West Virginia Relocation Real Estate and Realtors®.
West Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth I of England (she was known as the Virgin Queen). Sir Walter Raleigh may have suggested this name around 1584.
West Virginia's official flag was adopted in 1929. The flag has a white field surrounded by blue. The state seal is encircled by a garland of the state flower (rhododendron), in the center of the flag. The seal pictures two men (a farmer and a miner) around a rock bearing the date June 20, 1863 (the day West Virginia split from Virginia and became a state). Below the men are two rifles and a red liberty cap (a symbol of freedom). A red ribbon below the men has the state motto, "MONTANI SEMPER LIBERI" (meaning "Mountaineers are always free" in Latin). A large red ribbon above the seal reads, "STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA."
10 Largest cities in West Virginia (2003): Charleston, 51,394; Huntington, 49,533; Parkersburg, 32,100; Wheeling, 30,096; Morgantown, 27,969; Weirton, 19,838; Fairmont, 18,984; Beckley, 16,994; Clarksburg, 16,425; Martinsburg, 15,309
Number of counties in West Virginia : 55
Largest county in West Virginia by population: Kanawha, 195,218 (2004)
Largest county in West Virginia by area: Randolph, 1,040 sq mi.
West Virginia State Parks: 37 (74,508 ac.)
West Virginia Land Area: 24,230 sq mi. (62,755 sq km) (41st)
West Virginia Geographic Center: In Braxton Co., 4 mi. E of Sutton
West Virginia Population: (2004 est) 1,815,354 (#37)
West Virginia's early history from 1609 until 1863 is largely shared with Virginia, of which it was a part until Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861. The delegates of the 40 western counties who opposed secession formed their own government, which was granted statehood in 1863.
In 1731 Morgan Morgan established the first permanent white settlement on Mill Creek in present-day Berkeley County. Coal, a mineral asset that would figure significantly in West Virginia's history, was discovered in 1742. Other important natural resources are oil, natural gas, and hardwood forests, which cover about 75% of the state's area.
The state's rapid industrial expansion began in the 1870s, drawing thousands of European immigrants and African Americans into the region. Miners' strikes between 1912 and 1921 required the intervention of state and federal troops to quell the violence.
Tourism is increasingly popular in mountainous West Virginia. More than a million acres have been set aside in 37 state parks and recreation areas and in 9 state forests and 2 national forests. Major points of interest include Harpers Ferry and New River Gorge National River, The Greenbrier and Berkeley Springs resorts, the scenic railroad at Cass, and the historic homes in the Eastern Panhandle.
West Virginia Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, dairy products, apples, and livestock.
West Virginia Industry: The state ranks second in total coal production, with about 15% of the U.S. total. Steel, glass, aluminum, and chemical manufacture.
Homes in
the Eastern Panhandle of WV
Welcome to your one-stop source for real estate services covering the
Eastern Panhandle of WV, Washington Co. MD, and Winchester, VA areas.
KLM Properties
1533 Mileground Rd
Morgantown, WV, 26505
304-296-1533
Serving Monongalia and surrounding counties!
Bonnie Mitchell, Century 21 Runyan & Assoc., Inc.
605 D Street
South Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-0101
My real estate page offers a great deal to the person wanting to buy or
sell a home in the Kanawha Valley.
CENTURY 21 Springston and Yoho
301 Walnut Avenue
Fairmont WV 26554
304.363.2100
We service Marion and surrounding counties and specialize in the sale of
residential real estate, commercial property, farms, and land.
RE/MAX Realty
