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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.

Professional staff members of the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane in Weston pose outside the institution circa 1894–1900. Dr. Lorilla F. Bullard, who testified during the 1899 investigation of Superintendent W.E. Stathers, is standing at front left. The historic photograph has been digitally enhanced for clarity to improve accessibility for readers with limited vision. (West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries)
Communities

Women accused the head of West Virginia’s famous asylum. Then came a mysterious train trip, controversial verdict

by David Sibray

WESTON, W.Va. — In 1899, the directors of West Virginia’s hospital for the mentally ill concluded a highly publicized investigation into allegations of improper conduct by Superintendent W.E. Stathers, finding him not guilty after days of testimony from female employees and other witnesses. The decision followed testimony about alleged unwanted advances, visits to women’s rooms, … Read more

A massive plume of black smoke rises from the Peoples Cartage warehouse fire in Parkersburg on July 5, 2026. The fire prompted extensive environmental testing of water, soil and agricultural products in the surrounding area. (Photo by Dan Fauxsmith/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Communities

Contaminants found after massive Parkersburg warehouse fire, but below federal action levels

by Clyde Craig

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Environmental testing following the massive July warehouse fire in Parkersburg has detected low concentrations of contaminants in some soil, produce, vegetation and honey samples, although state officials say results received so far have not reached federal action levels or warranted additional protective measures. The findings are part of an ongoing investigation and … Read more

Nemacolin in southwestern Pennsylvania is hosting a record 21 West Virginia University interns this summer, giving students experience across the luxury resort’s hospitality, recreation, entertainment and wildlife operations.
Communities

Record number of WVU students get behind-the-scenes look at Nemacolin luxury resort

by Clyde Craig

FARMINGTON, Pa. — From coordinating poolside entertainment and guiding outdoor recreation to caring for animals at a wildlife center, a record number of West Virginia University students are spending the summer learning how one of the region’s best-known luxury resorts operates behind the scenes. Twenty-one WVU students are working this summer at Nemacolin in southwestern … Read more

Paddlers make their way down the Greenbrier River in southeastern West Virginia, where cool mountain water, forested shorelines and higher elevations have long provided an escape from the summer heat. (Photo courtesy Kirstin Cole)
Communities

‘Coolcations’ are surging as travelers escape the heat. West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley is ready

by David Sibray

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — At the southern end of the Allegheny Mountains, where the Greenbrier River enters a landscape of bluegrass pastures, mineral springs and cavernous limestone, a West Virginia valley is finding itself particularly well suited to one of the travel industry’s fastest-growing summer trends. They are called “coolcations”—vacations chosen at least partly to escape … Read more

o ensure students feel at home on campus during the upcoming school year, WVU Welcome Week offers a little something for all students to enjoy through engagement and entertainment. (WVU Photo)
Communities

Thousands of WVU students are returning to Morgantown during Welcome Week

by David Sibray

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Thousands of West Virginia University students will begin returning to Morgantown next week as residence hall move-ins get underway and the university launches nearly two weeks of Welcome Week activities surrounding the start of the fall semester. The university’s Welcome Week schedule runs Aug. 12-23 and includes activities for commuter students, residence … Read more

Members of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine's Class of 2030 gather during orientation in Lewisburg. The incoming class includes 79 West Virginia residents—the largest number of in-state students ever enrolled at WVSOM—as the school expands efforts to train physicians for rural and underserved communities.
Communities

West Virginia medical school enrolls record in-state students as physician shortage persists

by Clyde Craig

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine has enrolled the largest number of West Virginia students in its history, marking a milestone that school leaders say could help address the state’s long-standing shortage of physicians, particularly in rural communities. The incoming Class of 2030 includes 210 first-year medical students, 79 of whom … Read more

A growing number of people are turning to AI chatbots for conversations about stress, anxiety and other mental health concerns. West Virginia University researchers say the technology can support education but should not replace trained mental health professionals.
Communities

More people are using ChatGPT for mental health. Researchers say it can’t replace a psychiatrist

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Millions of people now turn to artificial intelligence chatbots with questions they once reserved for therapists, doctors, or close friends. They ask about anxiety, depression, loneliness, and even suicidal thoughts, often because the technology is available instantly and without the cost or wait of a traditional appointment. Two researchers at West Virginia … Read more