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.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the potential for severe storms this afternoon and evening, Governor Justice has declared a State of Preparedness for all 55 counties in West Virginia. With this declaration, the State Emergency Operations Center increased today at 12 p.m. from “Steady State” to “Enhanced Watch,” according to a release from the governor’s office. … Read more
MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. — The public is invited to tour an old-fashioned hardware store and sweet shop with a vintage soda fountain during a historical open house on July 29 at Mount Hope in southern West Virginia. The free public event at the Bon-Bon Hardware & Confectionary will feature exhibits and presenters speaking on the … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Aromatherapy eases stress in people undergoing treatment for substance use disorder, which can enhance their chances of a successful recovery, according to West Virginia University research. The ongoing study incorporates the use of essential oils as an integrative therapy that is part of a bigger-picture model focusing on the whole person. Researchers … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has recommended more than $18 million in Appalachian Regional Commission grant funding for 11 projects — chiefly those that improve water and sewerage infrastructure. W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice stressed that the programming to be awarded was vital to the state’s growing economy. “These upgrades are going to be phenomenal, and … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins College has received a substantial gift from distinguished alumnus and philanthropic supporter Mike Ross, marking another significant contribution to the “Creating Home: It Takes a Village” capital campaign. Gifts to the capital campaign will be used for the construction of the Freshman Village, which will include the hillside where … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A West Virginia University engineer is working to solve the unknowns about microorganisms growing inside pipes that bring drinking water to homes and businesses in West Virginia. Supported by an award of $505,784 from the National Science Foundation, professor Emily Garner has launched a five-year study to learn more about biofilms. Known … Read more
West Virginia’s cumulative revenue collections for Fiscal Year 2023 would come in at $1.8 billion over estimates, shattering the all-time record for the most significant single-year revenue surplus in state history for the second year in a row. Gov. Jim Justice announced the breakthrough on June 30, the last day of the fiscal year, underscoring … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — More than two dozen researchers with ties to West Virginia University have helped unearth evidence of ripples in spacetime that have never been observed before now. Gravitational waves travel outwards from a source at light speed, stretching and squeezing the very fabric of spacetime — for instance, making the length of a … Read more
WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. — “Stella the Salamander” has been chosen as the mascot for the New River Conservancy, the organization established in 1991 to protect the New River in central Appalachia, and there’s an environmentally significant reason why. Amphibians like frogs and salamanders are heralds of a healthy environment, and the ecology of the New … Read more
ELKINS, W.Va. — The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area is accepting proposals for funding for programs that support tourism development, community partnerships, and the preservation and interpretation of cultural and natural resources in its 18-county territory. Grant requests can be from $1,000 up to $20,000, and applications are due July 31, 2023. The expected project … Read more
