It is the only state formed as a direct result of the American Civil War and is also one of only two states to form by seceding from a pre-existing state, the other being Vermont.

The Census Bureau considers West Virginia part of the South because much of the state is below the Mason-Dixon Line, despite its northern panhandle extending into Pennsylvania and Ohio - as far north on parallel to Staten Island, New York. Many citizens of West Virginia claim they are part of Appalachia, rather than the Mid-Atlantic or the South, while the state's Northern Panhandle, and North-Central region feel an affinity for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Those in the Eastern Panhandle feel a connection with the Washington, D.C. suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, and southern West Virginians often consider themselves Southerners.

The towns and farms along the mid-Ohio River have an appearance and culture somewhat resembling the Midwest. For these reasons, West Virginia can be noted as the southernmost Northeastern state, the northernmost Southeastern state, the easternmost Midwestern state as well as the westernmost Eastern state. The capital and largest city is Charleston.

The state is noted for its great natural beauty, its historically significant logging and coal mining industries, and its labor history. It is also well known as a tourist destination for those people interested in outdoor activities such as skiing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, fishing, hiking, and hunting.

West Virginia is often called the "Mountain State". It is the only state in the US that sits completely within a mountain range (the Appalachians). West Virginia is bordered by Virginia and Maryland on the east, Pennsylvania on the north, and Ohio and Kentucky on the west.

Get in
By car

There are three main interstates in West Virginia. I-64 crosses the lower third of the state from Kentucky into Huntington, through Charleston and Beckley, and then past Lewisburg into Virginia. I-77 moves up the western third of the state, from Virginia into Bluefield, through Charleston and then past Parkersburg into Ohio. I-79 begins in Charleston and continues through Morgantown into Pennsylvania.

Interstates that cross only a piece of West Virginia include I-70, which crosses from Ohio to Pennsylvania through the northern panhandle, past Wheeling; I-68, which branches off I-79 near Morgantown and passes through Preston County into Maryland; and I-81, which crosses from Virginia into Maryland and Pennsylvania through the eastern panhandle, past Martinsburg.

By bus
Greyhound stops in Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling.

By train
Amtrak offers two routes through West Virginia:
• The Cardinal / Hoosier State route between New York and Chicago daily stops in White Sulphur Springs (WSS), Alderson (ALD), Hinton (HIN), Prince (PRC), Thurmond (THN), Montgomery (MNG), Charleston (CHW) and Huntington (HUN).
• The Capitol Limited route between Washington, DC and Chicago leaves three times a week and stops in Harpers Ferry (HFY) and Martinsburg (MRB).
• The Maryland Rail Commuter ferries passengers between Martinsburg and Washington, DC on weekdays.

By plane
West Virginia is served by one major airport: Yeager Airport (IATA: CRW), in Charleston. Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways offer over 70 flights daily to 10 major cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.

There are more than 30 smaller airports in the state, seven of which offer regular commercial flights to other cities.
• Harrison/Marion Regional Airport (CKB) in Clarksburg. Continental offers daily flights to Cleveland.
• Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB)  in Lewisburg. Delta and US Airways offer daily flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, New York and Washington, DC.
• Mercer County Airport (BLF) in Bluefield. Colgan Air offers daily flights to Washington, DC.
• Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport (PKB) in Parkersburg. Continental offers daily flights to Cleveland.
• Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) in Morgantown. Continental offers daily flights to Cleveland.
• Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) in Beckley. Colgan Air offers daily flights to Washington, DC.
• Tri-State Airport (HTS) in Huntington. Delta and US Airways offer daily flights to Charlotte and Cincinnati.

Get around

By car
The best way to see the state is definitely by driving. West Virginia is generally lacking in reliable statewide public transportation. Like West Virginia's scenery, many of its towns are basically inaccessible except by car. But be careful — off the main highways, the roads often loop around the mountaintops, which makes for some stunning views but also requires careful driving. Hairpin curves around mountain roads should be taken at slow speeds, while smaller country roads don't always have guard rails.

By bus
Although there aren't any statewide bus lines, many of the metropolitan areas have their own inter-area bus systems. Lakefront Lines offers a daily service between Parkersburg and Charleston.

By train
If you want to view some of West Virginia's picturesque landscapes from the comfort of an excursion train then try the following:
• The Cass Scenic Railroad offers trips on a restored locomotive near Marlinton in Cass.
• The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad has several picturesque lines that travel through the eastern part of the state.
• The New River Gorge Mystery Train boards passengers primarily in Huntington, Charleston, Beckley and White Sulphur Springs for scenic day, overnight or weekend trips to West Virginia beauty spots or historic destinations in the eastern US.
• The Potomac Eagle in Romney follows the course of the Potomac River on weekends from May through September, and daily for three weeks in October.

