Q1371](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/west-virginia

## Summary
West Virginia is a U.S. state in the United States, officially created on 1863-06-20. Its capital is Charleston; the state is commonly known by aliases including "The Mountain State," "Almost Heaven," and abbreviations such as WV, W. Va., and W.Va.

## Key Facts
- Official inception (statehood): 1863-06-20.
- Capital city: Charleston (listed as the capital of West Virginia, United States).
- Country / location: United States of America.
- Coordinates (approximate center): latitude 39, longitude −80.5.
- Official website: https://www.wv.gov/
- Aliases: The Mountain State; Almost Heaven; WV; West Virginia; United States; State of West Virginia; W. Va.; W.Va.; US-WV.
- Wikipedia title: West Virginia.
- Wikidata short description: state of the United States of America.
- Sitelink count (Wikidata): 214.
- Population (multiple recorded values from source): 2,005,552.0; 1,949,644.0; 1,902,974.0; 1,860,421.0; 1,842,128.0; 1,802,344.0; 1,793,477.0; 1,793,716.0; 1,742,237.0; 1,729,205.0; 1,463,701.0; 1,221,119.0; 1,852,994.0 (list of provided population figures).
- Part of / Parent relationships: contiguous United States; South Atlantic states (per the provided list).
- Contains / Subsidiaries (as provided): South Atlantic states; contiguous United States (both appear under contains/subsidiaries in the source).
- Notable named ships associated with the state name: USS West Virginia (1921 Colorado-class battleship); USS West Virginia (1989 Ohio-class submarine).

## FAQs
Q: What is West Virginia and when did it become a state?
A: West Virginia is a state of the United States that was formally created on 1863-06-20.

Q: What is the capital of West Virginia?
A: Charleston is listed as the capital city of West Virginia.

Q: Where is West Virginia located geographically?
A: West Virginia is located in the United States; the approximate central coordinates given are latitude 39 and longitude −80.5.

Q: What are common names and abbreviations for West Virginia?
A: Common aliases include The Mountain State, Almost Heaven, WV, W. Va., W.Va., State of West Virginia, and US-WV.

Q: Which major mountain ranges and physiographic provinces are associated with West Virginia?
A: The state is associated with the Appalachian Mountains, Allegheny Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, Cumberland Mountains, Appalachian Plateau, Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, Shenandoah Mountain, Laurel Mountain, Spruce Mountain, and Spruce Knob.

Q: What major rivers, trails, and forests are in or pass through West Virginia?
A: Rivers and waterways include the Monongahela River, New River, and the Ohio River. The Appalachian Trail passes through the state (2,198.4 miles / 3,538 km total trail length). Monongahela National Forest is located in the state.

Q: What interstates, U.S. routes, and historic roads run through West Virginia?
A: Interstates mentioned include I‑79 (inception 1958), I‑64 (1961), I‑70 (1956), I‑77, and I‑81 (1957). U.S. numbered routes and roads include U.S. Route 40 (inception 1926), U.S. Route 50 (1926), U.S. Route 11, U.S. Route 30 (1926), U.S. Route 37 (inception 2002), and the National Road (inception 1811). The Cardinal passenger train route operates with an inception date of 1977-10-30.

Q: What airports and air installations are in West Virginia according to the source?
A: Airports and air facilities listed include Eastern WV Regional Airport; Raleigh County Memorial Airport; West Virginia International Yeager Airport; Louis Bennett Field; Greenbrier Valley Airport; Tri-State Airport; Wheeling Ohio County Airport; Mercer County Airport; Marshall County Airport; Greater Cumberland Regional Airport; Hinton-Alderson Airport; and Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base (inception 1938).

Q: What higher-education institutions are mentioned in the source?
A: West Virginia State University (public, historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia; inception 1891; employees: 342) and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (public college in Beckley; inception 1895; employees: 261 as of 2020-09).

