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 partnership will plant more than 10,000 trees across West Virginia.

W.Va. State U. and Diversified Energy to plant 10,000 trees

INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State University and Diversified Energy Co. are partnering to plant more than 10,000 trees around West Virginia in the coming year, thanks to a $125,000 donation Diversified made to fund the initiative. University President Ericke S. Cage said the project will engage many Mountain State communities, for which he is … Read more

Broadband access is vital in West Virginia where many new residents are reliant on access.

State officials urge residents to help secure broadband access

State officials are urging West Virginians to help ensure broadband access across the Mountain State by confirming or challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s map of state broadband infrastructure, which appears to include mistakes. The West Virginia Office of Broadband and the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council are asking West Virginians to review their location and … Read more

Geranium can be found growing wild in West Virginia.

Yes, (West) Virginia, there is a native geranium!

SUNSHINE FARM, W.Va. — When it became my turn to present my current story proposal at our regular editorial board meeting, my pitch was resoundingly well received. Half of the editorial board had no idea that there was a geranium native to the U.S., and the other half couldn’t praise this plant highly enough. Just … Read more

More than 260,000 West Virginians are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday in 2022.

Thanksgiving travel to rebound in West Virginia in 2022

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over the river and through the woods, more than 265,000 West Virginians are expected to travel more than 50 miles from their homes this Thanksgiving, according to a report from American Automobile Association. The association reports that travel for the holiday is around 98 percent of what the forecast called for in … Read more

Coal waste impoundments in southwestern West Virginia.

Omnis to invest $60 million to extract rare earth metals

MULLENS, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has announced that Omnis Sublimation Recovery Technologies will invest $60 million in Wyoming County and use revolutionary technology to extract rare earth metals from coal waste impoundments in the region. Coal waste impoundments have created an opportunity for innovation, Justice said during a meeting in the coalfields … Read more

Justice feeds quail

Governor unveils initiative to restore bobwhite in West Virginia

ALUM CREEK, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources is stocking more than 20,000 bobwhite quail this autumn at wildlife management areas across the state. According to Gov. Jim Justice, the division has stocked more than 12,000 and will continue stocking through October, weather and habitat conditions permitting, through the governor’s new quail-stocking initiative. … Read more

A harvester holds a ginseng root along side a mature ginseng plant.

2022 ginseng harvest season in West Virginia opens

MULLENS, W.Va. — Ginseng harvest season is open in West Virginia and will continue through Wednesday, November 30, according to the W.Va. Division of Forestry. Harvesting pulls up the ginseng root, ending the plant’s ability to replace itself with new generations. To help the herb’s last seeds grow, the hunter must, by law, plant them … Read more

A cerulean warbler is a denizen of West Virginia's oldest forests and a favorite species for birdwatchers.

W.Va. seeks landowners interested in improving wildlife habitat

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is seeking private landowners who want to improve wildlife habitat on their land. The partnership seeks to address shrinking populations of priority wildlife species by implementing conservation practices that improve natural resources on private … Read more