West Virginia
West Virginia is a landlocked state in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and east, Maryland to the east and northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 10th-smallest state by area and ranks as the 12th-least populous state, with a population of 1,793,716 residents. The capital and most populous city is Charleston with a population of 49,055.
Some of the key events about West Virginia
- 1861The state was formed by seceding from Virginia during the American Civil War, causing political and social divisions
- 1863West Virginia became the 35th state of the United States, separating from Virginia during the Civil War
- 1908The first Mother's Day celebration was held in Grafton, West Virginia
- 1921The Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in U.S. history, led to improved working conditions for coal miners
- 1921The Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in U.S. history, resulted in dozens of deaths and martial law
- 1924A devastating flood in the Cheat River Valley killed over 100 people and caused widespread destruction
- 1960The Wheeling Suspension Bridge was designated as a National Historic Landmark
- 1963The New River Gorge Bridge was completed, becoming one of the longest steel arch bridges in the world
- 1968The collapse of the Silver Bridge connecting Point Pleasant to Ohio killed 46 people
- 1972The Buffalo Creek flood killed 125 people when a coal slurry impoundment dam burst
- 1978The New River Gorge National River was established, preserving 70,000 acres of land for recreation and conservation
- 1978A cooling tower collapse at the Willow Island power station killed 51 construction workers
- 1995The National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank began operating the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope
- 2006The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System opened, becoming one of the largest off-highway vehicle trail systems in the world
- 2006The Sago Mine disaster trapped and killed 12 miners, highlighting safety issues in the coal industry
- 2010The Upper Big Branch Mine disaster killed 29 miners in the worst U.S. coal mining accident in 40 years
- 2013The Boy Scouts of America opened the Summit Bechtel Reserve, a high-adventure base and site for the National Scout Jamboree
- 2014A chemical spill into the Elk River contaminated the water supply for 300,000 residents
- 2016Devastating floods killed 23 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses across the state
- 2020The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve was established, becoming the 63rd National Park in the United States
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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