Q: What cultural events, folklore, and incidents are connected with West Virginia?
A: Notable items include the Greenbrier Classic golf tournament (inception 2010), the 24th World Scout Jamboree (2019, held in West Virginia), the Mothman legendary creature (based around West Virginia), the Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster (inception 1931), Literary Hall in Romney, the Sodder children disappearance (1945), and Sugar Grove Station (an NSA radio intercept site).

Q: Which government, legislative, and military organizations are identified for West Virginia?
A: The West Virginia State Capitol and the West Virginia Legislature are listed; the West Virginia National Guard is also noted as the state's military.

## Why It Matters
West Virginia matters because it is an established U.S. state formed during a pivotal moment in U.S. history (inception 1863-06-20). It occupies a strategically and culturally significant portion of the Appalachian region, hosting key mountain ranges, national forest acreage, long-distance trails, and river corridors that shaped transportation corridors (interstates, U.S. routes, and historic National Road) and regional economies. The state’s infrastructure — multiple regional airports, interstate highways, and historic rail service (the Cardinal) — connects rural and urban communities. West Virginia houses higher-education institutions, state government institutions (State Capitol, Legislature), and a National Guard, making it integral to governance, education, and defense in its region. The state’s name is also memorialized in major U.S. naval vessels (USS West Virginia), indicating its national recognition. Cultural and historical incidents—both tragedies like the Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster and folklore such as Mothman—shaped local identity, tourism, and collective memory. Protected lands and outdoor assets (Monongahela National Forest, Appalachian Trail, Spruce Knob) support conservation, recreation, and Appalachian ecological systems, influencing biodiversity and outdoor economies.

## Notable For
- Statehood date: officially established on 1863-06-20.
- Capital: Charleston, the administrative center of the state.
- Nicknames: Known as The Mountain State and Almost Heaven.
- Geography: Central coordinates ~39°N, −80.5°W; contains Spruce Knob (a named mountain) and numerous Appalachian subranges and physiographic provinces.
- Trails and forests: Passage of the Appalachian Trail and presence of Monongahela National Forest.
- Transportation corridors: Multiple major interstates (I‑79 inception 1958; I‑64 inception 1961; I‑70 inception 1956; I‑81 inception 1957) and U.S. Routes (U.S. 40 and U.S. 50 inception 1926; U.S. 30 inception 1926; U.S. 37 inception 2002), plus the historic National Road (1811).
- Airports: Numerous regional and local airports including Yeager, Greenbrier Valley, Tri‑State, and others listed in the source.
- Education: Home to West Virginia State University (inception 1891) and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (inception 1895).
- Military and federal presence: West Virginia National Guard and federal sites such as Sugar Grove Station and inclusion in the United States National Radio Quiet Zone (inception 1958).
- Named naval vessels: USS West Virginia (1921 Colorado-class battleship) and USS West Virginia (1989 Ohio-class submarine).
- Culture and events: Greenbrier Classic (inception 2010); 24th World Scout Jamboree (2019); notable folklore (Mothman) and historical incidents (Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster, Sodder children disappearance).

## Body

### Overview and Identity
- West Virginia is a state of the United States of America with the Wikidata description "state of the United States of America."  
- The state uses multiple aliases: The Mountain State; Almost Heaven; WV; West Virginia; United States; State of West Virginia; W. Va.; W.Va.; US-WV.  
- The official website is https://www.wv.gov/.  
- Central coordinates provided are latitude 39 and longitude −80.5.  
- The Wikidata sitelink count provided is 214 and the Wikipedia title is "West Virginia."

### History and Origin
- West Virginia's inception date is recorded as 1863-06-20, marking its formal creation as a state.  
- The source lists the Colony of Virginia as a related former British colony in North America, indicating historical ties to the larger colonial and state histories of the mid-Atlantic region.

### Government, Administration, and Civic Institutions
- Capital: Charleston is listed as the capital city of West Virginia.  
- State government institutions include the West Virginia State Capitol building and the West Virginia Legislature.  
- Congressional representation includes named congressional districts in the source: West Virginia's 1st congressional district and West Virginia's 2nd congressional district.  
- Military: The West Virginia National Guard is identified as the state's military organization.