Attractions

Just driving around backwoods West Virginia, with its hills, creeks, rivers, forests and mountaintop vistas, is a wonderful experience in itself. There are lots of wonders to be discovered, and quite a few scenic routes. Some of those are the Coal Heritage Trail from Bluefield to Beckley, the Midland Trail along route 60 from Huntington to White Sulphur Springs, and the Highland Scenic Highway from Richwood to north of Marlinton.
• Blackwater Falls State Park is named for the falls of the Blackwater River whose amber-colored waters plunge five stories then twist and tumble through an eight-mile long gorge near Davis. The "black" water is a result of tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles. The falls are one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia.
• Harpers Ferry was the site of a raid on the US Arsenal by abolitionist John Brown in 1859, an event that was a precursor to the Civil War. A national historic park sits on the site today.
• West Virginia University in Morgantown has museums, an arboretum, and a loyal football following.
• Visit the Victorian downtown, scenic Ohio River waterfront and Oglebay Park in Wheeling. In nearby Moundsville, you can see the country's largest Adena burial mound, with an adjacent museum explaining the culture and customs of this Native American tribe.
• The Swiss village of Helvetia, founded in 1869, has Swiss-themed events and festivals during the year.
• Paranormal buffs might enjoy visiting Point Pleasant, site of the famous Mothman sightings in the 1960s. There's a Mothman festival every September.
• The state capitol, Charleston, boasts a gold-covered Capitol Dome and some of the best cultural activities in the state.
• The nation's oldest five and dime store, Berdine's Five and Dime, is located near Parkersburg in Harrisville.
• Blennerhassett Island is a historical state park near Parkersburg and features a mansion, wagon ride tours and nature walks.
• History buffs will also enjoy touring Jackson's Mill Historic Area, which has links to the family of Stonewall Jackson, near Weston.
• West Virginia is the site of the famous Hatfield and McCoy feud. The Hatfield family cemetery, with a marble statue of patriarch "Devil Anse", is near Logan.
• The Civil War Discovery Trail, which covers 32 states, has 14 sites in West Virginia.

Get out

On the eastern and southern border, Virginia, which West Virginia was originally a part, has Shenandoah National Park and Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.

To the west: Kentucky is rich in horse related attractions, including the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Derby.

Three states are on the northern border. Ohio has the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the only Y-shaped bridge in the world. Pennsylvania is the home to five-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and to the Gettysburg Battlefield. Maryland is where The Star Spangled Banner was written and is home to the US Naval Academy.

Regions

• Metro Valley
• Ohio Valley
• New River and Greenbrier Valleys
• Mountains and Lakes Country
• Potomac Highlands

Climate

Due to its elevation, the central part of West Virginia and the northern panhandle have a humid continental climate with warm to hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The lower elevations in the southwestern part of the state (including Huntington) and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia border on a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and milder winters. Because it's near the coast, the eastern part of the state has a climate more akin to Maryland and Virginia than the rest of West Virginia. The Appalachians to the west also help protect it from harsh weather that the Midwestern states receive annually.

State Parks

There are 48 state parks and forests in West Virginia, including:
• Berkeley Springs State Park, near Berkeley Springs has warm mineral-water spas.
• Cathedral State Park, near Aurora is a national historic landmark with old-growth forest.
• Hawks Nest State Park, near Fayetteville features a tram up to a lodge overlooking the New River Gorge.
• Pipestem Resort State Park, near Princeton has scenic overlooks of the Bluestone Gorge.
• Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, near Weston is home to the Stonewall Resort, one of West Virginia's premier resorts and conference centers.

Explore West Virginia's coal heritage by driving the Coal Heritage Trail from Bluefield to Beckley, where you can visit the Exhibition Coal Mine.

Activities

West Virginia's rugged nature lends itself well to outdoor sports like fishing, hunting, horseback riding, hiking, biking, camping, golfing, windsurfing, water skiing and scuba diving.

Skiing
• Alpine Lake, near Terra Alta
• Canaan Valley, near Elkins
• Elk River Touring Center, near Marlinton
• Snowshoe Mountain, near Elkins
• Timberline, near Elkins
• Winterplace, near Beckley

Whitewater rafting
Is also extremely popular and can be done on several rivers in the state, although the most popular — and the most commercial — are the New River and the Gauley River near Fayetteville.

Cave diving
• Lost World Caverns, near Lewisburg
• Organ Cave, near Lewisburg
• Seneca Caverns, near Elkins
• Smoke Hole Caverns, near Elkins

Extreme Sports
On Bridge Day, in October, you can also go BASE jumping or rappelling from the scenic New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, the longest steel-arch bridge in the western hemisphere.