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West Virginia

Capital	Charleston
Population	1,808,344 Source: U.S. Census Bureau GCT-PH1-R. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density (geographies ranked by total population): 2000 Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
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
Professional Sports Teams (sports listing policy)	No NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS, or NHL teams.
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, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
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Follow these links to read articles about West Virginia from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

• Encarta Concise Encyclopedia
• Columbia Encyclopedia
• Information Please Almanac

• WV.gov: Your Official West Virginia State Web Portal
  http://www.wv.gov/
  This is the official website for the State of West Virginia.
• West Virginia Library Commission
  http://librarycommission.lib.wv.us/
  Here is the homepage for the West Virginia State Library Agency.
• West Virginia Historical Society
  http://www.wvhistorical.com/
  Here is the homepage for the West Virginia State Historical Society.
• West Virginia State Museum
  http://www.wvculture.org/museum/
  Here is the homepage for the West Virginia State Museum.
• West Virginia State Archives and History
  http://www.wvculture.org/history/
  Here is the homepage for the West Virginia State Archives.
• West Virgina State Parks & Forests
  http://www.wvparks.com/
  Here is the homepage for West Virginia State Parks.
• West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful
  http://www.wva.state.wv.us/callwva/
  Here is the official state tourism website for West Virginia.

• 50states.com: West Virginia
  http://www.50states.com/wvirgini.htm
  The site provides a wealth of information about West Virginia. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
• Things To Do in West Virginia
  http://www.thingstodo.com/states/WV/index.htm
  ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about West Virginia's entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
• Roadside America: West Virginia Attractions
  http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/wv.html
  Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in West Virginia.
• West Virginia in the Civil War
  http://www.wvcivilwar.com/
  This site is dedicated to the honor and memory of Civil War soldiers, sailors, and marines from West Virginia and includes links to historic sites.
• West Virginia Web
  http://wvweb.com/
  This online directory of West Virginia sites will take you to links about the arts, education, real estate, travel, shopping, and more.
• FedStats: MapStat: United States: West Virginia
  http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/54000.html
  Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in West Virginia.

• West Virginia was a part of Virginia until that state seceded from the United States in 1861; delegates from 40 counties formed their own government, and statehood was granted them two years later..
• Nearly 80% of West Virginia is covered with forests.
• Because of its mountains, West Virginia is sometimes referred to as "the Switzerland of the United States".
• West Virginia is the second-largest coal producing state in the country.
• West Virginia has long been famous for its manufacture of fine glass.

• George Brett, former major league baseball player with the Kansas City Royals.
• Pearl Buck, author best known for her novel The Good Earth.
• Harold Tucker Webster, cartoonist and creator of Caspar Milquetoast.
• Chuck Yeager, test pilot and Air Force general.
• Don Knotts, actor best known for appearances in movies like The Incredible Mr. Limpet and The Apple Dumpling Gang and the television series The Andy Griffith Show.