In 1861, Virginians in the northwestern part of the state defied Virginia's secession from the United States. The region chose to remain in the Union and form a new state. West Virginia was admitted as the 35th state into the Union in 1863, after conditions requiring the gradual emancipation of slaves had been met. The state motto is "Mountaineers are always free", and West Virginia lives up to its nickname of the "Mountain State". With an average altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level, it's the highest of any state east of the Mississippi River. For a long time, West Virginia was a leading producer of coal in North America, but many people left to pursue better employment opportunities. That trend has turned around, and now the state's economy is in a more stable condition. West Virginia, in the Appalachian Highlands, has some of the most rugged land in the United States. The state has very few large areas of level ground, except for strips of valley land that lie along the larger rivers. Forests of valuable hardwood trees grow on the mountain slopes and vast mineral deposits lie under the ground. Beautiful scenery, mineral springs and a variety of wildlife attracts tourists, campers, hunters and fishing enthusiasts.

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Charleston
Governor: >Bob Wise, D (to Jan. 2005)
Senators: Robert C. Byrd, D (to Jan. 2007); John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV, D (to Jan. 2009)
House of Representatives: 3 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 40,685; National rank: 41; Percent change since 1990: 44%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 46 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $22,862; National Rank: 49 (75% of the national average)
State Exports 2001 (millions of dollars): 2,241; National Rank: 39
Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, poultry, apples.
Industry: Chemical products, mining, primary metals, stone, clay, and glass products, tourism.