Communities

See our Communities Travel Guide

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.

Berries at a farmer's market

Create Buckhannon awarded 2021 gift for agricultural innovation

Create Buckhannon has been named the winner of the 2021 West Virginia Vanguard Agriculture Competition, a statewide contest sponsored by the Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University that honors innovation and ingenuity in agriculture. The annual award recognizes a West Virginia entrepreneur or organization whose idea has the greatest potential to solve logistical challenges … Read more

Barbara Breshock of the W.Va. Division of Forestry demonstrates forestry equipment.

Registration open for “Women Owning Woodlands” weekend

Women landowners who wish to learn more about forestry in West Virginia and network with other women involved in woodlands management can now register for the W.Va. Division of Forestry’s “Women Owning Woodlands” workshop. The event led by women instructors provides women landowners with an opportunity to ask questions, practice skills, and connect with woodland … Read more

Fire travels through a boulderfield in Pendeleton County. (Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)

W.Va. Division of Forestry subdues fire in Pendleton County

After several days of battling a blaze in scenic Pendleton County—notably home to Seneca Rocks—the W.Va. Division of Forestry declared the South Mill Creek fire in patrol status. “Patrol status” means that no active fire threatens to get out of control, although smoke and hot spots may be visible, and firefighters will continue to monitor … Read more

West Virginia cities — WVU at Morgantown

WVU to fully reopen campuses for fall 2021 semester

West Virginia University plans to fully reopen its campuses this fall, according to school officials who attribute the decision to continued decreases in cases of the pandemic and the knowledge that vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 numbers within the U.S. and West Virginia have significantly decreased as the number of vaccinations has increased, according … Read more

State partners with Toyota to promote pollinator conservation

Landowners in the Kanawha Valley had a hands-on opportunity to learn how to create pollinator habitats on their properties through a recent workshop hosted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia Inc. Susan Olcott, pollinator project leader for the division, says landowners across the state can avail themselves … Read more

Gov. Justice announces 2021 Community Development Block Grant awards

Justice announces more than $13 million for community projects

Gov. Jim Justice today awarded 19 grants worth $13,734,817 for parks, broadband, demolition, and water-sewer to communities in 14 counties across the state. The Federal Community Development Block Grant funds are a pleasure to provide, said Justice, who was joined for a virtual ceremony by local officials representing many of the communities receiving these grants. … Read more