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.
BETHANY, W.Va. — A castle in West Virginia? You’ll find a few examples of castle-like structures scattered through its hills, but nothing compares to Old Main at Bethany College, one of the finest examples of “Collegiate Gothic” architecture in the U.S. A visitor’s first glimpse of the building is generally had from a distance: its … Read more
In some corners of West Virginia, resident rodents such as squirrels and beavers are sharing habitat with their slow-moving, short-sighted, and very prickly cousin—the porcupine. Verifiable reports of these non-native animals in the Eastern Panhandle date back to at least the later 1980s, according to Rich Rogers, district wildlife biologist and furbearer program coordinator for … Read more
Gov. Jim Justice announced today that West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.7 percent for December 2021, breaking the all-time record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in state history for the third consecutive month. December’s rate of 3.7 percent bested the previous state record of four percent, set just one month prior … Read more
To support the growing craft beverage industry in the Mountain State and encourage further expansion, the Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University, Brilliant Stream, and the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition will sponsor another statewide virtual gathering on January 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. “Craft: A Farm to Bottle Summit” will … Read more
Many West Virginia communities are enjoying a marked increase in tourism as well as an influx of new residents propelled by the work-from-home revolution, and the extension service at West Virginia University is working to help communities build on that. The service’s new year-long monthly webinar series “Sustainable Rural Tourism” is designed to illustrate basic … Read more
Gov. Jim Justice today announced the preliminary approval of more than $17.4 million in Line Extension Advancement and Development program funds for broadband infrastructure projects throughout the state. This announcement marks the first round of grants awarded as part of the governor’s Billion-Dollar Broadband Strategy, also known as the West Virginia Broadband Investment Plan. Grant … Read more
The expansion of broadband and cellular access in West Virginia will notably improve safety and economics along its water trails, say officials with the state flatwater trail commission. Bill Currey, president of the commission, says expanding access won’t just bolster tourism—it could save tourists from potentially dangerous situations. “Flatwater trail areas need broadband badly. We’re … Read more
Gov. Jim Justice announced today that Nucor Corporation has selected Mason County in western West Virginia as the location for a state-of-the-art sheet steel mill. The record investment will exceed $2.7 billion, making it the largest in West Virginia history, as well as the largest single investment Nucor has ever made, Justice said. “This is … Read more
Though it might sound cliche, time really does stand still in the Indian Creek valley in southern West Virginia. A winery has opened. Farmers are experimenting with new crops. A small retirement community has been established where the old school once stood. But for the most part, little has changed, and most residents like it … Read more
Gov. Jim Justice and the W.Va. Department of Tourism today announced that West Virginia has been selected as one of the best places to go by both Frommers and USA Today. This recognition follows a series of recent notable announcements by Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and TIME Magazine, which together rank West Virginia as … Read more
