Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

West Virginia is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It became a state in 1863 after its separation from Virginia during the Civil War. The state is roughly 25,000 square miles in size with a population of 1.8 million. The state motto, "Mountaineers are always free," though odd-sounding to some, is actually appropriate when considering the state's history and its location with the Appalachian Mountains.

The state is well-known for its historic logging and coal mining industries, from which a large majority of the state's revenue comes. It is also the only state to be formed as a result of succession during the Civil War. The state is historically significant, as it is the site of the first major land battle fought between Union and Confederate soldiers in the Civil War, the Battle of Philippi.

Today, West Virginia is home to many recreational activities including caving, hiking, hunting and whitewater rafting. The state's karst topography contributes to West Virginia's cool trout waters and make it an ideal place for fishing. The fact that these outdoors attractions are so popular is not surprising considering West Virginia is known as the Mountaineer state.

West Virginia has been home to many notable people over the course of history including Daniel Boone, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and Booker T. Washington. More recently, it has been home to such people as Anna Jarvis, who brought us Mother’s Day. In fact, before it became a national holiday, Mother’s Day was first observed at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908.

Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton and Don Knotts, better known to some as Barney Fife, were both born in West Virginia. In addition to being the home to actors and other celebrities, West Virginia has also been the set of many famous Hollywood films, such as October Sky, Silent Hill, A Beautiful mind, and the 1975 classic, The Hatfield and McCoys. Numerous production companies flock to West Virginia for its beautiful scenery and temperate topography.

West Virginia is bordered by Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland and Virginia. The state capital is Charleston. Other notable cities in West Virginia include Huntington, Parkersburg and Morgantown. West Virginia's scenic beauty makes it an ideal place for tourists and it is known for its beautiful state parks.