West Virginia Facts for Kids

A Map of the U.S. state West Virginia
  • U.S. State: West Virginia
  • Abbreviation: WV
  • Joined the USA: June 20th, 1863 (35th State)
  • Located: Southeastern United States
  • Capital City: Charleston, WV
  • Most Populated City: Charleston, WV

38 West Virginia Facts for Kids

  1. West Virginia is a state in the United States of America.
  2. West Virginia is in the southeastern region of the United States.
  3. West Virginia became a U.S. state on Saturday, June 20th, 1863.
  4. West Virginia was the 35th state to join the United States.
  5. The U.S. state of West Virginia covers 24,230 square miles.
  6. West Virginia is the 41st largest state by area in the United States.
  7. In 2019, the population of West Virginia was estimated to be 1,792,000 residents by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  8. In 2019, West Virginia was the 38th most populated state in the United States.
  9. A person who is from or lives in West Virginia is called a West Virginian.
  10. The capital city of West Virginia is Charleston.
  11. The five largest cities in West Virginia are Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg and Wheeling.
  12. The largest city in by population in West Virginia is Charleston.
  13. The largest metropolitan area in West Virginia is the Huntington-Ashland Tri-State Area.
  14. The U.S. state of West Virginia has 55 counties.
  15. The most populated county in West Virginia is Kanawha County with 178,124 residents (2019, U.S. Census Bureau).
  16. The largest county by area in West Virginia is Randolph County with 1,040 square miles.
  17. The highest elevation point in West Virginia is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet above sea level.
  18. The lowest elevation point in West Virginia is the Potomac River at 240 feet above sea level.
  19. The average precipitation (rain and snow) in West Virginia is 44.3 inches.
  20. West Virginia is the 19th wettest state by precipitation (rain and snow) in the United States.
  21. The average temperature in West Virginia is 53 °F.
  22. West Virginia is the 22nd warmest state in the United States.
  23. The warmest temperature ever recorded in West Virginia was 112 °F on July 10th, 1936.
  24. The coldest temperature ever recorded in West Virginia was -37 °F on December 30th, 1917.
  25. A few natural disasters that can affect West Virginia are heat waves, ice storms and nor’easters.
  26. West Virginia is in one time zone, Eastern Time Zone (ET).
  27. The USPS abbreviation for West Virginia is WV.
  28. West Virginia is also known as the Mountain State.
  29. The motto of the U.S. state of West Virginia is “Mountaineers Are Always Free”.
  30. The official state insect of West Virginia is the honeybee (Apis).
  31. The official state fish of West Virginia is the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).
  32. The official state bird of West Virginia is the cardinal (Cardinalidae).
  33. The official state animal of West Virginia is the black bear (Ursus americanus).
  34. The official state reptile of West Virginia is the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).
  35. The official state flower of West Virginia is the rhododendron.
  36. The official state tree of West Virginia is the sugar maple (Acer saccharum).
  37. The official state gemstone of West Virginia is the silicified coral.
  38. The official state fruit of West Virginia golden delicious apple.

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