### Geography, Topography, and Natural Features
- West Virginia is associated with the Appalachian Mountains and multiple subranges: Allegheny Mountains; Blue Ridge Mountains; Cumberland Mountains; Shenandoah Mountain; Laurel Mountain; Spruce Mountain.  
- Spruce Knob is specifically listed as a mountain in the United States and is connected to West Virginia.  
- The Appalachian Plateau and Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians physiographic provinces are associated with the state's terrain.  
- Monongahela National Forest lies within the state.  
- Notable rivers and waterways include the Monongahela River (flows in Pennsylvania and West Virginia), New River (listed with involvement in Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina—source notes inception +1975), and the Ohio River as a major waterway bordering or passing through the region.

### Transportation and Infrastructure
- Interstates and highways listed with inception dates where provided:  
  - Interstate 79 — inception 1958 (runs in West Virginia and Pennsylvania).  
  - Interstate 64 — inception 1961.  
  - Interstate 70 — inception 1956.  
  - Interstate 77 — listed as a highway in the United States.  
  - Interstate 81 — inception 1957.  
- U.S. Routes and historic roads:  
  - U.S. Route 40 — inception 1926.  
  - U.S. Route 50 — inception 1926.  
  - U.S. Route 30 — inception 1926.  
  - U.S. Route 11 — listed as a U.S. numbered highway in the eastern United States.  
  - U.S. Route 37 — inception 2002 (note: listed across multiple states).  
  - The National Road — inception 1811.  
- Passenger rail: The Cardinal is an American passenger train route with inception 1977-10-30.  
- Bridges: Silver Bridge is identified as a bridge between West Virginia and Ohio.

### Airports and Air Facilities
- Airports and air installations mentioned include: Eastern WV Regional Airport; Raleigh County Memorial Airport; West Virginia International Yeager Airport; Louis Bennett Field; Greenbrier Valley Airport; Tri-State Airport; Wheeling Ohio County Airport; Mercer County Airport; Marshall County Airport; Greater Cumberland Regional Airport; Hinton-Alderson Airport; and Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base (inception 1938).  
- Several of these are explicitly identified as airports in West Virginia in the source.

### Counties and Local Jurisdictions
The source lists numerous counties with inception dates when provided. Each county is identified here as a county in West Virginia:
- Braxton County — inception 1836-01-15.
- Wayne County — inception 1842-01-18.
- Webster County — inception 1860-01-10.
- Putnam County — inception 1818-03-11.
- Marshall County — inception 1835-03-12.
- Jackson County — inception 1831-03-01.
- Kanawha County — inception 1788-11-14 and 1789-10-05 (two dates listed).
- Raleigh County — inception 1850-01-23.
- Hancock County — inception 1848-01-15.
- Tyler County — inception 1814-12-06.
- Ohio County — inception 1776-10-07.
- Pleasants County — inception 1851-03-29.
- Doddridge County — inception 1845-02-04.
- Mingo County — inception 1895-01-30.
- Hardy County — inception 1785-01-01.
- Berkeley County — inception 1772-02-10.
- Hampshire County — inception 1754-05-01.
- Cabell County — inception 1809-01-02.
- Lewis County — inception 1816-12-18.
- Wood County — inception 1798-12-21.
- Wirt County — inception 1848-01-19.
- McDowell County — inception 1858-02-20.
- Randolph County — inception 1786-10-16.
- Harrison County — inception 1784-05-03.
- Boone County — inception 1847-03-11.
- Jefferson County — inception 1801-01-08.
- Preston County — inception 1818-01-19.
- Logan County — inception 1824-01-12.
- Marion County — inception 1842-01-14.
- Clay County — inception 1858-03-29.
- Tucker County — inception 1856-03-07.
- Nicholas County — inception 1818-01-30.
- Pendleton County — inception 1787-12-04.
- Barbour County — inception 1843-03-03.
- Lincoln County — inception 1867-02-23.
- Mercer County — inception 1837-03-17.
- Summers County — inception 1871-02-27.
- Gilmer County — inception 1845-02-03.
- Mineral County — inception 1866-02-01.
- Taylor County — inception 1844-01-19.
- Monroe County — inception 1799-01-14.
- Upshur County — inception 1851-03-26.
- Pocahontas County — inception 1821-12-21.
- Wyoming County — inception 1850-01-26.
- Wetzel County — inception 1846-01-10.
- Mason County — inception 1804-01-02.
- Fayette County — inception 1831-02-28.
- (Several counties appear multiple times in the source; each distinct entry above has been included along with inception dates where provided.)

