Communities in West Virginia offers 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, along with 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 W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announces that the West Virginia Wildlife Center at French Creek has resumed regular admission rates and hours of operation. The Wildlife Center features native and introduced animals and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though some COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, according to Zack Brown, assistant … Read more
Biologists with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have teamed up with Marshall University graduate students to monitor the movement of timber rattlesnakes in an effort to develop methods for moving the reptiles from high-use recreation areas. The project is part of a three-year-long study in Kanawha and Coopers Rock state forests and will … Read more
West Virginia University’s Duncan Lorimer might be the “godfather of the fast radio burst,” but a pair of international students have taken exploring these mysterious cosmic flashes to a new level. In 2007, Lorimer was credited for helping discover fast radio bursts—the intense, unexplained pulses of energy, light years away, that pop for mere milliseconds. … Read more
Excitement is building around the new Elk River Trail State Park in central West Virginia, especially downstream along the 30-mile corridor between the park and the state capital at Charleston. Plans for museums, breweries, and a cycling park are all on the table, according to developers and local business owners who are gearing up for … Read more
Officials have confirmed state support for a $25-million streetscaping project in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, and the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the state’s northern panhandle. Governor Jim Justice today joined state officials and Wheeling Mayor Glenn F. Elliott, Jr., in expressing the state’s commitment to the Wheeling Streetscape Project. “This project is going to change … Read more
Governor Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Commerce Secretary Ed Gaunch have recommended 12 projects totaling more than $11.7 million in grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission Investment Program. The West Virginia Development Office administers the state’s commission grants program, which is a partnership of federal, state, and local participants that provide financial and … Read more
The sale or distribution of Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii DC, will be illegal in West Virginia beginning July 1, 2020, according to the state Department of Agriculture. During the 2018 regular legislative session, Japanese barberry was added to the West Virginia “noxious weeds” list as part of an effort to control the invasive plant. An … Read more
Mark Anthony Manchin, Ph.D., has been selected as the 25th president of Glenville State College, according to officials at the school in central West Virginia. The college’s Board of Governors made the selection after an extensive search process that culminated last week in on-campus interviews with five finalists at Glenville, West Virginia. “I am excited … Read more
West Virginia State University will host a free online workshop on forest-management planning for West Virginia farmers and landholders on Thursday, June 18, at 4 p.m. “Anyone with woodland on their property will benefit from this session,” said WVSU Extension Agent Kristie Martin. “Join us to learn how you can make the most of your … Read more
Historic Grafton, West Virginia, once an important hub on the Baltimore & Ohio Railway, will enjoy a boost in economic viability, according to officials at West Virginia University. Several historic and industrial districts in the community of some 5,000 residents, will be redeveloped by the university’s Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center, according to director … Read more
