50 Years of 50 States: West Virginia

Nickname: The Mountain State
Date Ratified: June 20, 1863 (35th)
Capital: Charleston

Map of West Virginia

• The original state capital was in Wheeling before it was moved to Charleston, which is more centrally located, in 1870. In 1875, the capital was moved back to Wheeling. However, the capital building burned down in 1885, and the capital was subsequently moved back to Charleston, where it remains to this day.
• West Virginia is the only state to secede from a confederate state during the Civil War. As such, it is the only state to have acquired its sovereignty by proclamation of the president (Abraham Lincoln, at the time).
• West Virginia was the first state to have a sales tax.
• The first electric railroad in the world was constructed between Huntington and Guyandotte.
• The current West Virginia state flag was adopted in 1929.

Flag of West Virginia

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