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.
DAVIS, W.Va. — In West Virginia, traveling uphill can sometimes feel like traveling north. The state’s 10 highest incorporated communities all stand more than 2,400 feet above sea level, high enough that elevation can help shape not only their summers, but the rhythm of the seasons around them. In the high country near Davis, summers … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has been ranked the second-most naturally beautiful state in America in a national analysis comparing the forests, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains of all 50 states. New Hampshire finished first, followed by West Virginia and Virginia. West Virginia also ranked ahead of Hawaii, Washington, and North Carolina—states widely associated with scenic tourism. … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A new $2.6 million initiative is expected to help 15,000 West Virginia middle- and high-school students learn how to develop ideas, solve real-world problems and potentially turn those ideas into businesses. West Virginia University officials announced Monday that the three-year effort will bring teachers, business experts, and community partners together to give … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University will automatically admit qualifying high school seniors in two West Virginia counties under a new program that eliminates the traditional college application and application fee. This year, the offer is limited to seniors in Kanawha and Monongalia counties with at least a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average who meet the … Read more
PRINCE, W.Va. — A sweeping new proposal would link communities throughout the New River Gorge region through arts, recreation, preservation, and business development, aiming to keep more of the economic benefits the gorge and its national park generate within surrounding communities. Called the “New River Gorge Artisan Corridor,” the proposal would extend through communities from … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia regulators are inviting the public to comment this month on rules proposed to govern how electric utilities maintain and use generating plants under a law approved by the Legislature in 2025. The Public Service Commission of West Virginia publicized the Sept. 28 hearing Tuesday as part of its implementation of … Read more
COWEN, W.Va. — Travelers can now spend the night 80 feet above a remote West Virginia forest, sleeping in a restored fire lookout for as little as $100 a night. The Red Oak Fire Lookout opened Tuesday for overnight stays in the Monongahela National Forest. Its 14-by-14-foot cab sits atop a steel tower at an … Read more
CHESAPEAKE, W.Va. — A West Virginia nonprofit that provides community exercise, nutrition, and recovery programs has been awarded $1.17 million to bring healthcare services closer to workers as the state begins distributing nearly $200 million in federal rural-health funding. Spotted Owl Healthcare Organization, based in Dunbar, received $1.174 million through West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation … Read more
RICHWOOD, W.Va. — A historic district in this Nicholas County mountain town could roughly double in size, encompassing distinctive homes, churches, and other landmarks as preservationists work to protect the character of a community at the western gateway to the Monongahela National Forest. The proposed expansion would extend the existing Downtown Richwood Historic District eastward … Read more
LANSING, W.Va. — Two unbanded peregrine falcons have been confirmed at the New River Gorge Bridge, an encouraging development nearly two decades after conservationists began an ambitious effort to restore the species to the central Appalachians. Bridge Walk guides, who lead tours along the catwalk beneath the landmark span, observed the two birds together Monday … Read more
