Communities in West Virginia offer 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, as well as 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.
HINTON, W.Va. — Beneath the surface of clean-flowing streams in West Virginia, a multitude of strange creatures lurk, but none is perhaps more shocking to encounter than the hellbender. Also known as the devil dog, the mud devil, and the Allegheny alligator, its names testify to the strangeness of what turns out to be an … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Satellite-based broadband is allowing telecommuters to settle in some of the most remote areas in West Virginia, a development that’s changing the chiefly rural state at the center of the eastern U.S. “What’s happening now in West Virginia is revolutionary—yes, revolutionary,” says David Sibray, the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine and … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – An initiative designed to attract economic investment to historic buildings and districts in rural communities is being introduced to Congress by senators Mark Warner (D) of Virginia and Shelley Moore Capito (R) of West Virginia. The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act will significantly reduce financial burdens for rural homeowners and developers … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has launched a ruffed grouse and wildlife restoration program, enhancing habitat by strategically planting soft mast-producing trees and shrubs on recently harvested private timberlands. This innovative program is designed to provide vital food sources for various wildlife species, including ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer, and songbirds, while also benefiting landowners and local … Read more
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va.— The scenic Greenbrier Valley in southern West Virginia was among the early large-scale resort communities in the U.S. and featured a state-supported road system designed to lead travelers from resort to resort. Though colonial farmers were the region’s first inhabitants in the 1700s, by the early 1800s, the area had become … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Whether you think it looks good or not, painting a brick building can destroy it. Even if it doesn’t collapse the structure, maintenance will ever-after be pricey, as painters must return every several years to repaint. If your insurer doesn’t come after you first, the masons or demolitionists you may have to … Read more
THURMOND. W.Va. — Consultants employed by the National Park Service to evaluate the condition of nationally historic structures in the New River Gorge, which are now slated for demolition, instead recommend saving them. Despite recent proposals by park officials to demolish the buildings, professionals asked by the park service to weigh in on the matter … Read more
BARKERS RIDGE, W.Va. — You might have heard that moss grows only on the north sides of trees. That bit of lore originated as a way to help travelers navigate strange forests. The mossy north face of a tree, or so it was said, could serve as a natural compass. It is true that moss … Read more
ALDERSON, W.Va. — Members of one of West Virginia’s founding families are fighting to save a commercial building on the National Register of Historic Places that consultants have determined to be viable as a new business location. Sarah Alderson, whose fifth great-grandfather established the town on the Greenbrier River, said she and her brother, Joe … Read more
FRANKFORD, W.Va. — One of the most significant restorations underway in West Virginia has attracted the attention of state preservationists, who are awarding its developers and proponents for their efforts. The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has awarded the repair of a log-built picnic pavilion and other structures at the Blue Bend Recreation Area with … Read more
