83 West Virginia History Facts That You Should Be Aware Of

The capital of West Virginia state is Charleston.The state of West Virginia is not only famous for its breathtaking mountains, but it is a spot loaded up with a rich and special history. Since becoming a state, it has developed into a significant center for those seeking natural beauty.West Virginia has beautiful mountains and forests and is famous for its coal mining industries. It is home to enthusiastic, humble communities, unseen secret jewels, and elite adventurous activities. It is considered the best place for outdoor recreation activities. West Virginia is not only known for its lush green forest and breathtaking landscapes, but it is also home to some famous people.History Of West VirginiaWest Virginia has a long history, evidenced by archeologists who found spear points that were used to chase species that are now extinct, for example, mastodons and mammoths.West Virginia is known for being the only state in the US to be conceded under the presidential proclamation.Almost 75% of the state is covered with lush green forests.It was the first state to observe Mother’s Day on May 10, 1908, as a holiday at Andrews Church in Grafton.In 1914, Mother’s Day turned into a national holiday.West Virginia is the first state to have a sales tax.Golden Delicious is a variety of yellow apples, local to West Virginia.In 1775, Clay County planted the first golden apple.West Virginia was created after splitting away from Virginia during the Civil War.On June 20, 1863, it was conceded to the Union under a proclamation given by President Abraham Lincoln.West Virginia coal is famous nationwide.The state produces around 15% of the total coal for the whole nation.It is home to the Coal House, the world’s only residence built entirely of coal.In White Sulphur Springs, the famous Coal House is located.During World War II, the Greenbrier Resort was used as a hospital.The federal government secretly built a bunker in Greenbrier Resort to survive.Archeologists discovered that people have lived in what is now West Virginia for more than 10,500 years.Most of the Native American tribes, including the Manahoac, Monacan, Cherokee, Shawnee, Iroquois, Meherrin, Nottaway, Saponi, Tutelo, and Occaneechi, populated the land.Later the British showed up in the 1600s. The region that currently includes West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and portions of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Delaware, and New York together was Virginia.In 1730, the British-controlled government in Virginia offered 1,000 sections of land free to every European family ready to move to this area known as West Virginia.When the British took the Native American’s countries, those native to West Virginia supported the French to fight against the British from 1756 to 1763.The British won that battle, so West Virginia became a part of Virginia during the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783.Towards the start of the Civil War (1861-1865), when Virginia voted to secede from the US, West Virginia wouldn’t withdraw from the Union with the other states.In 1863, the 40 western areas that dismissed severance, were announced as a different state by a presidential decree.West Virginia is the only state formed from another state.John Brown was an abolitionist who played an important role in abolishing slavery.In 1859, John Brown organized a popular attack on Harpers Ferry.John Brown thought he would take away the weapons in Harpers Ferry to fight against the British, but his raid failed and he was later hung.In 1861, West Virginia remained separated from Virginia, and West Virginia became an independent state after two years.West Virginia’s New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel arch bridge.Wheeling Suspension Bridge in Wheeling is the world’s first suspension bridge.Wheeling Suspension Bridge was built in November of 1849.Camping in West Virginia is great because there are a lot of beautiful spots to visit.The highest point in West Virginia state is Pendleton County.The third-largest cave in the US is Organ Cave and is the biggest cave in West Virginia. What is West Virginia’s nickname?West Virginia is a beautiful state with remarkable geographical, cultural, and historical significance. About 75% of the state is distributed within the Cumberland Plateau and Allegheny Plateau regions. West Virginia state was initially named Kanawha, praising a Native American tribe.Even though the district was isolated from Virginia, authorities needed that as a component of its new name.If you check out the map of West Virginia, you can see it is a landlocked state in the US.West Virginia’s first capital was situated in Ohio county. Later, Charleston was the capital.Charleston is home to Marshall University.The settlers explored West Virginia’s Ohio River between 1751 to 1752.The tributary of the Ohio River is the Kanawha River.West Virginia is known for its stunning mountain beauty.It boasts many outdoor recreational activities and many friendly people.West Virginia holds the record for naming the most towns after cities in other countries.West Virginia has towns named Cairo, Geneva, Athens, Berlin, Calcutta, and Shanghai.West Virginia is the only state west of the Appalachian Mountains and in which all regions are rugged; therefore, West Virginia is nicknamed the mountain state.West Virginia’s altitude is higher than some other states located east of the Mississippi river! Famous People From West VirginiaWest Virginia is the hometown of many renowned people of different professions. Though most of them now live outside of West Virginia, they have made the state proud with their work. Deron Williams is a basketball player and plays for the Dallas Mavericks team.Steve Harvey is a famous host of the famous game show ‘Family Feud.‘Steve Harvey is also an author and a great comedian.Conchata Ferrell is a famous actress and popular for her role as Berta, the housekeeper in the popular TV series ‘Two And A Half Men’.Conchata Ferrell was also nominated two times for a Prime Time Emmy.Don Knotts is popular as Deputy Barney Fife on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’.Don Knotts is a native resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, and is a very famous actor.Brad Paisley is a famous mountaineer and often attends the WVU games.Jerry West is a legendary basketball player.Jerry West, after his retirement, served as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers team for three years.  Kathy Mattea is a country singer, famous for her song ‘Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses.‘Kathy Mattea is also an environmentalist and an animal activist.Jamie Noble was a renowned WWE wrestler.Jamie Noble is currently a producer for WWE.Joyce DeWitt is a veteran actress. She played the role of Janet Wood in ‘Three’s Company.‘‘Three’s Company’ aired from 1977 to 1984.Michael W. Smith is a renowned singer of contemporary Christian music.Michael W. Smith won three Grammys and an American Music Award.Randy Moss is a famous NFL player.Heath Slater is a famous WWE wrestler.First Settlers In West VirginiaIn West Virginia, the stunning country roads lead you far away from everything. In 1861, occupants of West Virginia were given the name Kanawha and the people had to decide whether or not to split away from Virginia. The reason for this was about wanting to respect a local Native American tribe. However, the lawmakers picked West Virginia.For Virginia’s secession, delegates met to form the state Kanawha.The settlement in West Virginia started during the 1700s.The German and Scotch-Irish settlers from Pennsylvania went to West Virginia in 1700.Greenbriar in the past was known as White Sulphur Springs.During the 1760s, a big settlement started after settling the Native Americans.The settlers were mostly from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and other northern states and not from Virginia or the eastern side of the mountains.The white people settled in the present area of West Virginia.In 1727, Germans were believed to settle in Mecklenburg; however, some think it was actually in Morgan.Mecklenburg is currently known as Shepherdstown.In early 1800, numerous Germans and Irish went to settle in West Virginia.Before the Civil War in America, African Americans were bought as slaves.Many people migrated to West Virginia to work in the coal mines.In the last part of the 1800s and mid-1900, settlers arrived from Ireland and southern and eastern Europe, particularly Italy, Hungary, and Poland.By 1700, the present-day Eastern Panhandle provinces of Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan had well-developed towns.The oldest houses are in Jefferson and Berkeley County and date back to the 1760s and 1770s.

The capital of West Virginia state is Charleston.