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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.

Ramps in West Virginia
Communities

Aging, declining population leading to drop in ramp dinners

by Clyde Craig

A decline in population across West Virginia may be contributing to a drop in traditional spring ramp feasts, despite increased interest among tourists and younger generations. The fluctuations are apparent, though not quantifiable, says the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine, which produces an annual online guide to statewide ramp feasts. “I was saddened to … Read more

Katherine Johnson and her family attended the dedication of a statue raised in her honor at West Virginia State University.
Communities

W.Va. State U. mourns gifted alumni Katherine Johnson

by David Sibray

Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, pioneering NASA mathematician, and West Virginia State University alumna Katherine Johnson passed away today at age 101, according to university president Anthony L. Jenkins. Jenkins lauded Johnson as one of the school’s most gifted and generous graduates, for which the Katherine Johnson Plaza was named last year. “Today is a … Read more

The Tyler County Poor Farm is listed among West Virginia's most endangered historic properties.
Communities

Tyler development group looks to Ohio model for success

by Clyde Craig

A group of Tyler County residents is looking to a county in Ohio for an economic solution required to rebuild a similar historical landmark in West Virginia. Members of the Tyler Citizens Action Group met Wednesday at Middlebourne to discuss the success of a landmark in Cadiz, Ohio, that’s now a tourist attraction and community … Read more

Advertising to West Virginians
Communities

WVExplorer Magazine surpasses 2.5 million annual readers

by Bianca Bosworth

West Virginia Explorer Magazine has surpassed a rate of 2.5-million readers annually or an average of more than 7,000 readers daily, according to its publisher. The rate represents an increase in readership of more than 600 percent over the last three years, according to publisher David Sibray, who recently celebrated the magazine’s 20th anniversary. The … Read more

Governor Jim Justice today signed a bill that established Bluefield State College.
Communities

After 125 years, Justice signs bill founding Bluefield State

by Clyde Craig

One hundred and twenty-five years after the bill that established Bluefield State College was penned, Governor Jim Justice today signed the legislation during an event at the West Virginia capitol. Justice made the ceremonial gesture alongside college administrators, staff, students, and alumni on hand at the Governor’s Reception Room in Charleston, West Virginia. Penned in … Read more

A new forestry partnership at Glenville State College is providing internships in the Monongahela National Forest.
Communities

Glenville, U.S. Forest Service to offer forestry internships

by Will Reedy

The Glenville State College Department of Land Resources, the GSC Foundation, and the United States Forest Service have partnered to offer internship opportunities for students within the Natural Resource Management program. An agreement was signed between the institutions to formalize this year’s initiative, according to Dr. Rico Gazal, professor of forestry and chair of the … Read more

One of the first Tru by Hilton hotel properties in West Virginia is expected to open in Beckley, West Virginia (WV).
Communities

Beckley tourism leaders welcome Hilton hotel, growth

by David Sibray

Tourism industry leaders in Beckley, West Virginia, say they’re excited to welcome a Hilton-brand hotel to the community’s lodging mix, a sign of continued tourism growth and stability. The new hotel, part of the Tru by Hilton brand launched by Hilton Worldwide, arrives as the area is growing as a group travel destination, according to … Read more

Poultry is now helping feed families in rugged Wyoming County in southern West Virginia. (WVU Photo)
Communities

WVU, food pantry in Wyoming County expand poultry project

by Hannah Booth

Nestled among some of the steepest mountains in southern West Virginia, Wyoming County is weathering equally steep economic struggles. Almost wholly reliant on a declining coal-mining industry, its population has been nearly halved since 1950, and many residents struggle to make ends meet. When Arnold Simonse kept seeing the same families every month at the … Read more

Farm manager Susanna Wheeler tends a garden at New Roots Community Farm near Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Communities

New River Gorge farm to launch online farmer’s market

by David Sibray

Technology is providing a boost for farming and agritourism in the northern New River Gorge Region, thanks to a partnership between a central-Appalachian agricultural collective and a community farm initiative near Fayetteville, West Virginia. Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective will host a community dinner and launch party at Arrowhead Bike Farm near Fayetteville on March 6 … Read more