Facts about West Virginia
As archaeologists discovered spear points used to hunt extinct species such as mastodons and mammoths, they realized people have lived in West Virginia for at least 10,500 years. The land was populated by Native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Iroquois, Manahoac, Meherrin, Monacan, Nottaway, Shawnee, Occaneechi, Tutelo, and Saponi thousands of years after these ancient people lived.
When the British arrived in the 1600s, the area now included West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and parts of North Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York was called Virginia. A thousand acres of land were offered free to each European family who moved to the area that would become West Virginia in 1730 by the British-controlled government of Virginia. From 1756 to 1763, Native Americans’ homelands were taken, and they began supporting the French in a war against the British.
West Virginia was still part of Virginia during the Revolutionary War of 1775-1783 because the British won that battle. West Virginia and the rest of the state refused to secede (withdraw) from the Union during the Civil War (1861-1865). Harpers Ferry was the scene of a famous raid staged by John Brown, an abolitionist. In his raid, Brown hoped weapons would be used in the fight against slavery, but he failed. Virginia separated from West Virginia in 1861, and the state became independent two years later.
- Nickname: The Mountain State
- Statehood: 1863; 35th state
- Population, as of July 2023: 1,845,250
- Capital: Charleston
- Biggest City: Charleston
- Abbreviation: WV
- State bird: Cardinal
- State flower: Rhododendron
What are the seven most populated cities in West Virginia?
- West Virginia’s capital and largest city, Charleston.
- Huntington.
- Parkersburg.
- Morgantown.
- Martinsburg.
- Wheeling.
- Fairmont.
What are the most popular heavy equipment auction houses in West Virginia?
- Iron Auction Group LLC
- WV Truck & Equipment Auction
- Mountaineer Auctioneers
- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
- Patriot Auction Center
- Ball Auction Inc
What are the best rental equipment companies in West Virginia?
Based on ratings and reviews, the best car rental companies in West Virginia are:
- United Rentals
- Sunbelt Rentals
- Bosley Rental & Supply, Inc
- Sunbelt Rentals
- U-Rent Rentals and Supply
What are the most popular heavy equipment dealerships in West Virginia in 2023?
- State Equipment, Inc. | Kubota dealer in West Virginia
- Shafer Equipment LLC
- State Equipment – Clarksburg-Bridgeport
- Compact Equipment
- Green’s Equipment Group
Pros and Cons of Living in West Virginia
What is the downside of living in West Virginia?
Despite West Virginia’s many attractive features as a retirement destination, its downsides include weather extremes, limited public transportation, and limited healthcare options in rural areas.
What is the downside of living in West Virginia?
As a retirement destination, West Virginia offers many benefits. Still, it also has some drawbacks, including weather extremes, limited public transportation, limited healthcare options in rural areas, and higher poverty rates than the national average.
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