State Facts

Full Name

State of West Virginia

Admitted to the Union (Rank)

June 20, 1863 (35th)

Population 2000 (Rank)

1,808,344 (37th)

Land Area (Rank)

24,078 square miles; 62,361 square kilometers (41st)

Capital

Charleston

Postal Abbreviation

WV

State Nickname

Mountain State

Motto

Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)

Songs

“West Virginia Hills” (music by H. E. Engle, words by Ellen King),
“West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home” (music by Col. Julian G. Hearne, Jr.),
“This Is My West Virginia” (music by Iris Bell)

State Symbols

Flower: Big rhododendron
Tree: Sugar maple
Bird: Cardinal
Gem: Mississippian fossil coral
Stone: Black bear
Colors: Blue and gold

Economy

Agriculture:
- Cattle,
- dairy products,
- poultry,
- apples
Industry:
- Chemical products,
- mining,
- primary metals,
- stone,
- clay,
- glass products,
- tourism