The Mountain State
West Virginia Facts
Fast facts, state symbols and travel-worthy details about one of America’s most distinctive mountain states.
35thState admitted to the Union
1863Year of statehood
55Counties
4,863 ftElevation of Spruce Knob
CharlestonState capital
Old Gold & BlueOfficial state colors
Mountain StateOfficial nickname
70,000+Acres at New River Gorge
A Brief Timeline
Milestones in West Virginia History
1863 — Statehood
West Virginia entered the Union on June 20, 1863, during the Civil War.
1870 — Charleston Selected
The legislature designated Charleston as the capital, though the seat of government moved before returning permanently in 1885.
1920 — Monongahela National Forest
The forest was officially designated and now protects more than 900,000 acres across the highlands.
1977 — New River Gorge Bridge Opens
The 3,030-foot bridge transformed a roughly 40-minute winding crossing into less than a minute.
2021 — National Park Status
New River Gorge became a national park and preserve, protecting 53 miles of river and more than 70,000 acres.
State Symbols
West Virginia’s official symbols reflect its forests, wildlife and cultural identity.
State Flower
Rhododendron
State Tree
Sugar maple
State Bird
Northern cardinal
State Animal
Black bear
State Fish
Brook trout
State Fruit
Golden Delicious apple
State Gem
Silicified Mississippian fossil coral
State Motto
Montani Semper Liberi — Mountaineers Are Always Free
Turn the facts into a trip.
Explore the places, landscapes and communities that make West Virginia memorable.