Communities

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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.

The North Bend Rail Trail spans Middle Island Creek at West Union, West Virginia.

Gov. petitions for small business funding in five rural counties

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is petitioning for Clay, Boone, Monroe, Preston, and Hampshire counties to be declared eligible for federal benefits as a result of their relative lack of business investment. The Historically Underutilized Business Zone, or “HUBZone,” program provides participating small businesses access to exclusive federal contracting opportunities and preferential … Read more

McMurran Hall at Shepherd University fronts East German Street in historic Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Shepherd University awarded nearly $3 million from Congress

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Four Shepherd University programs will benefit from $2,708,000 in congressionally directed spending that the university is receiving from the $1.7 billion omnibus bill signed by President Joe Biden on December 23, 2022. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who serve on the Appropriations Committee, requested the money to … Read more

Winter By Timothy Eberly

W.Va. Gov. declares State of Emergency in all counties

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has declared a State of Emergency for all 55 West Virginia counties due to the winter storm event forecast to hit the state in the coming days. The National Weather Service predicts heavy snow, freezing rains, dangerous wind chills, and strong winds beginning today, Thursday, December 22, 2022, and … Read more

Skunk cabbage rises through the snow in spring in West Virginia.

Eastern Skunk Cabbage performs magic in spring

SUNSHINE FARM, W.Va. — Winter and spring may be the best time of year to sing the praises of Symplocarpus foetidus, a.k.a. “Eastern Skunk Cabbage,” because this is when this unusual plant performs a magic trick. Before I tell you about the magic, let’s dispel an obvious negative. First of all, this plant does not … Read more

Botany Tropicals is among the innovative new businesses opening in Hinton, West Virginia.

Tropical plant store near new national park takes award

HINTON, W.Va. — You might not think a West Virginia town of fewer than 3,000 residents would be the ideal location for a booming tropical plant store. But then, you might not have met its owners or visited the southern reaches of America’s newest national park where nothing ordinary is happening. Botany Tropicals, owned by … Read more

I-64 Bridge at Charleston, WV, Kanawha County, Metro Valley Region

W.Va. to receive more than $500 million for bridge repair

West Virginia will receive $548,083,740 over the next five years to replace, rehabilitate, preserve and build bridges as part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Gov. Jim Justice has announced. The record funding will provide the state an essential boost to maintain its approximately 7,000 bridges, almost 150 of which are owned by … Read more

The Romney Dairy Barn was one of seven winners of the alliance's annual funding program.

Preservation Alliance awards funding for seven 2022 projects

ELKINS, W.Va. — The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia in 2022 awarded more than $488,000 in funding to restoration projects in Brooke, Mercer, Preston, Summers, Randolph, Greenbrier, and Hampshire counties through its Saving Historic Places Grants program. According to Danielle Parker, executive director of the alliance, the program was established to help save certified historic … Read more

Steel bars manufactured by CMC await export to market.

Steelmaker to open micro-mill in Berkeley County

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice and officials at Commercial Metals Company, also known as CMC, have announced that Berkeley County will be the home of the company’s fourth micro-mill. Projected to cost approximately $450 million, the facility will produce rebar and is projected to begin operating in late 2025. Justice said he’s honored … Read more