Capital: Charleston
Population: 1,808,344
Governor: Joe Manchin III (D, to January 2009)
Entered the Union: June 20, 1863
as the 35th state
Motto: Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)
Nickname: Mountain state
Flower: Rhododendron
Bird: Cardinal
Song: West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home; The West Virginia Hills; and This is My West Virginia
Sports Teams:
(sport listing policy)
Origin of Name: Like Virginia: in honor of Elizabeth, Virgin Queen of England
Top Industries: Coal Mining, Chemical Manufacturing, Commerce and Service Activities
Historical Sites: Historic homes in the Eastern Panhandle area of the state
Points of Interest: Harpers Ferry and New River Gorge National River; the Greenbrier and Berkeley Springs resorts, and the Cass scenic railroad
Bordering States: West Virginia borders Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Source: State of West Virginia
Population, 2006 estimate: 1,818,470
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006: 0.6%
Population, 2000: 1,808,344
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2005: 5.6%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2005: 21.1%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2005: 15.3%
Female persons, percent, 2005: 51.1%
White persons, percent, 2005 (a): 95.2%
Black persons, percent, 2005 (a): 3.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2005 (a): 0.2%
Asian persons, percent, 2005 (a): 0.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2005 (a): 0.0%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2005: 0.8%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2005 (b): 0.9%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2005: 94.4%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over: 63.3%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000: 1.1%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000: 2.7%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000: 75.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000: 14.8%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000: 410,781
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000: 26.2
Housing units, 2005: 872,203
Homeownership rate, 2000: 75.2%
Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000: 12.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000: $72,800
Households, 2000: 736,481
Persons per household, 2000: 2.40
Median household income, 2004: $33,993
Per capita money income, 1999: $16,477
Persons below poverty, percent, 2004: 16.2%
Source: U.S.Census Bureau
(a) Includes persons reporting only one race.
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.
Total Gross Domestic Product by State: 53,091
Private industries: 43,913
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting: 274
Crop and animal production (Farms): 144
Forestry, fishing, and related activities: 131
Mining: 4,208
Oil and gas extraction: 738
Mining, except oil and gas: 2,971
Support activities for mining: 499
Utilities: 2,494
Construction: 2,266
Manufacturing: 6,022
Durable goods: 3,328
Wood product manufacturing: 628
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing: 305
Primary metal manufacturing: 790
Fabricated metal product manufacturing: 549
Machinery manufacturing: 117
Computer and electronic product manufacturing: 58
Electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing: 78
Motor vehicle, body, trailer, and parts manufacturing: 333
Other transportation equipment manufacturing: 228
Furniture and related product manufacturing: 93
Miscellaneous manufacturing: 149
Nondurable goods: 2,694
Food product manufacturing: 198
Textile and textile product mills: 14
Apparel manufacturing: 8
Paper manufacturing: 50
Printing and related support activities: 108
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing: 175
Chemical manufacturing: 1,883
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing: 259
Wholesale trade: 2,669
Retail trade: 4,213
Transportation and warehousing, excluding Postal Service: 1,825
Air transportation: 16
Rail transportation: 560
Water transportation: 66
Truck transportation: 667
Transit and ground passenger transportation: 17
Pipeline transportation: 187
Other transportation and support activities: 242
Warehousing and storage: 70
Information: 1,364
Publishing including software: 275
Motion picture and sound recording industries: 22
Broadcasting and telecommunications: 989
Information and data processing services: 79
Finance and insurance: 2,026
Federal Reserve banks, credit intermediation and related services: 1,234
Securities, commodity contracts, investments: 96
Insurance carriers and related activities:690
Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles: 6
Real estate and rental and leasing: 4,637
Real estate: 4,310
Rental and leasing services and lessors of intangible assets: 327
Professional and technical services: 2,093
Legal services: 719
Computer systems design and related services: 188
Other professional, scientific and technical services: 1,185
Management of companies and enterprises: 320
Administrative and waste services: 1,071
Administrative and support services: 953
Waste management and remediation services: 118
Educational services: 245
Health care and social assistance: 5,002
Ambulatory health care services: 2,356
Hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities: 2,292
Social assistance: 354
Arts, entertainment, and recreation: 508
Performing arts, museums, and related activities: 135
Amusement, gambling, and recreation: 373
Accommodation and food services: 1,431
Accommodation: 439
Food services and drinking places: 991
Other services, except government: 1,245
Government: 9,177
Federal civilian: 2,113
Federal military: 509
State and local: 6,556
Longitude: 77° 40'W to 82° 40'W
Latitude: 37° 10'N to 40° 40'N
Length x Width: West Virginia is about 240 miles long and 130 miles wide.
Geographic Center: The geographic center of West Virginia is located in Braxton County, 4 miles east of Sutton.
Borders: West Virginia is bordered by Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland on the north and by Virginia on the south. On the east, West Virginia is bordered by Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. On the west, West Virginia is bordered by Ohio and Kentucky. This map of West Virginia will show you all of its neighbors.
Total Area: West Virginia covers 24,231 square miles, making it the 41st largest of the 50 states.
Land Area: 24,087 square miles of West Virginia are land areas.
Water Area: 145 square miles of West Virginia are covered by water.
Highest Point: The highest point in West Virginia is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet above sea level. Click here for more about Spruce Knob.
Lowest Point: The lowest point in West Virginia is the Potomac River at 240 feet above sea level.
Mean Elevation: The Mean Elevation of the state of West Virginia is 1,500 feet above sea level.
Major Rivers: Ohio River, Guyandotte River, Greenbrier River
Major Lakes: Tygart Lake, Bluestone Lake
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Interactive
Campaign 2008A glimpse at presidential hopefuls and a fund-raising overview as the campaign gears up.
Interactive
Mine Tragedy Here is a closer look at the miners who perished in West Virginia and the people who are mourning them.
More In-depth
