Communities in West Virginia offers residents a welcoming atmosphere, affordable cost of living, and a strong sense of connection to nature and neighbors alike. From charming small towns to vibrant cities like Charleston and Morgantown, West Virginia communities provide friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access to outdoor recreation right at your doorstep. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life surrounded by the state’s beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests, along with rich local culture, historic sites, and community events that bring people together. With safe streets, local businesses, and a true spirit of Appalachian hospitality, living in West Virginia communities means enjoying a high quality of life and a supportive, tight-knit environment where everyone feels at home. Be sure to visit our Communities Travel Guide for information about communities in West Virginia.
FLAT TOP, W.Va. — Worms are already making their presence known in the upper layers of the soil in early March, says a West Virginia permaculturist who can attest to the lore of the Worm Moon of March. Justyn Marchese says he’s already observing the early-spring activity of worms at his farm on Flat Top … Read more
WHEELING, W.Va. — West Virginia may best be known for its vast mountain forests, but its northern panhandle was once a grassland clipped low by sheep. Part of the vast Ohio market area, which includes much of Ohio and western Pennsylvania, the four northern panhandle counties—Brooke, Marshall, Hancock, and Ohio—produced more wool than all other … Read more
SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — A monument raised in memory of an escaped nanny goat is attracting the attention of motorists on US-19 in central West Virginia. The roadside curiosity stands along the four-lane expressway that crosses Powell Mountain, the second-highest summit the highway traverses between Florida and Pennsylvania. Anonymous benefactors have raised a memorial near the … Read more
LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Once counted among the most gracious homes in the Greenbrier Valley, the historic Level Tavern on scenic US-219 is being rediscovered, thanks to its recent introduction to the real estate market. Built in 1830, the hewn-timber residence, renowned for its vast rooms, hosted travelers unnumbered but faded into obscurity after the old … Read more
PAX, W.Va. — Few motorists traveling the West Virginia Turnpike between Beckley and Charleston may know that one of the state’s most beautiful trout streams lies hidden in the mountain forests along the way. But now scenic Paint Creek, named for ancient trees once painted blood-red by Native American warriors, is gaining ground as a … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia University urban forester is developing a method, with the help of artificial intelligence, to identify trees at risk of falling on power lines and causing blackouts. According to Greg Dahle, associate professor of arboriculture and urban forestry at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, downed … Read more
A West Virginia University plant pathology professor emeritus who has spent more than 70 years developing hearty tomato varieties for home gardeners has created his fourth and final tomato — the West Virginia 2023, dubbed “Mannon’s Majesty.” “With so many tomato growers in this state, I wanted to help them continue to grow their food,” … Read more
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Due to isolation and hilly terrain, rural cemeteries in West Virginia often require special care. One of the state’s leading conservators of sacred burial grounds says much can be done to maintain them and offers advice for those in need. According to Joni Morris, the unmanaged overgrowth of trees is often the … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council announced $22 million in funding for sewer and water projects around the state. Kanawha Public Service District The council approved a $1 million grant and a $12.62 million loan to the Kanawha Public Service District to extend sewer service to 220 homes from Marmet … Read more
WHITESVILLE, W.Va. — A new recreational trail in an isolated valley in southern West Virginia has piqued the curiosity of hikers, bikers, and residents wondering about its impact. The 15-mile Clear Fork Rail Trail, the first phase of which is set to open in spring 2024, follows an old railroad through one of the most … Read more
