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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.

A wary wild turkey peers across a field in West Virginia.
Communities

W.Va. seeks landowners keen to improve wildlife habitat

by David Sibray

Biologists with the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources are reaching out to landowners who are interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property. In partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and other agencies, the division hopes property owners can help address shrinking … Read more

A photo of a deserted coal camp curated by the W.Va. Mine Wars Museum, funded in part by the National Coal Heritage Area Authority.
Communities

National Coal Heritage Area calls for grant applications

by David Sibray

The National Coal Heritage Area Authority to support community efforts to interpret, preserve, and promote coal heritage resources is seeking proposals for funding for eligible projects. Projects must be implemented within the National Coal Heritage Area, which includes the counties of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Wyoming, and the … Read more

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month in the U.S.
Communities

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month in the U.S.

by Maria Lawson

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month in the U.S. where nearly three million people suffer from epilepsy. Everyone should understand what an epileptic seizure is and know what to do when someone has one. A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain that can cause changes in movement, behavior, and consciousness. Different kinds … Read more

West Virginia agriculture is getting a boost, thanks to a grant from the USDA.
Communities

Dept. of Agriculture awarded $1.04 million lab testing grant

by Bianca Bosworth

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has awarded the W.Va. Department of Agriculture $1.04 million for surveillance testing, new equipment, and researching contaminants in human and animal food. The department is one of only nine in the country to receiving this funding for chemistry development, according to Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner of Agriculture. “Department staff continues … Read more

Alpha Technologies has expanded its broadband business innovation at its offices in South Charleston, West Virginia.
Communities

Governor celebrates broadband expansion by Alpha Technologies

by Clyde Craig

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice congratulated the service-disabled, veteran-owned company Alpha Technologies for crossing the finish line on a major fiber expansion project in the Kanawha Valley. “I’ve said many times that broadband is monumental to our future in West Virginia,” Justice said Tuesday of the expansion, which was supported by his broadband initiatives. “Projects … Read more

A black bear pauses to investigate a photographer in West Virginia.
Communities

W.Va. DNR reports increased nuisance bear activity

by David Sibray

Due to an increase in nuisance bear activity being reported in West Virginia, biologists with the state Division of Natural Resources is asking residents to remove food and other attractants from around their homes to help reduce future incidents. The DNR has received more than 1,600 bear complaints in 2020, and bears have been spotted … Read more

Livestock should have access to safe areas during threat of inclement weather.
Communities

W.Va. warns farmers to prepare for Laura aftermath

by David Sibray

As the remnants of Hurricane Laura batter the southern U.S., the West Virginia Department of Agriculture is warning farmers to be proactive in the face of coming weather. Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt says his office expects that high winds and heavy rain could hit the state sometime this weekend. “As our state braces for … Read more

Pendeleton County, Potomac Branches Region
Communities

Forest Stewardship program announced in eastern panhandle

by Clyde Craig

The West Virginia Division of Forestry is announcing a sign-up period for the Forest Stewardship program counties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the state’s eastern panhandle. The program assists landowners with the management of forest on properties in Grant, Hardy, Morgan, Hampshire, Mineral, Berkeley, Pendleton, and Jefferson counties. According to a release from the … Read more

A horse-drawn carriage tours the historic ground of Capon Springs Resort.
Communities

Capon Springs offers 30-percent state resident discount

by David Sibray

Capon Springs Resort is offering a 30-percent discount on vacation packages for West Virginia residents in association with the state’s West Virginia Strong program, initiated by the governor in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The offer will provide the discount to guests who reserve lodging for at least two nights between August 3-September 2 … Read more