### Economy, Energy, and Industry
- The source references coal-fired power stations and energy-related infrastructure: John E. Amos Power Plant (coal-fired power station in Winfield, West Virginia) and Mitchell Power Plant (coal-fired power station in West Virginia).  
- The Greenbrier Classic (golf tournament; inception 2010) is noted as an event tied to local tourism and sporting economy.

### Higher Education and Research Institutions
- West Virginia State University — public, historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia. Inception 1891; employees listed as 342 in the source.  
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology — public college in Beckley, West Virginia. Inception recorded as 1895; employees given as 261 (point in time 2020-09).

### Culture, Events, Folklore, and Incidents
- Folklore and cultural items: Mothman (legendary creature based around West Virginia).  
- Events: Greenbrier Classic (inception 2010); 24th World Scout Jamboree (2019 event held in West Virginia).  
- Historic incidents and sites: Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster (inception 1931; described as a tunnel in West Virginia where hundreds of workers contracted silicosis); Sodder children disappearance (1945); Literary Hall (mid-19th-century library and museum in Romney, West Virginia).  
- Federal/federal-associated sites: Sugar Grove Station is listed as an NSA radio intercept site in West Virginia.  
- Blackwater Falls is identified as a state park in West Virginia (inception 1937 for the park per source).

### National and Regional Designations
- The state is associated with the United States National Radio Quiet Zone (a specific land area in which radio transmissions are heavily restricted) with the Zone’s inception given as 1958 in the source.  
- Part of larger regional groupings as listed: the contiguous United States and South Atlantic states (per provided parent/part relationships).

### Transportation and Named Vessels
- Named U.S. Navy ships commemorating the state include USS West Virginia (a 1921 Colorado-class battleship) and USS West Virginia (a 1989 Ohio-class submarine).  
- Historic transportation and trail projects include the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (inception 1978) and the National Road (inception 1811).

### Recreation, Parks, and Trails
- The Appalachian Trail (a 2,198.4-mile / 3,538 km trail going through fourteen U.S. states) passes through or is associated with the region.  
- State parks and recreation areas include Blackwater Falls State Park and named mountains and ridges suitable for outdoor recreation, including Spruce Knob and Laurel Mountain.

### Miscellaneous Localities, Settlements, and Facilities
- A number of named towns, human settlements and places in West Virginia are listed: Alum Creek; Smithers; Sistersville; Paden City; Lamar; Garten; Crum; Chapman; Baker Island (listed as an island in West Virginia in the source); and others.  
- Facilities and civic infrastructure include WesBanco Arena (multi-purpose arena in Wheeling; inception 1977-04-19), Sugar Grove Station (NSA site), and numerous airports and local airfields enumerated earlier.

### External and Comparative Relations
- The source repeatedly ties West Virginia to the United States, showing country-level relations for most listed entities.  
- The state is connected historically and geographically to neighboring states and regions through shared mountains (Shenandoah Mountain), rivers (New River), and transportation corridors (bridges to Ohio, interstate highways to Pennsylvania and other states).

### Data and Metadata from Source
- Provided population figures (multiple values) are recorded in the structured properties.  
- The source lists the state’s sitelink_count as 214 and the Wikipedia page title as "West Virginia."  
- The Wikidata description given in the source is "state of the United States of America."

(End of entry — all named entities, dates, inception values, geographic features, transportation links, institutions, events, and other relationships in the provided source have been included above.)

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