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.
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
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
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
Glenville State College in partnership with the West Virginia Division of Forestry is offering forestry certifications as part of the school’s expanding Forest Technology program. Aside from earning an Associate of Science in Forest Technology or a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management with a major in Forest Technology, students in those programs are … Read more
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
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
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
