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.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice today announced the launch of the state’s premier remote-work program, aimed at recruiting outdoor enthusiast professionals to the Mountain State. Called “Ascend WV,” the program is being supported by West Virginia native and Intuit Chairman Brad D. Smith and his wife, Alys, and will allow adventurers to enjoy world-class recreation, … Read more
Officials with the West Virginia Division of Forestry are seeking information from the public regarding a wildfire that occurred in the Clay Run area of Coopers Rock State Forest near Morgantown, West Virginia. The cause of the fire is officially undetermined at this time. The division’s Special Operations Unit and Region 1 personnel are actively … Read more
Officials with the West Virginia Division of Forestry are reminding the public to be cautious throughout spring fire season and follow safe burning laws. Between January 1 and March 25, 2021, the division reported 312 fires, and nearly 3,000 acres burned. During the same period in 2020, the division counted 158 fires and 632 acres … Read more
Before we commence chatting about my favorite fern of all time, let’s get the nomenclature out of the way (nomenclature: a fancy, two-bit word for the name of the plant). We use a binomial system (binomial: a fancy two-bit word for two names) created by the Swedish naturalist and plant explorer Carolus von Linnaeus in … Read more
The spring 2021 semester at West Virginia University begins on January 19, and WVU officials are urging students and employees to exercise extreme caution. The largest university in the Mountain State, enrollment at its main campus in Morgantown usually exceeds 25,000 annually while more than 29,000 enrolled statewide, including those at its new southern campus … Read more
The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources is asking trappers in the Mountain State to help collect data on river otter populations by donating otter carcasses. Between 50 and 75 otter carcasses are needed each year over the course of the next five trapping seasons. A $20 gift card of your choice is being offered for … Read more
Dr. W. Franklin Evans has been named the 37th president of West Liberty University, located at West Liberty, West Virginia, in the northern panhandle of the Mountain State near Pittsburgh, Pa. Evans officially took the helm on Jan. 1, 2021, is the first Black president in the school’s 183-year history and follows President Stephan Greiner, … Read more
Millipedes represent some of the earliest known terrestrial animals and are highly understudied, but two West Virginia University researchers are working to shine a light on these important invertebrates. Several years ago, Matt Kasson and Angie Macias set out to better understand the association between the millipede Brachycybe lecontii and fungi, its life-sustaining food. “Millipedes serve an important function in ecosystems. … Read more
The craft beverage industry in West Virginia is getting a boost from the Robert C. Byrd Institute, which has launched an initiative to expand the use of specialty crops in state-made drinks. Bill Woodrum, director of the institute’s entrepreneurship and agricultural programs, said the burgeoning industry can help boost the growth of other state industries … Read more
The W.Va. Department of Agriculture through January 19, 2021, is accepting applications for U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grants. Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt says specialty crops are the future of agriculture in the Mountain State and anticipates West Virginia will receive approximately $270,000 from the federal government from which multiple grants will … Read more
