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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.

Invasive Japanese Knotweed in West Virginia
Communities

WVU researcher combats invasive plants by deploying insect armies

by David Sibray

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia University researcher has found a way to locate, access, and destroy invasive plants more efficiently. Yong-Lak Park, a professor of entomology, is researching the efficacy of dropping natural enemy insects on invasive plants using drone technology and artificial intelligence. With a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s … Read more

Autumn Leaves In The Canaan Valley in West Virginia
Communities

West Virginia becoming chief U.S. leaf-change destination

by Clyde Craig

CANAAN VALLEY, W.Va. — Step aside, New England! West Virginia is fast becoming a chief destination for autumn leaf-change vacations in the eastern U.S. Thanks to accessibility, affordability, the number of trees, and the remarkable length of the season, the Mountain State is enjoying a significant shift to national prominence as a chief leaf-change destination, … Read more

Corporate Meeting At Adventures On The Gorge in West Virginia
Communities

West Virginia resorts shift focus to groups, meetings off-season

by Clyde Craig

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — As autumn approaches and tourist season winds down in West Virginia (except near its ski resorts, which are nearing their winter boom), operators of tourism businesses are working to attract groups and conferences. Thanks to the discovery of the Mountain State as a vacationland during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses with outdoor recreation … Read more

Cold Metal Building In Wellsburg in West Virginia
Communities

Grant available to save neglected historic buildings in W.Va.

by David Sibray

The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is accepting applications for its new Saving Historic Places Grant, designed to save certified historic buildings in rural West Virginia communities from “demolition by neglect.” According to Danielle Parker, executive director for the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in the Mountain State, funding will be provided for … Read more