State of West Virginia
Nicknames: The Mountain State
Motto(s): “Montani semper liberi” (Mountaineers Are Always Free)
Date of Statehood: June 20, 1863 (35th state)
State Song: “The West Virginia Hills,” “This Is My West Virginia,” “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home
West Virginia Flag History
The flag of West Virginia is a testament to the state’s history and its values. It features the state’s coat of arms on a pure white field, symbolizing purity, with a dark blue border representing the Union. The coat of arms displays a boulder with the date of West Virginia’s admission to the Union and two men, a farmer and a miner, who represent agriculture and industry.
The flag was officially adopted on March 7, 1929. Prior to this, a flag with a similar design was used, but the official design was finalized and adopted to represent the state universally. The elements on the coat of arms, including the farmer’s plow, the miner’s pickaxe, and the Phrygian cap (a symbol of liberty), emphasize the state’s hardworking character and its commitment to freedom and independence.
The colors and symbols on the West Virginia flag are a point of pride for the state, reflecting its unique heritage, the richness of its natural resources, and the resilience of its people.
West Virginia Quick Facts
Capital City: Charleston
Abbreviation: WV
Population: Approximately 1.8 million
Region: Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic
Origin of State Name: Named in honor of Elizabeth I of England, the “Virgin Queen
Sports Teams: West Virginia Mountaineers (College sports)
Bordering States: Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania
Area Codes: 304, 681
Highest Point: Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 meters)
Lowest Point: Potomac River at 240 feet (73 meters)
Geography of West Virginia
Area: 24,230 square miles (62,755 square kilometers), 41st largest
Land: 24,038 square miles (62,259 square kilometers), 41st largest
Water: 192 square miles (497 square kilometers), 49th largest
Coastline: None (landlocked)
Shoreline: None (landlocked)
Largest Cities:
- Charleston
- Huntington
- Morgantown
- Parkersburg
- Wheeling
- Weirton
- Fairmont
- Martinsburg
- Beckley
- Clarksburg
- Teays Valley
- South Charleston
- St. Albans
- Vienna
- Bluefield
National Parks:
- Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
- Gauley River National Recreation Area
West Virginia State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Animal: Black Bear
State Amphibian: None designated
State Butterfly: None designated
State Fish: Brook Trout
State Flower: Rhododendron
State Horse Breed: None designated
State Insect: Honeybee
State Mammal: Black Bear
State Reptile: None designated
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: Golden Delicious Apple
State Gemstone: None designated
State Soil: Monongahela Silt Loam
State Tree: Sugar Maple
State Quarter: Released in 2005, depicting the New River Gorge Bridge
State Beverage: None designated
State Colors: Old gold and blue
State Dance: Square Dance
State Food: None designated
State Fossil: None designated
State Mineral: Coal
State Rock: Bituminous Coal