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.
MULLENS, W.Va. — Ginseng harvest season is open in West Virginia and will continue through Wednesday, November 30, according to the W.Va. Division of Forestry. Harvesting pulls up the ginseng root, ending the plant’s ability to replace itself with new generations. To help the herb’s last seeds grow, the hunter must, by law, plant them … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources is conducting a scientific study on black bears and black bear management that will involve telephone surveys of residents, according to a press release from the division. In the coming weeks, state residents may receive a phone call from Responsive Management, a research firm contracted by … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is seeking private landowners who want to improve wildlife habitat on their land. The partnership seeks to address shrinking populations of priority wildlife species by implementing conservation practices that improve natural resources on private … Read more
FAIRLEA, W.Va. — The State Fair of West Virginia reported more than 170,000 people attending, an exceptional attendance despite rains that fell across the Mountain State in August. State Fair CEO Kelly Collins said that the economic impact of the annual event was high. Fairgoer spending on food grossed more than $3.5 million, and Reithoffer … Read more
The West Virginia Tourism Office has released its 2022 predictive map for fall foliage, estimating the peak of the leaf-peeping season to begin in the Allegheny Mountains in late September. The end of the peak should fall one month later, at the end of October, in the West Virginia lowlands in the northern panhandle, the … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—Using data collected by citizens through a mobile app, researchers at West Virginia University are working to understand why some bass are becoming “blotchy.” Brent Murry, assistant professor of aquatic ecology in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Eastern Ecological Science Center, hope to uncover information … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va.—Over the last four years, the number of farmers’ markets in West Virginia has nearly tripled, according to the W.Va. Department of Agriculture. In 2019, there were 93 registered markets across the state. Now there are 267, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “Coming out of a pandemic that shut down food manufacturers, … Read more
Concerns about a decline in bees and butterflies have grown recently. Still, according to a state biologist, West Virginians have a unique opportunity to offer their lush environment to support pollination worldwide. Lawns need not be trim and extensive, and gardeners may find online sources of native plants that are better suited to the environment … Read more
Nearly 35 years after it was established, the first bed-and-breakfast in the New River Gorge is on the market, and times have changed almost inconceivably through the period, according to its owners. “Nothing is the same as it was here 35 years ago,” says Susana McArthur, the third owner of the Garvey House since it … Read more
Three new Civil War Trails signs have been installed in Wheeling, West Virginia, the first phase of a project focused on updating content and improving the visitor experience throughout the city. The new signs replace older versions and offer more engaging text and media to fuel the imagination of visitors, according to Drew A. Gruber, … Read more
